Watchdog Group Demands Probe into Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's Remarks

The Movement for Quality of Government in Israel has formally requested a criminal investigation or, at minimum, a preliminary review into remarks made by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef targeting Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. The appeal was sent to the Attorney General, the State Prosecutor, the Police Commissioner, and the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division.

The demand stems from comments made by Rabbi Yosef during his weekly Torah lesson, where he vehemently criticized the Attorney General, calling her "crazy" and stating, "May God destroy her. May He strike her down. This will not pass in silence."

According to the watchdog group, these statements were made in the context of a legal opinion concerning the commemoration of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef during an election period, an event funded by public money. The Movement for Quality of Government argues that Rabbi Yosef's public standing and the wide reach of his lessons necessitate an examination of his words.

The group contends that the remarks, given the circumstances, raise concerns about incitement to violence under Israeli law. They emphasized that such statements are not made in a vacuum, noting a recent trend of harsh rhetoric against the Attorney General and law enforcement officials. The organization highlighted the particular significance of Rabbi Yosef's position and the broad dissemination of his teachings.

Attorney Yael Bloch, director of litigation at the Movement for Quality of Government, stated, "It is permissible to criticize a decision by the Attorney General. It is forbidden to turn criticism into harsh statements that raise concerns of incitement to violence against her." She added, "This is not the first time Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef has used his position and influence to attack the rule of law and its gatekeepers. It is not for us to determine if an offense has been committed, that is the role of the enforcement authorities. Now they must examine the matter seriously and quickly."

The movement is urging law enforcement to consider all aspects of the statement, including the speaker's identity, the content, the context, the audience, and the extent of its dissemination. If the review indicates that a criminal threshold has been crossed, the group demands full legal prosecution against Rabbi Yosef.