MK Yaakov Asher Warns Israel’s Existential Threat Is Abandoning Jewish Faith and Tradition

MK Yaakov Asher of the United Torah Judaism party delivered a forceful speech in the Knesset, linking Israel’s existence to the preservation of Torah and Jewish tradition. He warned against what he termed the “sanctification of secularism” and the distancing from Jewish values.

Asher questioned why the Jewish people chose to settle in such a geopolitically complex and dangerous region, answering that it was due to the divine promise to the Jewish people. He emphasized that Israel’s claim to the land is rooted in the Torah, and alongside the right to the land comes the obligation to uphold its commandments and laws.

He criticized the treatment of religious and ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel, accusing society of incitement and disrespect toward believers and observant Jews. Asher cited derogatory phrases used against Haredim, such as “mezuzah kissers and grave worshippers,” describing these as attacks on sacred values.

Comparing Israeli political discourse to that of other countries, Asher noted that many world leaders openly reference belief in God, whereas some Israeli public officials avoid such mentions for years. He concluded by recounting a conversation with an Iranian intellectual rabbi who claimed Israel is perceived by its enemies as insufficiently faithful. Asher stated, “This is the real danger to the State of Israel: when those on this stage belittle the Torah, halacha, and mitzvot. This is Israel’s true existential threat.”