Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Urges Ultra-Orthodox to Oppose Netanyahu and Right-Wing Bloc

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, spiritual leader of the Shas party and son of the former Chief Rabbi, has reportedly instructed his followers not to vote for Shas in the upcoming elections, despite his membership in the party's Council of Sages. According to a report by Aharon Rabinovitch on Haaretz, Yosef expressed that the ultra-Orthodox community should work to bring down the right-wing bloc. One of his students recounted that Yosef repeatedly stated the right-wing does not support the Haredi public, while the left respects religion and only seeks power without harming the ultra-Orthodox. Yosef reportedly said, "Netanyahu and religious Zionism hate us, but the left respects us. With them, cooperation is possible." He also suggested the left deserves to govern as it founded the state of Israel.

About a week ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the controversial temporary draft law for Haredi yeshiva students in a closed discussion. He admitted the law, intended to reduce tensions and increase enlistment among the ultra-Orthodox, had failed and would not be renewed in the next government. Netanyahu promised that after the elections, a broad national government would pass a full draft law meeting IDF needs, emphasizing, "Whoever does not study Torah will enlist or go to jail." Netanyahu was absent from the vote on this law.

Two weeks ago, Israel's Supreme Court issued an interim injunction suspending the temporary draft law pending further decisions, following petitions against it. In response to Netanyahu’s admission, United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf criticized the Prime Minister, accusing him of never intending to regulate the status of yeshiva students or pass a draft law, which justified their exit from the government. He called the temporary draft law a political spin that solved nothing.

Earlier, Rabbi Yosef hinted at political preferences by stating Netanyahu would never repent, but former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot might. He described Israel as a secular state and expressed hope that some would repent, though he doubted Netanyahu would. This statement was seen as a subtle endorsement of Eizenkot as a potential future prime minister.

The developments highlight deep tensions between the ultra-Orthodox leadership and Netanyahu’s right-wing government over the contentious issue of military conscription for Haredi men, with significant political implications ahead of the elections.