Shas Party Appeals Election Chief Over State Ceremony for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

The Shas party has filed an appeal with the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Noam Sohlberg, protesting the Attorney General's proposal to postpone the state ceremony commemorating Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the late spiritual leader of Shas. The party argues that the Attorney General's decision is unusual, sweeping, and disproportionate, effectively turning a legal obligation into a prohibition. Shas contends that elections do not suspend the law, emphasizing that the Knesset had established the ceremony as a requirement. The party seeks to ensure the ceremony proceeds as planned, rejecting the notion that electoral considerations should override legislative mandates.

The appeal highlights the perceived conflict between the Attorney General's recommendation and the Knesset's decision to honor Rabbi Yosef. Shas views the proposed delay as an attempt to politicize the memorial event and undermine its significance. The party is urging the Elections Committee chairman to intervene and uphold the original plan for the ceremony, asserting that such commemorations are vital for national memory and should not be subject to electoral timing.