Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Slams Minister Ben-Gvir, Urges Public to Withhold Support

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, has launched a sharp public attack against Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, urging the public not to grant him political power. In his remarks, Rabbi Yosef severely criticized Ben-Gvir's conduct, both publicly towards his constituents and on halachic (Jewish law) matters.

Rabbi Yosef accused Ben-Gvir of making empty promises to attract young people, stating, "There are people who talk and attract the youth with all sorts of slogans, but in practice what do they do? Nothing." He characterized Ben-Gvir's activities as "just talk, talk, and the youth get excited."

The primary focus of Rabbi Yosef's criticism was Ben-Gvir's ascent to the Temple Mount, a highly contentious issue in Jewish law. Rabbi Yosef recounted that on Saturday night, he explicitly warned against ascending the Temple Mount during his weekly class. He noted that the very next day, Ben-Gvir chose to ascend the site "specifically," contrary to the opinions of all major rabbis from all streams of Judaism.

Concluding his remarks, Rabbi Yosef unequivocally called on the public to withdraw their support from Ben-Gvir. "How can you give power to such a person who openly violates, with pride and contempt, disrespects all the great rabbis of Israel and ascends the Temple Mount like this?" he questioned, definitively ruling, "Heaven forbid, do not lend a hand to such a one."