'May his name be erased': Rabbi curses IDF chief at anti-draft protest

An ultra-Orthodox rabbi caused a political storm when he cursed IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir during an anti-enlistment rally Monday night. 

Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi, a Sephardic ultra-Orthodox rabbi, spoke at the anti-conscription rally in the Haredi city of Bnei Brak Monday night and called for Zamir’s name to “be erased.” 

The phrase is commonly used for the names of enemies of the Jewish people.

“The cursed Chief of Staff, may his name and memory be erased, sent a soldier to prison because he placed a ‘Messiah’ patch [on his uniform],” Rabbi Yazdi said. “In the army, they educate towards the gravest transgressions in the Torah, in this impure country.” 

הרב אריה יזדי בעצרת נגד הגיוס בבני ברק: "הרמטכ"ל הארור ימח שמו וזכרו, שלח חייל לכלא כי הוא שם פתק משיח. בצבא מחנכים לעבירות החמורות ביותר בתורה, במדינה הטמאה הזאת". pic.twitter.com/EudV44juky

— שילה פריד🇮🇱 (@shilofreid) June 29, 2026

In his speech, Rabbi Yazdi also claimed that Israel's success in wars does not come from military capabilities, but from the Torah study of yeshiva students. 

"Those who win wars by what? Do they think by Iron Dome, a missile like that, or all of these things?” Yazdi asked. “No! They win by the Torah! You, the yeshiva students, you are the avrechim [married yeshiva students], you sit in the kollels [yeshiva for married students] and sit and engage in Torah. This is why Iron Dome wins. This is why the soldiers are successful.” 

Rabbi Yazdi claimed that Israel’s problems all stem from its treatment of the yeshiva students. 

“They go around making all kinds of decrees on the yeshiva students, on Torah students. And then they are surprised that there are all kinds of troubles in the people of Israel? It's all because of what the judges do, what these authorities do to hinder the steps of Torah students,” he said. 

These comments were echoed by former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who claimed that the deaths of IDF soldiers are because of decisions made to restrict benefits to yeshiva students. 

Rabbi Yazdi’s comments come amid continued tensions over the issue of enlistment of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students and arrests against those who refuse to serve. 

The comments drew a swift response from politicians across the political spectrum. 

“I strongly condemn the shameful statements made against the Chief of the General Staff last night in Bnei Brak,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on 𝕏. “Even when there are disagreements among us, there is absolutely no place for serious incitement against the IDF and its commanders who protect us all.” 

“Even in times of deep discord, there is no place for curses, insults, or degrading language, certainly not when it comes to the supreme commander of the IDF and of our soldiers, our sons and daughters,” President Isaac Herzog said. 

Ultra-Orthodox Knesset Member Meir Porush also criticized the comments, saying he would never make such a statement, “not even regarding [Attorney General Gali Baharav] Miara.” 

The ultra-Orthodox have supported the coalition in attempts to remove the attorney general, or split the attorney general’s office, until recently, with the failure to pass the Haredi draft exemption bill. 

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who plans to run in the next elections, posted a note to social media, reminding the Israeli public that Rabbi Yazdi received over NIS 650,000 ($219,000) in government funds in the past year, while receiving millions over the past decade. 

“In the next government, we'll put an end to this,” Bennett claimed. “The rule is simple:  Anyone who teaches against Zionism and against the State of Israel will not receive a single shekel from the state.” 

Meanwhile, conflict with the ultra-Orthodox is affecting the coalition’s ability to pass bills.

Earlier on Monday, a bill to prevent Red Cross representatives from visiting Hamas Nukhba force terrorists failed to pass after the ultra-Orthodox parties refused to vote. The refusal came over the failure to advance several bills demanded by the Haredi parties.