Former Israeli chief rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef delivered pointed remarks Wednesday night that appeared to criticize the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction of United Torah Judaism for opposing a previous version of legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshivah, suggesting that the current wave of arrests might have been avoided had the bill been enacted.

Expressing frustration over the failure to pass the legislation, Rav Yosef said: “It’s a great shame that the law regulating the status of yeshivah students was not passed last month when the Likud had already agreed to cooperate. We agreed, and others in the chareidi parties opposed it. Perhaps that is why we are seeing all these arrests.”

The former Rishon Letzion’s comments come amid what many are describing as an unprecedented wave of arrests of yeshivah bochurim in recent days. Under a new policy attributed to Police Commissioner Danny Levy, police have reportedly been transferring detained bnei yeshivah to military authorities.

His remarks touched on a longstanding debate within the coalition regarding legislation addressing the draft status of yeshivah students. While Shas and Degel HaTorah had indicated a willingness to advance the proposed legislation, Agudas Yisroel, led by MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, opposed the bill, largely due to concerns over the inclusion of enlistment targets and potential sanctions.

Meanwhile, the Knesset today gave preliminary approval to the Basic Law: Torah Study, a measure viewed by some as an alternative approach to addressing the legal status of bnei yeshivah. According to Rav Yosef, however, the earlier draft law could have prevented the current arrest campaign.

The former Rishon Letzion’s comments highlight the growing disagreement among the chareidi parties over how best to confront the draft crisis. While Shas and Degel HaTorah believed it was preferable to secure legal protections for yeshivah students even if compromises were required, Agudas Yisroel maintained that it was better to wait for legislation that more fully addressed its concerns.

It should be noted that last year Rav Yosef made headlines when he instructed yeshivah students to disregard draft notices sent by the military.

“I said that if a draft order arrives—tear it up, tear it up, throw it into the toilet and flush the water,” he said at the time in a direct and unequivocal instruction.

{Matzav.com}