Shas and Rabbi Yosef Launch Sharp Political Attack Against Itamar Ben Gvir
Shas has intensified its campaign targeting traditional voters, as former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef publicly warned against voting for Temple Mount visitors, implicitly criticizing Itamar Ben Gvir.
Shas is stepping up its campaign for traditional and Sephardic voters, launching a sharp political attack against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party. Speaking at a mass religious assembly at the Acre stadium, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef urged the public not to vote for individuals who ascend the Temple Mount, a clear jab at the Otzma Yehudit leader.
"I call on you: do not be tempted to vote for unworthy people," Rabbi Yosef stated during the event. "Whoever lacks the fear of Heaven and ascends the Temple Mount—halakha strictly forbids voting for them. One must vote only for God-fearing individuals who follow the path of the Torah, like the representatives of Shas led by Rabbi Aryeh Deri."
This fierce political critique comes mere days after Minister Ben Gvir participated in late-night Selichot penitential prayers alongside two members of the Shas Council of Torah Sages—Rabbi Reuven Elbaz and Rabbi Yigal Cohen.
Political observers note that this explicit call reflects deep anxieties within Shas over potential voter leakage toward Otzma Yehudit. The party leadership is eager to sharpen halakhic and public distinctions, framing a vote for Shas as the exclusive legitimate choice for observant traditional Israelis.
