Am Shalem, the political party of former Shas Knesset member Chaim Amsalem, criticized the list of Shas candidates in January's Knesset election, Thursday, for including Rabbi Aryeh Der'i.

Am Shalem issued a statement which said, "Shas has set a historical precedent in Israeli politics by placing a convicted criminal who sat years behind bars in its leadership. It is an embarrasment for the people of Israel in general and Sephardic Jews in particular."