Full Breakdown
Israeli Leaders Condemn Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi’s Curse of IDF Chief of Staff Amid Draft Protest
6/30/2026, 8:11:20 PM
The Bnei Brak Protest and the Curse
On Monday, a protest in Bnei Brak organized by ultra-Orthodox groups opposed to the recent military-draft legislation turned violent when Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi publicly cursed IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Yazdi declared, “The damned Chief of Staff, may his name and memory be erased, sent a soldier to prison for a month. Why? Because he longed for the messiah,” and accused the army of “indoctrinating people into committing the most severe sins in the Torah.” Hundreds of Haredi men attended; the rally was led by former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and attended by Shas MKs Yoav Ben-Tzur, Michael Malchieli and Yonatan Mashriki.
Background – Draft Exemption Debate and Haredi Tensions
The protest occurred amid a contentious push by the coalition government to expand draft-exemption provisions for the Haredi community. Critics argue that the policy enables large segments of the ultra-Orthodox population to avoid military service while receiving state subsidies, a point highlighted by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who noted that Yazdi’s kollel receives 653,000 shekels annually. The government’s plan links future funding to compliance with national service, framing the issue as a test of civic responsibility and national cohesion.
Official Statements & Responses
President Isaac Herzog condemned the language used, emphasizing that no circumstance justifies insults toward the army’s supreme commander. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this stance, stating that disagreements do not permit “serious incitement against the IDF and its commanders who protect us all.” Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that crossing the “red line of incitement” threatens the security apparatus. The Shas party distanced itself, asserting that Yazdi’s remarks do not reflect the views of the Council of Torah Sages. Several coalition figures, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, were urged to reconsider state funding for institutions that promote draft evasion.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition leaders across the spectrum denounced the incident. Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz labeled the curse “wild and dangerous incitement” that could “end in bloodshed.” Former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot described the episode as “a low point” and a product of a “culture of hatred and division” he attributes to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political strategy. Yair Lapid criticized the government for failing to issue arrest warrants for incitement, while Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman called the remarks “a national disgrace” directly linked to the draft-dodger coalition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Even in times of deep discord, there is no place for curses, insults, or degrading language, certainly not when it comes to the supreme commander of the IDF and our soldiers, our sons and daughters.” — Isaac Herzog, President of Israel
- “I strongly condemn the shameful statements made towards the Chief of Staff last night in Bnei Brak. Even when there are differences of opinion among us, there is no place for serious inflammatory statements against the IDF and its commanders who protect us all.” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
- “This low point is a direct product of the culture of hatred and division that Netanyahu has been dragging the country into for years,” — Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff
- “ Former Prime Minister and current leader of the opposition coalition Juntos, Naftali Bennett, insisted: "The rule is simple, whoever teaches against Zionism and the State of Israel will not receive a shekel from the State.” — Naftali Bennett, former Prime Minister
- “The extreme statements heard last night against the chief of staff at the protest rally held in Bnei Brak in honor of the Torah do not reflect the views of our sages from the Council of Torah Sages,” — Shas party spokesperson
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise reason for the soldier’s imprisonment cited by Yazdi; some describe it as punishment for wearing a “Messiah” patch, while official military statements have not confirmed this detail. The reported annual state subsidy of 653,000 shekels to Yazdi’s kollel appears only in Bennett’s commentary and lacks independent verification.
What’s Next
Coalition leaders have signaled intent to tie government funding to compliance with draft-service obligations, suggesting possible cuts to Haredi institutions that promote exemption. Legislative proposals to tighten draft-exemption criteria are expected to be debated in the Knesset in the coming weeks, with opposition parties promising to pursue legal action against incitement. The controversy is likely to influence public discourse on the balance between religious autonomy and national security responsibilities.
