Shas spiritual leader appears to open door to Eisenkot government, says Netanyahu ‘won’t repent’

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, has openly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that the premier "won't repent." These remarks, delivered in a filmed speech on Saturday evening, suggest a potential shift in Shas's long-standing alliance with Netanyahu's bloc and open the door to supporting his political rival, Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar Party.

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We are in a secular country... There are those whom I don’t believe will repent.

Yosef's comments indicated that Shas might consider joining a government led by Eisenkot after the upcoming elections. "There's no chance [Netanyahu] will repent. Eisenkot might repent," Yosef stated, highlighting a perceived lack of trustworthiness in Netanyahu. Shas has been a crucial coalition partner for Netanyahu's Likud party for decades, alongside United Torah Judaism.

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There's no chance [Netanyahu] will repent. Eisenkot might repent.

Reports from Sunday indicated that Yosef had also expressed privately his inclination to break from the Netanyahu bloc, favoring Eisenkot for prime minister. According to an Army Radio report, Yosef described Eisenkot as "a good man, a warm-hearted Jew" who "loves Torah scholars." He reportedly added, "Netanyahu deceived us over the draft law and on other matters. You cannot rely on him; he is a liar."

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It is possible that we will go with Eisenkot in the upcoming election; I hope United Torah Judaism joins this move.

These statements follow similar sentiments from Rabbi Dov Lando, spiritual leader of United Torah Judaism, in May, who also expressed a loss of trust in Netanyahu. Tensions between the haredi parties and Netanyahu's coalition have been escalating over stalled legislation, particularly concerning the draft law, which critics argue facilitates draft evasion amid a severe IDF manpower shortage. Eisenkot, meanwhile, has stated he would not compromise on the draft law, even if it leads to further elections.

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Eisenkot is a good man, a warm-hearted Jew. He loves Torah scholars. His grandmother voted for Shas and wanted him to become a rabbi. That did not happen, but he is someone we can rely on.