Israeli Attorney General Seeks to Postpone Government Memorials for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Over Election Propaganda Concerns

Ahead of the anniversary of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's death on October 14, which coincides closely with Israel's election date, the Attorney General's legal advisor has requested postponing government memorial events. The concern is that state resources might be used for election propaganda, especially since the Shas party is employing Rabbi Yosef's image in its campaign. Last year, the Knesset passed a special law mandating state institutions to hold memorial events on or shortly after the Rabbi's death anniversary.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara argues that holding the events near the elections risks politicizing them. She instructed government officials to delay the events until after the elections. However, Shas insists the memorials are a legal obligation that cannot be postponed. The law specifically requires the Ministry of Religious Services to hold a scholarly conference on or near the Rabbi's death date to discuss his legacy.

Sources reveal the Attorney General told the ministry's director general that since the law allows the event to be held "near" the death date, it could be delayed by one or two weeks to avoid election proximity. Instead, the event was advanced by a week and extended over three days, raising questions about the consistency of the Attorney General's position. Shas strongly rejects the Attorney General's intervention, calling it an improper interference and a violation of the law passed unanimously by the Knesset.

Shas also compares the issue to the state memorial for Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, questioning why only Rabbi Yosef's memorial should be postponed due to elections. Shas leader Aryeh Deri criticized the Attorney General's office, accusing it of trying to erase Jewish heritage and stating there is no middle ground between the Attorney General's control and preserving Rabbi Yosef's legacy. The dispute remains unresolved and may escalate to legal proceedings.