An Israeli political party formed in 1984 to represent Sephardic (North African and Middle Eastern) Jews, whom the party claims are discriminated against both socially and economically. The party believes in the institution of laws that maintain the Jewish identity of the state, including some Judaic religious laws. Shas strongly advocates for the compensation by Arab countries of Sephardic Jews that were forced to leave their “host countries” after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948; this compensation is a condition for the party’s consideration of a peace deal with the Palestinians. Since 2009, the party has become more supportive of Jewish Israeli settlements, particularly those surrounding historic Jewish religious sites and in the greater Jerusalem area. See “Shas.” The Knesset. 24 August 2011. http://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=2; and  “Shas.” Ynet News. 4 April 2008. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3499178,00.html.  http://www.justvision.org/glossary/shas