JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An unprecedented political and legal storm erupted on Sunday during the Supreme Court hearing on the issue of the draft law and yeshiva funding. At the center of the uproar were remarks made by one of the petitioners’ representatives, which were picked up by open microphones as he was heard saying: “We will dismantle the world of Torah.”

The statement was made by attorney Chagai Kelly, representing the “Free Israel” organization, as he consulted with his colleague Gilad Barnea, representing the “Alert Mothers” organization. Both had petitioned to cut funding and subsidies to yeshiva students who do not serve in the IDF.

¹”אנחנו נפרק את עולם התורה”

כך נשמעו עורכי הדין של העותרים נגד החרדים באמצע הדיון בבג”ץ כשלא שמו לב למיקרופונים. עו”ד גלעד ברנע, המייצג של תנועת “אמא ערה”: “מה אתה אומר חגי? על מה שהצעתי להם, זה יגמור את זה”. עו”ד חגי קלעי, המייצג של “ישראל חופשית”: “אנחנו נפרק את עולם התורה” pic.twitter.com/whTm870NOk

— Judeoespañol 🇮🇱 (@Judeoespanol) April 12, 2026

The statement caused deep shock among the leadership of the charedi public, who quickly presented it as proof of the petitioners’ true intentions—not equality in sharing the burden or concern for the army, but a direct ideological war against the world of yeshivos.

The Chairman of Degel HaTorah, MK Moshe Gafni, responded sharply, linking the remarks directly to the Passover holiday. “As we said last week: ‘And it is this that has stood for our ancestors and for us… for in every generation they rise against us to destroy us, and the Holy One, blessed be He, saves us from their hands,’” Gafni stated.

He added a message of endurance in the face of the petitioners: “History proves time and again: those who sought to harm the world of Torah disappeared into the dust of history, while we continue to exist and thrive. So it was, and so it will be. No hateful statement will extinguish the light of Torah.”

The Shas faction also attacked the motives behind the High Court petition, claiming that “the truth has emerged.” According to them, “it is not the needs of the army or reserve duty that are at stake here, but one declared goal: ‘to dismantle the world of Torah.’”

In its statement, the faction also leveled harsh criticism at the judicial system: “Left-wing organizations that hate Judaism have joined forces with detached and power-drunk judges,” in an attempt to harm the spiritual strength of the Jewish people during wartime. “This is a shame and disgrace that will be remembered forever.”