Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Doubts Netanyahu Will Repent, Suggests Gantz Might

In his weekly lesson on Saturday night, Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and president of the Shas Council of Torah Sages, addressed the spiritual state of the country. He remarked that Israel remains a secular state despite many sins and expressed hope that everyone would repent. However, he expressed skepticism about former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's repentance, stating, "There is no chance Netanyahu will repent." In contrast, he suggested that Benny Gantz might possibly repent.

Rabbi Yosef has previously criticized Netanyahu for disparaging comments about his late father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, founder of Shas. He called Netanyahu "impudent" for calling his father a politician after Netanyahu apologized for remarks about yeshiva students. Rabbi Yosef also recalled that if the late Rabbi Shalom Cohen were alive, he would have condemned reliance on Netanyahu, whom he described as an atheist.

These statements reflect ongoing tensions between religious leaders and political figures in Israel, highlighting divisions over secularism and religious values. Rabbi Yosef's comments come amid broader debates about the role of religion in Israeli society and politics.