Shas MK Moshe Abutbul responded Tuesday evening to the controversy surrounding remarks made at the recent protest against the arrest of bnei yeshivos, warning that opponents of the chareidi community are seizing upon every controversial statement to undermine the broader struggle on behalf of the olam haTorah.

Speaking on Kol Chai’s Hamahadura Hamerkazis with Avi Mimran, Abutbul said the current climate demands caution in public remarks, arguing that critics are searching for opportunities to damage the image of the chareidi community.

“We are in a very sensitive period,” Abutbul said. “They are searching with a fine-tooth comb for every statement we make in order to spoil and destroy every good thing we’re trying to accomplish. Sometimes, ‘hamaskil ba’eis hahi yidom.'”

Referring to the letter issued in the name of members of Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, Abutbul said the movement has always sought to draw Jews closer rather than push them away.

“Yisroel, af al pi shechata – Yisroel hu,” he said, emphasizing that even during fierce disagreements, leaders must remain mindful of both their language and the broader public consequences of their words.

According to Abutbul, the recent controversy ended up harming efforts to advocate on behalf of bnei Torah. Rather than discussing the substantive issues raised by the rally, he said, lawmakers focused instead on the inflammatory remarks.

“Instead of discussing the issues with us seriously in today’s committee meetings, they brought this up in order to divert attention from the legitimate arguments raised at the rally,” he said. “They were looking for those two words so they could amplify them and deepen the hatred toward us.”

At the same time, Abutbul stressed that the public debate should not obscure the rally’s central message, which he said was to defend the honor of Torah and protest the arrest of bnei yeshivos.

“Bnei Torah are the crown of creation, and the entire world exists because of them,” he said. “Every success achieved by our soldiers comes בזכות the Torah learning of the bnei yeshivos. We say that without embarrassment and without blinking.”

He added that the message should be conveyed clearly, but with wisdom.

“The equation is ‘Yavneh v’Chachameha.’ The olam haTorah sustains the world, and thanks to the soldiers, the olam haTorah is able to sit and learn in safety. These are two things that complement one another.”

Abutbul also drew a distinction between the words of the generation’s leading gedolei Yisroel and those of other rabbonim and talmidei chachamim, saying the former speak with the responsibility and authority of national leadership.

“If I were to say a quarter of what Maran Rav Ovadia said, they would tear me apart like a fish,” he remarked.

Concluding the interview, Abutbul expressed hope that the controversy would soon pass and that attention would return to what he believes is the real issue.

“I believe they’ll get back to discussing the enormous contribution of the bnei Torah. We’re fighting for the olam haTorah—and we have to say that clearly.”

{Matzav.com}