Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Doubts Netanyahu Will Repent, Suggests Gadi Eizenkot Might

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, a member of the Shas Council of Sages, expressed skepticism about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's potential to repent, stating, "What, Bibi will repent? No chance." In contrast, Yosef offered a more hopeful view regarding former IDF Chief of Staff and political candidate Gadi Eizenkot, saying, "Eizenkot might indeed repent." Yosef emphasized that Israel is a secular country rather than a Haredi one, a reality he attributes to "many sins." While he expressed a desire for all public figures to follow the path of Torah, he acknowledged the current situation differs, saying, "We pray that everyone repents. Some have repented, and some I do not believe will." These remarks come months ahead of elections and amid tensions between Netanyahu and the Haredi parties. Recently, Netanyahu has been advancing significant initiatives with the Haredi factions, including a new draft of the Basic Law on Torah Study and immunity from arrests. The Knesset approved bringing the Basic Law on Torah Study to a final vote next week, following the Haredi parties' acceptance of Netanyahu's proposal.