Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni on Wednesday issued an extraordinary directive ordering party representatives in municipalities across Israel to immediately suspend all cooperation with the Israel Police.

The dramatic move comes amid escalating tensions surrounding the arrests of yeshiva bochurim accused of draft evasion.

In a sharply worded letter sent nationwide to Degel HaTorah representatives in local government, Gafni wrote: “Following the change in policy by the Israel Police, and so that we should not, chalilah, become partners in harming the holy Torah and those who study it, I request that all cooperation with the Israel Police — including municipal policing units — be halted immediately until further notice.”

The unprecedented instruction sent shockwaves through Israel’s political system and immediately drew fierce backlash from opposition figures.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid strongly condemned Gafni’s announcement, accusing the chareidi party of undermining the state.

“Gafni’s announcement calling for anarchy throughout the State of Israel is further proof of why cooperation with the ultra-Orthodox parties is forbidden,” Lapid declared.

“Their attempts to undermine the very existence of the State of Israel are disgraceful. They should sit in the opposition,” he added.

The confrontation follows the overnight arrest of several Yeshiva Bochrim.

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