The United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party issued a scathing statement on Monday condemning recent assaults on chareidi Members of Knesset, calling the attacks a “disgraceful display of violence” that only serves to harm the Torah community and fuel animosity against it.
The statement followed a wave of verbal and physical attacks against MK Yaakov Asher of Degel HaTorah and MK Yoav Ben-Tzur of Shas, both targeted in recent days by extremists protesting the advancement of the new draft law. Behind the scenes, UTJ officials have pointed fingers at activists associated with the Yerushalmi faction for orchestrating the assaults.
In its official declaration, UTJ wrote: “The United Torah Judaism faction strongly protests and denounces the violent incidents that have taken place in recent days against the shluchie derabbonon, the chareidi Members of Knesset.”
The party rejected attempts to frame the incidents as mere demonstrations, stating: “Members of the faction utterly repudiate the baseless claim that these are ‘protests.’ These are severe acts of violence that have no place anywhere, under any circumstances.”
UTJ lawmakers further warned that “these violent outbursts provide ammunition to those who seek to harm and persecute lomdei Torah, giving them yet more excuses to attack while portraying the Torah community as violent.”
The statement concluded: “Our representatives reaffirm their unwavering commitment to continue working on behalf of Torah learning and Torah scholars throughout Eretz Yisroel, in accordance with the guidance of gedolei Yisroel.”
During the Shas party meeting held the same day, party leader Aryeh Deri also condemned the recent assaults, referencing the attack on MK Yoav Ben-Tzur outside a shiur given by Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef on Motzoei Shabbos.
“We all denounce in the strongest possible terms the serious assault on MK Yoav Ben-Tzur,” Deri said. “When we hear how Liberman now speaks disparagingly about lomdei Torah as a result of this event, we understand the magnitude of the chillul Hashem caused by those rioters. The attack was a real danger to life and could easily have ended far worse. To our dear friend Reb Yoav we say: Chazak ve’ematz, Hashem imcha gibor hachayil!”
Meanwhile, police have raised security precautions for several chareidi MKs following the surge in threats and protests. Israel Police Operations Chief, Commissioner David Filo, officially designated MKs Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher as being under Level 4 threat, meaning regular police patrols will monitor their homes and security cameras will be installed on-site.
In addition, the Knesset Guard recently offered personal protection to Aryeh Deri, though he declined the proposal.
The heightened security comes amid intensifying demonstrations outside the homes of chareidi lawmakers—particularly those of Deri and Asher—over the proposed draft law to regulate the status of yeshiva students. The bill includes higher enlistment targets and sanctions, drawing fierce opposition from parts of the chareidi community.
Last night, dozens of protesters affiliated with the Yerushalmi faction gathered outside MK Asher’s home, prompting a large police response and several arrests after clashes broke out.
On Motzoei Shabbos, MK Yoav Ben-Tzur was violently attacked after leaving Rav Yitzchak Yosef’s weekly shiur at the Yazdim shul in Yerushalayim’s Bucharim neighborhood.
President Yitzchak Herzog condemned the wave of violence, declaring: “Violence against public representatives is a red line that must never be crossed. Israeli society is already in a tense and sensitive period, and it is incumbent upon all of us to denounce any expression of violence, incitement, or humiliation—from any side. This is a test of the character of our nation. I call on Israel Police to bring all those involved to justice.”
{Matzav.com}
