Yair Lapid Condemns Ultra-Orthodox Incitement Against IDF Chief Amid Government Silence

Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet on Tuesday for remaining silent after Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi called IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir "accursed" and wished harm upon him during a protest against ultra-Orthodox conscription. Lapid condemned the incitement against the military commander, accusing the ultra-Orthodox community of "permitting his blood" while Netanyahu and his ministers stayed "silent as fish," offering no condemnation or legal action against the inflammatory remarks. "Our soldiers are heroes; this government is a pile of cowards," Lapid added.

Democratic Party chairman Yair Golan targeted the Shas party, whose members attended the rally where the statements were made. He accused Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, of forming a corrupt alliance with Netanyahu and enabling incitement by remaining silent. Golan lamented that Shas has long enjoyed privileged status but now openly incites against the state.

President Isaac Herzog also weighed in, tweeting that even amid disagreements, "there is no place for curses." At the same event, former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef linked battlefield casualties to the conscription debate, claiming soldiers die because authorities restrict Torah scholars. He asserted that victory depends on Torah study rather than defense systems like Iron Dome. The crowd responded with chants demanding Deri's resignation.

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a strong condemnation of the remarks, emphasizing that the IDF Chief and commanders lead the troops in securing Israeli citizens. Katz called any incitement against them "unacceptable, dangerous, and deserving of condemnation." The controversy highlights deep tensions over ultra-Orthodox military service and government responses to inflammatory rhetoric.

The government faces mounting pressure to denounce incitement and address the conscription dispute, with opposition and public figures demanding accountability and respect for the military leadership.