Sephardic Chief Rabbi: Haredi Parties Won't Join Government Without Yeshiva Student Status

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef has declared that Haredi parties will not join the next Israeli government unless a conscription law and arrangements for the status of yeshiva students are secured. He made these remarks in a directive to representatives, emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of these demands.

Rabbi Yosef's statement also addressed the actions of Adina Bar-Shalom, daughter of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and sister of the current Chief Rabbi. Bar-Shalom recently met with Gadi Eisenkot, a prominent figure in the opposition. Rabbi Yosef implicitly criticized her actions, questioning whether the legacy of his father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, involved shaking hands with Eisenkot, suggesting it contradicted their political stance.

The Chief Rabbi's firm stance highlights the ongoing tension between religious and secular factions in Israel regarding military service exemptions for Haredi yeshiva students. This issue has been a recurring point of contention in coalition negotiations.