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Former Chief Rabbi: Netanyahu is a Liar and We Can Ally with Eisenkot

Zein Khalil

July 12, 2026•Update: July 12, 2026

ISRAEL

Zein Khalil / Anadolu

Spiritual leader of the Shas party, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef:

- Netanyahu deceived us on the conscription law and other issues

- Eisenkot is a good person.. It is possible for us to go with him to the next elections

- Hope that the United Torah Judaism party will join in supporting Eisenkot

Former Chief Rabbi of Israel Yitzhak Yosef described Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday as a "liar and deceiver," and signaled the possibility of allying with Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot in the next elections.

Yosef's remarks come amid escalating disputes within Netanyahu's camp over the ultra-Orthodox conscription law, after MK Dan Illouz announced on Saturday his withdrawal from the ruling Likud party and his decision not to run in its upcoming primaries, a move that highlighted widening divisions within the party.

Illouz is one of the most prominent voices within Likud calling for the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, advocating for broader equality in military service and opposing legislation that grants broad exemptions or leniencies to yeshiva students.

The Israeli Army Radio reported in a Sunday report that Rabbi Yosef described Netanyahu in closed conversations as a "liar who cannot be trusted."

According to Army Radio, Yosef added: 'Netanyahu deceived us on the conscription law and other issues,' referring to promises he made to the ultra-Orthodox parties before forming his current government in late 2022 to pass a law exempting community members from military service.

Yosef threatened to support former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, in the elections scheduled for next October, instead of the traditional ultra-Orthodox support for Netanyahu.

He said: 'Eisenkot is a good person, a warm Jew, and he loves Torah students. His grandmother voted for Shas and wanted him to become a rabbi, true that did not happen, but he can be trusted,' according to the same source.

He added: 'It is possible for us to go with him in the next elections, and it is possible for us to support him to be the next prime minister.'

Yosef expressed hope that the United Torah Judaism party (Yahadut HaTorah), the second ultra-Orthodox partner in the ruling coalition, would join in supporting Eisenkot, whom recent polls indicate is Netanyahu's most prominent rival.

Yitzhak Yosef is one of the most prominent religious authorities for Eastern ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, served as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi from 2013 to 2023, and is regarded as the spiritual leader of the Shas party, which represents one of the most important ultra-Orthodox parties in the ruling coalition.

No immediate comment was issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his office regarding Yitzhak Yosef's statements, as of 13:30 GMT.

To be continued..