Netanyahu an ‘Atheist,’ Rav Yitzchok Yosef Says, Accusing IDF of Targeting Sephardim

Rav Yitzchok Yosef, the former Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel, launched a blistering attack tonight on Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, calling him “an atheist,” while also accusing both Netanyahu and Shas chairman Arye Deri of deliberately delaying the passage of a chareidi draft bill and charging that the IDF has been disproportionately arresting Sephardim.

His remarks came in the wake of weeklong protests outside a military prison where chareidi detainees are being held. Rav Yosef argued that the coalition should have prioritized passing the draft legislation before finalizing the government’s first budget, as stipulated in the coalition agreement. “It should have been before forming the government, as written in the coalition agreement, to pass the draft law before the first budget,” he said.

Rav Yosef leveled particularly harsh criticism at Netanyahu and chareidi representatives in the Knesset, invoking the memory of Chacham Shalom Cohen. “Do not listen to Bibi after the budget. Why did they listen to him? If Chacham Shalom were alive, he would shout at the emissaries of the rabbonim. Why are you dragging your feet? Why are you listening to Bibi? Do you believe him? He is an atheist,” Rav Yosef declared.

The Rishon Letzion pressed on, saying, “You rely on someone like that? What are you relying on him for, to pass the draft law? So more delays, and we got into trouble.”

He also condemned the IDF’s recent campaign of arrests, alleging bias in its enforcement. “They arrest mainly Sephardim. They know that there the father is weak, the mother is weak,” he said, before urging the community to be vigilant. “What is this, Russia? When they knock on the door, look through the peephole to see who it is. If it is them, do not open the door. Get through this difficult period.”4

{Matzav.com Israel}