In the wake of a heated protest outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg following a wave of arrests of chareidi draft evaders, the Shas and Degel HaTorah factions released a rare joint statement shortly after midnight, criticizing the actions of Israel’s High Court while also denouncing violence.

The statement came after demonstrators gathered outside Justice Solberg’s residence amid growing tensions surrounding the arrests of yeshiva bochurim classified as draft evaders.

In their joint declaration, the two parties said: “We are pained and shocked by the ongoing campaign of persecution and trampling of Torah learners by the judges of the Supreme Court. We have warned time and again that these measures would lead to extremism and anarchy, and sadly, we are now witnessing those fears become reality.”

At the same time, the chareidi factions stressed that they unequivocally oppose any acts of violence connected to the protests.

“We strongly condemn any act of violence of any kind,” the statement said. “Violence is contrary to the way of the Torah and is completely unacceptable.”

The parties concluded by directing a sharp appeal to leaders of the right-wing bloc, urging them to speak out not only against violence but also against what they described as the continued targeting of yeshiva students.

“However, we demand that the leaders of the right-wing parties, who were quick and correct to condemn this incident, also condemn the ongoing and cruel persecution of Torah learners and yeshiva students. The blood of Torah learners is not hefker.”

Shas MK Yinon Azoulay also addressed the issue during a speech in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday evening, condemning the conduct directed at Justice Solberg while defending the right to protest.

“In the State of Israel, it is permitted and even legitimate to demonstrate and express protest, but violence is not part of the democratic rules of the game. Going to the home of a public servant, harassing members of his family, and disrupting their daily lives — this is not the way of the Torah. We feel deep pain over the harm being done to bnei Torah and are working with all our strength to resolve their status, but that does not justify violent behavior of any kind. Therefore, I unequivocally condemn every expression of violence and incitement.”

Azoulay also called on national leaders to publicly address the arrests of yeshiva students.

“I hope that just as Prime Minister Netanyahu and Education Minister Yoav Kisch condemned these events, we will also hear a clear and firm voice from them regarding the arrest of bnei Torah. Bnei Torah who sit and learn Torah should be in the batei medrash and continue their learning, not find themselves under arrest. This is an important public and moral message that the leadership of the state must state clearly,” said Azoulay.

{Matzav.com}