Tensions within the chareidi political camp escalated Wednesday night after a senior Shas official sharply criticized what he called the circulation of “inaccurate quotes” attributed to leading rabbanim regarding the proposed draft law.

The controversy followed a report on Channel 12 News claiming that the Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch said about the bill being advanced by Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth, “This is not the law that was promised to us — we will have to vote against it.”

In response, a very senior figure in Shas lashed out at Litvishe political activists, accusing them of irresponsibly publicizing selective statements in the name of gedolei rabbanim. “Litvishe activists without responsibility are putting out quotes every few days from leading rabbanim against the draft law. It is a disgrace and a shame. The rabbanim have clarified time and again that they stand behind the law,” the Shas official said.

According to the Shas source, the publication of such statements appears aimed at creating political pressure and destabilizing the chareidi camp at a particularly sensitive stage of negotiations.

At the same time, those close to Rav Hirsch sought to calm the situation, emphasizing that there has been no change in his fundamental position that a draft law must be enacted to formally regulate the status of yeshiva students.

They added that the directive to Degel HaTorah Knesset members remains to continue advancing the legislation, while safeguarding the core principles that were agreed upon at the outset.