A prominent former Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel , Yitzhak Yosef, has sparked controversy after claiming that US President Donald Trump's criticism of Israel and support for a deal with Iran amounted to "divine punishment" for attempts to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jewish students into the Israeli military.
Yosef, known for a string of inflammatory public remarks, argued that legal and political efforts to draft Haredi men into military service had provoked divine retribution against Israel.
"Why did [Trump] turn against us for no reason? Because of the decrees they issue against the students of Torah; that is why he turned against us," he said, reiterating calls for blanket exemptions allowing religious students to continue Torah study instead of serving in the military.
His comments come amid mounting anger within Israel's ultra-Orthodox community over efforts to enforce military conscription, including arrests and detentions of draft evaders.
The dispute has triggered demonstrations across Israel, with Haredi protesters blocking roads and clashing with authorities after the Israeli High Court ordered greater enforcement against those refusing military service.
The crisis has exposed growing fractures within Israeli society as the military struggles to replenish its ranks following nearly three years of war and mass mobilisation linked to Israel's assault on Gaza.
Since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, which leading human rights organisations and genocide scholars have described as genocidal, and amid its military campaign and continuing occupation of parts of southern Lebanon, the Israeli military has issued tens of thousands of draft notices to ultra-Orthodox men as it seeks to address mounting manpower shortages.
Many recipients have ignored the orders, resulting in thousands being classified as draft evaders and facing possible sanctions, arrest and detention.
Israeli officials have increasingly argued that prolonged military operations on multiple fronts have made the longstanding exemption system unsustainable. At least 32 Israeli soldiers have been reported killed on the Lebanese front since fighting resumed in March, with dozens more wounded, including in attacks involving Hezbollah's FPV drones.
Yosef also launched a personal attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of targeting religious students and describing her as a "wicked woman" and "garbage".
His remarks echoed increasingly hostile rhetoric from ultra-Orthodox politicians. Meir Porush, a lawmaker from the United Torah Judaism party, recently said there would soon be no choice but to "drive her out with sticks and stones".
The fight over conscripting ultra-Orthodox Jews was a key factor in the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, with Haredi parties threatening to bring down the government unless draft exemptions for yeshiva students were protected.
Israeli media reported on Monday that Haredi groups were preparing large-scale demonstrations against mandatory military service, including protests outside the Beit Lid military prison and plans to block major roads later this week.
Several influential rabbis, whose rulings carry significant authority among their followers, have publicly instructed young men to tear up draft notices and refuse enlistment.
The Haredi community makes up around 13% of Israel's population. Many ultra-Orthodox Jews oppose military service, arguing that integration into Israel's largely secular military institutions threatens their religious identity and way of life.