Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Criticizes Gadi Eisenkot After Previously Offering Support

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, a prominent leader within the Shas party, launched a sharp verbal attack against Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the "Yisrael Beiteinu" party, warning against the possibility of Eisenkot forming the next government. Speaking at a conference in Ashdod on Thursday, Rabbi Yosef expressed concern over a potential coalition led by the opposition and left-wing parties, dredging up past grievances from Eisenkot's tenure as Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

"We saved the Torah study halls," Rabbi Yosef stated at the conference. "If the left, Eisenkot, and his friends ever come to power, woe is us. He was Chief of Staff and implemented a regulation in the army that a male and female soldier would serve together in a tank. Woe is us. I was the Chief Rabbi then, and I explained to him the severity of the matter. Is this how you fight? He didn't even answer me. Friends, a little respect; when the Chief Rabbi addresses you, you don't even answer."

This current criticism stands in stark contrast to remarks made by Rabbi Yosef approximately two months prior. At that time, he described Eisenkot as "a good person, a warm Jew, who loves Torah scholars. His grandmother voted for Shas and wanted him to be a rabbi; it didn't happen, but you can rely on him." Rabbi Yosef had also suggested at the time, "We can go with him in the upcoming elections, we can support him to be the next prime minister."