Top Shas Rabbi Signals Openness to Working With Eisenkot Over Netanyahu Post-Election

The spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, former Sephardic chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, has voiced skepticism about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's willingness to address core ultra-Orthodox demands, particularly concerning military conscription exemptions. Yosef indicated a loss of hope that Netanyahu will "repent," a term he used in his weekly sermon to describe a perceived refusal to meet these demands.

In contrast, Yosef expressed optimism that Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the National Unity party and Netanyahu's main challenger in the upcoming election, might be more amenable to the ultra-Orthodox community's requests. "Will Bibi Netanyahu repent? Not a chance. Eisenkot, perhaps he will," Yosef mused, suggesting a potential shift in Shas's political strategy. This sentiment appears to stem from growing frustration within Shas regarding Netanyahu's perceived inability or unwillingness to secure key promises, such as exemptions from military service for Haredi men.

The remarks follow reports that Shas party leaders recently refused to pledge loyalty to Netanyahu and any future coalition he might form. According to Channel 12, Netanyahu met with leaders from Shas and United Torah Judaism, urging them to commit to his right-wing bloc post-election. Shas leader Aryeh Deri reportedly stated that discussions were impossible without the passage of two specific laws: a Basic Law declaring Torah study a foundational value and temporary legislation to halt arrests of Haredi draft dodgers for 90 days.

Further underscoring Shas's stance, the party-affiliated HaDerech newspaper published an editorial stating that if the pro-Netanyahu bloc fails to pass laws protecting draft evaders, it would "single-handedly disintegrate the ‘natural partnership’ on which it has relied for years." Yosef's suggestion that Eisenkot could "repent" also appears politically calculated, as the former IDF chief has recently indicated a willingness to include Shas in a governing coalition if they accept National Unity's core principles.

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Will Bibi Netanyahu repent? Not a chance. Eisenkot, perhaps he will.