Former chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef: Also those who do not work are prohibited from serving in IDF
Haredi men who do not work are prohibited from serving in the IDF, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, former Sephardi chief rabbi, was quoted as saying by Israeli media on Sunday.
He explained that his father’s brothers all went to the army and became secular.
הרב הראשי לשעבר יצחק יוסף: “אתם מקליטים? תקליטו. גם מי שבטלן אסור לו ללכת לצבא” @AkivaWeisz pic.twitter.com/6xpypkkbac
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 15, 2024
The Prime Minister’s Office responded to the remarks, criticizing them as “Unacceptable and deserving of complete condemnation.
“We will not tolerate expressions of refusal [to serve] from any side,” the statement read.
President Isaac Herzog condemned the rabbi’s comments in a post on X/Twitter. “Service in the IDF is a tremendous privilege,” he wrote, adding, “The IDF belongs to all of us. Any harm to it constitutes a harm to the security of the State of Israel and its citizens.”
Opposition head Yair Lapid responded to the remarks in a post on X/Twitter. “A call for draft evasion during wartime, especially from someone who once received a state salary in an official capacity, crosses a red line. It endangers democracy and undermines our future,” Lapid wrote.
דבריו של הרב הראשי לישראל לשעבר בעד השתמטות מצה״ל ראויים לכל גינוי – מכל קצוות הקשת הפוליטית.קריאה להשתמטות בזמן מלחמה, ועוד ממי שקיבל משכורת מהמדינה בתפקיד ממלכתי רשמי, היא חציית קו אדום שמסכנת את הדמוקרטיה ומערערת את עתידנו. כל מי שהזדעזע אתמול עמוקות ממשה לדור ראוי שיוציא…
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) December 15, 2024
‘Dangerous and illegitimate’
National Unity head, MK Benny Gantz, addressed the comments in a post on X/Twitter, “Refusal to serve and calls for draft evasion are unacceptable, dangerous, and illegitimate—whether they come from a former state attorney or a sitting chief rabbi. Everyone must serve the state.”
סרבנות וקריאות להשתמטות פסולות, מסוכנות ובלתי לגיטימיות- גם כשאומר זאת פרקליט המדינה לשעבר, וגם כשאומר זאת הרב הראשי לשעבר. כולם צריכים לשרת את המדינה.
— בני גנץ – Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) December 15, 2024
Asked to respond to the rabbi’s comments in an interview with Army Radio, Likud MK Moshe Saada said, “Anyone who violates the law and calls for draft evasion must be investigated.”
Spokesperson for the Shas Party, Asher Medina, later stated the remarks contained no “call for refusal to serve,” according to Israeli media.
“Rabbi Yosef’s remarks were aimed at highlighting the essential need to provide suitable frameworks for ultra-Orthodox youth who wish to enlist,” he reportedly added.
Jesus Christ is King
Comments are closed.