Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef: "If the ultra-Orthodox are forced to enlist - we will leave abroad."

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's recent remarks during a lesson with his students have ignited a firestorm of controversy amid the ongoing debate over the draft law in Israel. In a recording of the lesson, Rabbi Yosef was heard stating, "If the ultra-Orthodox are forced to enlist - we will leave abroad."

Emphasizing the exemption of the Levi tribe from military service, Rabbi Yosef asserted, "They are not taken under any circumstances, whatever happens." He further expressed that if the ultra-Orthodox community were compelled to join the army, "we will all go abroad," referencing a potential mass exodus from Israel.

These statements have raised eyebrows, particularly given Rabbi Yosef's state position, which prohibits his interference in political matters. This comes on the heels of his recent involvement in local authority elections, where he publicly supported select candidates, despite official restrictions.

The echoes of Rabbi Yosef's sentiments harken back to similar declarations made by his father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, in 2013. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef had also suggested that if yeshiva students were to be conscripted, the ultra-Orthodox community might consider leaving the country.

Responding to Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's remarks, Avigdor Lieberman, Chairman of Yisrael Beitenu, condemned the stance, asserting, "Without duties, there are no rights." Lieberman criticized the perceived disregard for Israel's security and religious principles, stating, "It is a shame that Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and the ultra-Orthodox businessmen continue to harm Israel's security and act contrary to Halacha."

The controversy underscores deep divisions within Israeli society regarding military conscription and the role of the ultra-Orthodox community. As debates over the draft law intensify, Rabbi Yosef's statements have further fueled tensions and prompted soul-searching about the delicate balance between religious freedom and civic responsibilities.