TEL AVIV, Israel (VINnews) – Rabbi David Yosef sharply escalated his criticism of Israel’s Supreme Court of Israel, accusing it of undermining Jewish law after judges authorized a protest during Shabbat amid wartime restrictions.

The decision, issued by a panel headed by Isaac Amit, instructed police to permit a large demonstration in Habima Square, even as broader limits on public gatherings remain in place due to security concerns.

Yosef condemned both the substance of the ruling and its timing, arguing that convening and issuing such an order on the Sabbath violates the religious foundations of the state.

He framed the move as part of a broader pattern, claiming the judiciary applies inconsistent standards — restricting religious gatherings while accommodating political protests. He pointed to the suspension of large-scale prayer events at the Western Wall during the war as an example of restraint by the religious public.

According to Yosef, religious leaders did not seek court intervention out of recognition that such petitions would likely be rejected, reinforcing what he described as a lack of fairness within the legal system.

He went further, labeling the court an “enemy of Judaism” and vowing continued opposition to what he sees as judicial overreach into matters of religious significance.

The remarks drew political backing from Moshe Gafni, a senior ultra-Orthodox lawmaker, who argued that leadership of the court should reflect greater sensitivity to Jewish religious values.

The controversy also highlighted competing claims of unequal enforcement. Critics of the current government have argued that police inconsistently apply wartime gathering restrictions, at times dispersing anti-government protests while allowing other types of gatherings to proceed with less interference.