Shas Party Condemns Rabbi Yazdi's Extreme Remarks Against IDF Chief at Bnei Brak Protest

The Shas political movement issued a strong official condemnation on Tuesday morning of Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi's statements made during a protest rally in Bnei Brak against the arrest of yeshiva students. The party clarified that the extreme remarks directed at the IDF Chief of Staff do not represent the views of the Council of Torah Sages, which guides Shas. The statement emphasized that such rhetoric contradicts the path established by the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the party's spiritual leader.

Shas highlighted that its position aligns with the speech of Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, the current Sephardic Chief Rabbi, who spoke at the same rally alongside senior rabbis and yeshiva heads. Rabbi Yosef condemned the arrests firmly but maintained respectful discourse throughout.

Rabbi Yazdi had harshly criticized the IDF Chief of Staff, calling him "accursed" for ordering the imprisonment of a soldier who wore a "Messiah" patch, accusing the army of promoting severe Torah violations. His remarks were met with applause from the crowd but sparked widespread backlash.

The political and security establishment swiftly denounced Rabbi Yazdi's comments. President Isaac Herzog called the remarks "shocking" and stressed that even amid deep disagreements, there is no place for curses or insults against the IDF commander. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz also issued strong condemnations, emphasizing the need to respect the military leadership.

The protest itself was organized in response to a wave of arrests of yeshiva students and religious men. Leading members of the Council of Torah Sages, including Rabbi Moshe Maya, Rabbi Shlomo Machpud, and Rabbi Nissim Ben Shimon, had called for participation. The Shas statement marks a significant step to clarify the party's stance, balancing determined protest against perceived attacks on Torah study with maintaining respectful public discourse in line with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's legacy.