Ultra-orthodox party barred from offering spiritual rewards for votes

The ultra-orthodox Shas party has been reprimanded by Israel’s electoral authorities for handing out leaflets promising “keys to heaven” if people vote for them.

“Those who vote for Shas will go straight to heaven,” said the leaflet, accompanied by an image of the party’s founder and spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

Haaretz reported that Israeli election laws do not allow political parties to offer religious reward in exchange for votes.

The Israeli daily said Shas were angry were the decision barring their distribution of their leaflets, quoting the party has having said they are “proud of our tradition, enough with the silencing and incitement!”