JERUSALEM (VINnews)-Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardic chief rabbi and spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening, declaring there is “no chance” he will “repent” while appearing to express support for opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot.

In a filmed speech, Yosef said Israel is a “secular country” and suggested that Eisenkot, head of the Yashar Party, might be more reliable than the longtime Likud leader.

“There’s no chance [Netanyahu] will repent. Eisenkot might repent,” Yosef said, according to reports. He described Eisenkot as “a good man, a warm-hearted Jew” who “loves Torah scholars,” adding that Eisenkot’s grandmother had voted for Shas and hoped he would become a rabbi.

The rare remarks raise the possibility that Shas could be open to joining a government led by Eisenkot following elections scheduled no later than Oct. 27. Yosef was also quoted as saying it is possible Shas would align with Eisenkot and expressing hope that United Torah Judaism would join the move.

Shas has been a key coalition partner to Netanyahu for decades, with the haredi parties — Shas and United Torah Judaism — providing crucial support to Likud-led governments. The comments come amid ongoing tensions over stalled draft exemption legislation that the haredi parties have been seeking. Critics argue the proposed measures would encourage draft evasion at a time when the Israel Defense Forces face a severe manpower shortage.

Yosef accused Netanyahu of deceiving Shas on the draft law and other issues. “You cannot rely on him; he is a liar,” he said, according to the report.

The statements echo similar criticism from Rabbi Dov Lando, spiritual leader of the Degel Hatorah faction of United Torah Judaism, who said in May that “We no longer have any trust in Netanyahu,” which triggered a coalition crisis.

Yosef’s office denied to The Jerusalem Post that he made the reported remarks behind closed doors.

Eisenkot responded Sunday on Army Radio, saying he would “not compromise on the draft law, even if it means going to another election.”

Recent polls have shown Eisenkot’s Yashar Party emerging as the largest in the opposition bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu.

The Knesset is expected to dissolve at the end of this week, with coalition lawmakers pushing ahead with a legislative agenda that includes deals reportedly being negotiated with haredi parties.