Outcry as Haredi rabbi rants against 'accursed' IDF chief, 'may his name and memory be erased'

The dispute over Israel’s military and state funding intensified after Rabbi Aryeh Yazdi, an ultra-Orthodox figure in Bnei Brak, denounced IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir in extreme terms at a rally protesting the arrest of Haredi draft dodgers. Speaking at the event, Yazdi said punitive actions followed soldiers who wore “Messiah” badges, adding that Zamir “sent [such a soldier] to prison for a month” and calling him “accursed,” wishing that “his name and memory be erased.” He also accused the army of trying to “root out” Torah belief and God. Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned the remarks as grave incitement, while President Isaac Herzog denounced the language toward the IDF commander. Political leaders—including Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot—linked the controversy to state funding and wider political divisions.