MK Eli Yeshai, the political leader of the Shas Party currently that is engaged in coalition talks with the Likud, told Arutz-7 this week that Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef objects to the disengagement plan. This places the party in a delicate political situation, as Prime Minister Sharon is known to be seeking only parties that support the plan. Yeshai said that Rabbi Yosef's position is taken without consideration of coalition issues.
Rabbi Yosef, the spiritual leader of Shas, recently spelled out his position several months ago. The following are excerpts of a talk he gave, based on the Chabad Hebrew website sos-Israel.com:
"People ask me my position, and I must speak out; a prophet who conceals his prophecy is liable for death. I see this plan as a great danger to life, a very dangerous precedent. If it is carried out, the goyim [Arabs] will say, we have made the Jews run away, the intifada has worked, and we received a prize for our terrorism. Next they will try to do the same thing in Be'er Sheva and Hevron. [One] must vote against the plan, it is totally unacceptable... It gives us nothing in return... For no reason, to abandon Israel. If the plan is implemented, they will be close to Ashkelon, seven kilometers away with their rockets, and they will cause havoc in Israel.
"I dare not be silent. Every G-d-fearing Jew, every child can see what will happen and how this plan endangers Israel. Heaven forbid that it be carried out... I'm not a politician; I'm obligated to what the Torah says... If it goes through, they will lift their heads, and Be'er Sheva and Hevron and Jerusalem will be next. Sharon does not see the future. He is mistaken in what he is doing. It is forbidden to vote for this retreat plan."
Rabbi Yosef, the spiritual leader of Shas, recently spelled out his position several months ago. The following are excerpts of a talk he gave, based on the Chabad Hebrew website sos-Israel.com:
"People ask me my position, and I must speak out; a prophet who conceals his prophecy is liable for death. I see this plan as a great danger to life, a very dangerous precedent. If it is carried out, the goyim [Arabs] will say, we have made the Jews run away, the intifada has worked, and we received a prize for our terrorism. Next they will try to do the same thing in Be'er Sheva and Hevron. [One] must vote against the plan, it is totally unacceptable... It gives us nothing in return... For no reason, to abandon Israel. If the plan is implemented, they will be close to Ashkelon, seven kilometers away with their rockets, and they will cause havoc in Israel.
"I dare not be silent. Every G-d-fearing Jew, every child can see what will happen and how this plan endangers Israel. Heaven forbid that it be carried out... I'm not a politician; I'm obligated to what the Torah says... If it goes through, they will lift their heads, and Be'er Sheva and Hevron and Jerusalem will be next. Sharon does not see the future. He is mistaken in what he is doing. It is forbidden to vote for this retreat plan."