Shas Chairman Yinnon Azoulay Accuses Deputy AG Gil Limon of Fueling Sectarian Conflict Over Yeshiva Arrests

Yinnon Azoulay, chairman of the Shas party faction in the Knesset, sharply criticized Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon during a parliamentary debate on ending the detention of yeshiva students. Azoulay accused Limon and the legal advisors of attempting to suffocate the ultra-Orthodox community, saying, "If you could stop air and oxygen to the Haredim and choke them, you would do it. That's what you are doing, you don't care about anything." Azoulay further warned that Limon and her legal team were pushing the country toward civil strife, stating, "You and your legal advisor will bring about a civil war and bloodshed. The blood on the hands will be yours. Why are you smiling? Shame on you!"

Earlier in the month, Azoulay had identified Gil Limon as the key figure behind sanctions targeting the Haredi public, describing her as "the brain behind everything" and accusing her of harboring hatred toward the Haredim, the political right, and Prime Minister Netanyahu. He also criticized Limon for avoiding direct confrontation, saying she left when challenged during a session. Azoulay emphasized that the Knesset is the home of the Israeli people and lawmakers will not tolerate discomfort from legal officials, asserting that the legislature must assert its authority.

The exchange highlights the escalating tensions between the ultra-Orthodox community and the Israeli legal establishment amid ongoing disputes over the arrest and detention of yeshiva students, a sensitive issue in Israeli society and politics. The debate reflects broader conflicts over the role of the Haredi community in Israeli public life and the government's enforcement policies.