Shas MK Slams High Court, AG for Blocking Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Memorial Events

Member of Knesset and attorney Erez Malul of the Shas party has strongly criticized the Israeli Supreme Court and the Attorney General for what he described as a coordinated effort to prevent memorial events for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the late spiritual leader of Shas. The criticism came after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by Shas challenging the Attorney General's directive that effectively canceled planned educational gatherings in Jerusalem's Binyanei Ha'uma convention center, scheduled before recent elections.

The court's decision was based on a statement from the Ministry of Religious Services, which cited tight scheduling as a technical impediment to holding the events. Malul argued in an interview with Kikar HaShabbat that this technicality was a pretext to avoid a substantive ruling on the nature of the events. He asserted that the Ministry's statement was only made due to the Attorney General's directive, and that the court chose not to intervene, implying a collaboration between the judiciary and the Attorney General's office.

Malul contended that the Attorney General's directive, which he believes was aimed against Shas and the right-wing bloc, prevented a non-political heritage event for all Israelis. He drew a parallel to the memorial for assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, questioning why that is not considered political, given Rabin's prominent political career. Malul emphasized Rabbi Yosef's primary role as a Torah scholar and halachic decisor, predating his founding of Shas, and highlighted his significant contributions to Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish pride.

Expressing deep regret, Malul stated that the Attorney General's decision harmed millions of Israelis, including secular, traditional, and religious individuals, many of whom attended Rabbi Yosef's funeral. He lamented the perceived attack on the legacy of a revered spiritual figure and the disenfranchisement of his followers.