BENI BRAK, Israel (VINnews) — Aryeh Deri, head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, criticized a mob attack on two female soldiers in Bnei Brak, calling the violence “completely against the teachings of the Torah” and harmful to the Haredi community.

Deri said the actions by a small group of extremists damage the community’s efforts to protect yeshiva students from mandatory military service and tarnish the reputation of the ultra-Orthodox public.

He urged the community to reject such behavior, saying those responsible should be expelled. The statement echoed comments from former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, a spiritual authority for Shas, who also called for condemnation of the attackers.

The attack comes amid ongoing debates in Israel over military conscription and the exemptions granted to yeshiva students.

Now in Bnei Brak: Israeli police arrest an Ultra orthodox woman after clashes broke out against enlistment to the Israeli army pic.twitter.com/EpOAD1k8rv

— Oren Ziv (@OrenZiv_) February 15, 2026