HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Moshe Amar, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and Rishon LeZion, sharply criticized Chareidi political representatives over their handling of the ongoing yeshiva draft crisis, while warning that boycotting the elections would only create further difficulties for the Torah community.

Speaking in an interview with Rabbi Moshe Ben Lulu on Kol Chai Radio's B'Govah Halev program on Monday evening, October 26, HaRav Amar expressed deep disappointment with the political leadership's failure to secure a satisfactory resolution for yeshiva bochurim.

He said that representatives from across the Chareidi political spectrum, including Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Litvish, and Chassidic factions, had failed to adequately address the situation.

HaRav Amar acknowledged the frustration felt by members of the Chareidi community, particularly those affected by enforcement measures and uncertainty surrounding the status of Bnei Torah.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that dissatisfaction with elected representatives should not lead voters to abandon political participation altogether.

To illustrate his point, HaRav Amar compared an election boycott to demolishing an entire building because several bricks had fallen out. Although the damage requires attention, he argued, destroying the entire structure would only make matters worse.

He warned that reduced Chareidi representation in the Knesset could have consequences extending beyond the draft issue, potentially affecting institutions and services central to religious life in Eretz Yisrael.

Among the areas he identified were kashrus, the Chief Rabbinate, rabbinical courts, and the Kosel.

HaRav Amar also raised concerns about the possible direction of a future government and its approach to religious affairs. These remarks reflected his warnings about potential political developments, rather than confirmed government appointments or policies.

Throughout the interview, HaRav Amar distinguished between holding Chareidi politicians accountable for their failures and weakening the community's ability to influence decisions affecting Torah institutions.

His message was that criticism of political representatives may be justified, but an election boycott would not resolve the draft crisis and could leave the Chareidi community with less influence over issues of religious importance.

The remarks came ahead of Tuesday's Knesset elections, as the unresolved status of yeshiva bochurim remained a major concern for Chareidi voters and their rabbinical leadership.