Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef clarified his stance on the ongoing debate over military enlistment, emphasizing that his recent statements were misrepresented and that he holds no opposition to soldiers. Speaking to his students, Rabbi Yosef stressed that the Torah protects and supports all soldiers, and that his intention was to highlight the importance of strengthening Torah study alongside military service. He expressed deep care for the wellbeing of soldiers and affirmed the value of their role in defending the country, noting that their strength should be rooted in spiritual foundations.
Rabbi Yosef also addressed previous comments regarding hesder yeshivot, which combine religious study with army service, explaining that his remarks were aimed at a small number of deans, not the institutions as a whole. He underscored his positive relationships with rabbis and judges from the Religious Zionist community, mentioning several respected figures and recalling friendly interactions within the religious court.