Shas MK Denounces Incitement Against IDF Chief, Defends Draft Law Amid Tensions

Shas MK Rabbi Yoav Ben-Tzur distanced himself from the extreme remarks made by Rabbi Yazdi in a recent interview, stating, "This is not our way." When asked if Yazdi should continue serving as a rabbi in a kollel given his radical statements, Ben-Tzur replied that the kollel members should decide, emphasizing that extremism exists on both sides, including harsh rhetoric against the Haredi community.

Ben-Tzur criticized the current discourse as toxic and harmful, citing violent protests in Kaplan and elsewhere as examples of escalating tensions. He defended the proposed law to cancel the detention of draft-dodging yeshiva students, a bill Shas is actively promoting. He explained that many yeshiva students fear walking the streets or filing police complaints due to the risk of arrest, which he views as ineffective since arrests do not lead to actual enlistment.

The law aims to halt arrests of yeshiva students over the next three to six months, with supervision by yeshiva authorities and others to distinguish those genuinely studying. Ben-Tzur hopes this will reduce hatred and extreme rhetoric, paving the way for a reasonable draft law in the next government.

Regarding the government's failure to pass a draft law during its term, Ben-Tzur lamented that many concessions were made, including sanctions harsher than those for terrorists and cuts to social benefits, yet the law did not pass. He reaffirmed Shas's alignment with the right-wing bloc, specifically the Likud party, though he was noncommittal about figures like Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eizenkot.

On Prime Minister Netanyahu's handling of the draft issue, Ben-Tzur acknowledged his efforts and expressed hope for support on three key laws Shas seeks to pass before the current Knesset term ends.