Israeli Lawmaker Slams Supreme Court Over Canceled Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Memorial Event

Member of Knesset Yaakov Asher of the United Torah Judaism party sharply criticized the Supreme Court's decision to reject an appeal by the Shas party, which sought to overturn the Attorney General's directive preventing a state memorial event for Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Asher accused the justices and the Attorney General of deep alienation from the public and intentionally harming the late rabbi's legacy, stating, "Unfortunately, the legacy of Maran Rabbi Ovadia is not among their priorities."

Asher elaborated that the court's decision and the Attorney General's stance demonstrate a disconnect from the public, noting that millions mourned Rabbi Yosef and many continue to follow his rulings. He suggested that if the court had shown proper respect for the rabbi's stature and work, a balanced solution could have been found instead of outright canceling the event.

The Supreme Court's ruling upheld the Attorney General's decision, which effectively canceled the state-sponsored memorial conference planned for October 6-8. Shas had argued that the Attorney General lacked the authority to prevent the event, especially given the state's obligation under the Commemoration Law to hold such a conference.

During the court hearing, Shas's legal representative, Adv. Guy Busi, claimed the Attorney General actively obstructed the event and engaged in a "deliberate and systematic persecution" against the religious public and Rabbi Yosef. Shas had proposed several measures to prevent any election campaigning, such as avoiding political content and party symbols, and sought prior approval for event materials. They also pointed to the planned memorial for Yitzhak Rabin as an example of selective enforcement, as that event was permitted to proceed near the election date.