Despite Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s attempts at persuading Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to support a possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, it seems that such efforts have failed to produce the results desired by the prime minister.
Rabbi Yosef has indicated that he would oppose any Israeli unilateral action against Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel’s Channel 10 news reported.
The spiritual leader’s declaration would have tangible consequences if and when the cabinet would be in a position to vote on such a move.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Housing and Construction Minister Ariel Atias, both of the Shas political party, would oppose any Israeli unilateral action as long as the rabbi refused to change his position on the matter, as would other hareidi government ministers.
At this point, it seems that the Prime Minister cannot rely on Rabbi Yosef or his followers for support in, what many claim to be an entirely necessary and unavoidable strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Last week, Netanyahu sent National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror to the rabbi’s home in Jerusalem, in an attempt to try to persuade him to support a possible Israeli strike.
While the Shas spiritual leader recently called on Jews to pray to G-d to destroy Israel’s enemies, namely Iran and Hizbullah, it seems that, as of now, he does not feel that Israel should be the lone instrument to carry out that destruction.