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Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the spiritual leader of the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Shas Party, has publicly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and appeared to open the door to supporting rival Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party, as the next prime minister. The remarks, made in a filmed speech on Saturday evening, have raised questions about the long-standing alliance between Shas and Netanyahu’s bloc ahead of elections set to take place no later than October 27.

"We are in a secular country... There are those whom I don’t believe will repent," Yosef said. "There's no chance [Netanyahu] will repent. Eisenkot might repent," he added.

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In the days following his initial remarks, Yosef reportedly went further, telling Army Radio that Shas could break with the Netanyahu bloc and that Eisenkot was the preferred candidate for prime minister. "It is possible that we will go with Eisenkot in the upcoming election; I hope United Torah Judaism joins this move," the report quoted Yosef as saying. He added that "Eisenkot is a good man, a warm-hearted Jew" who "loves Torah scholars" and whose grandmother had voted for Shas.

However, Yosef’s office denied reports of a potential alliance, and Eisenkot himself moved quickly to distance himself from the endorsement. In statements that highlighted the changing fault lines of Israeli politics, Eisenkot noted that he had not met Yosef in a decade and had not spoken to any Shas MKs in the past year. Analysts observed that what might have been a political asset in the 1990s has become an electoral liability today, reflecting a profound transformation in Israeli politics.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Eisenkot’s campaign strategy appears to be aimed at broadening his appeal beyond the traditional secular constituency, while carefully managing the potential fallout of a haredi endorsement. The episode has also underscored the delicate position of haredi parties, which have long been key coalition partners for Netanyahu but have recently clashed with him over legislation.

Key Claims

  • Letter to Deri: Rabbi Yosef sent a letter to Shas chairman MK Arye Deri calling on the party to support the coalition’s contentious legislation in exchange for advancing haredi-backed bills. The letter, reported by the Jerusalem Post, warned that "there is no room for delay" and that the passage of the Torah Study Law should not be put at risk.
  • IDF manpower shortage: Critics argue that the bills the haredi parties have been pushing encourage draft evasion amid the IDF’s severe manpower shortage.
  • Legislative blitz: The coalition has been pushing through a series of controversial laws ahead of the Knesset’s summer recess, including a bill to freeze the arrest of haredi draft evaders, which Yosef accused Netanyahu of using to "cheat" Shas.
  • Eisenkot’s response: Eisenkot expressed support for Shas in principle, saying he could see them as a partner under certain conditions, but he emphasized his lack of recent contact with the party’s leadership.

Perspectives

Shas spiritual leadership

Rabbi Yosef has expressed dissatisfaction with Netanyahu, calling him untrustworthy and a liar, and has suggested that Eisenkot could be a reliable alternative. His remarks, including a reported closed-door preference for Eisenkot, reflect a potential shift in haredi political strategy.

Yashar Party leadership

Gadi Eisenkot has carefully distanced himself from Yosef’s endorsement, stressing that he has had no recent contact with Shas officials. His response indicates a desire to avoid being tied to haredi politics, which are seen as potentially polarizing for his broader electorate.

Shas official response

Yosef’s office denied reports of a potential alliance with Eisenkot, even as the spiritual leader’s public remarks suggested otherwise. The denial highlights internal tensions within Shas over its political future.