Eliyahu: Political Views and Controversies
Eliyahu is a prominent and polarizing figure within the religious landscape of Israel, known for his staunch advocacy of religious governance and his hardline stances on national security and ethnic relations. His influence extends from the spiritual guidance of Orthodox communities to direct involvement in the political maneuvers of the Knesset, Israel's national legislature.
Throughout his career, Eliyahu has consistently pushed for a government rooted in faith and traditional values, often clashing with secular or moderate political frameworks. His views are characterized by a belief in divine justice and a commitment to the primacy of the Jewish state in Jerusalem.
Key Facts
- Political Influence: Instrumental in the 2022 coalition crisis by convincing MK Idit Silman to leave the Yamina party.
- Family Ties: Father of Amihai Eliyahu, the Heritage Minister and member of the Otzma Yehudit party.
- Jerusalem Advocacy: Organized a 250-rabbi letter praising President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
- International Friction: Had his U.S. visa revoked in 2022 following calls for a large turnout at a Jerusalem Day flag march.
- Controversial Rhetoric: Has advocated for extreme military responses to rocket attacks and state-sanctioned revenge.
Views on the Government of Israel
Eliyahu has long argued that the leadership of Israel should be explicitly religious. In 2008, following corruption investigations into then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Eliyahu published a pamphlet titled "A Religious Prime Minister – It's Possible." In this document, he questioned the credibility and values of leaders without faith, arguing that Israel requires a prime minister who wears a kippa (a traditional religious head covering).
His political activities often align with the far-right. He maintains a close relationship with Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of the Otzma Yehudit party. Eliyahu's influence was notably felt in 2022 when he helped convince Knesset Member Idit Silman to exit the Yamina party. This move contributed to a crisis in the Bennett–Lapid government, which Eliyahu viewed as being too hostile toward the Chief Rabbinate and too accommodating toward Arabs.
Stances on Arabs and Palestinians
Eliyahu's rhetoric regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is marked by extreme positions. In 2007, he advocated for the "carpet bombing" of areas used to launch Kassam rockets, stating that the number of Palestinian casualties should be whatever is necessary to stop the attacks, even if it reached a million people.
Further controversies include a 2008 article in the newsletter Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, where he called for "state-sanctioned revenge" and suggested hanging the children of a terrorist who attacked the Mercaz Harav yeshiva.
Allegations of Forgery and Incitement
In 2009, Eliyahu was linked to a pamphlet titled On Either Side of the Border, which claimed that the Roman Catholic Church helped Hezbollah members visit Auschwitz to learn how to eliminate Jews. While the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU) later denied senior management authorized the connection, the pamphlet was distributed to IDF troops. Historian Danny Orbach argued the text was a forgery written by a Haredi Jew due to gross geographical and cultural errors regarding the Arab world.
Additionally, in 2010, Eliyahu led a letter signed by 50 rabbis urging Jewish Israelis not to rent housing to Arabs. Although this led to calls for prosecution for racial incitement, the Ministry of Justice closed the investigation in 2012 due to a lack of evidence attributing the statements directly to him.
Views on Natural Disasters
Following the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, Eliyahu described the event as divine punishment. He argued that Syria deserved no pity due to its history of blood libels and invasions of Israel. He similarly suggested that the casualties in Turkey served to "cleanse the world." These comments were condemned by Ron Lauder of the World Jewish Congress and other scholars who stated such views contradict the teachings of the Torah.
The Significance of Jerusalem
Jerusalem remains a central pillar of Eliyahu's worldview. He strongly supported the 2017 decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. embassy there, coordinating a letter of praise from 250 Orthodox rabbis.
In 2022, Eliyahu urged a massive turnout for the annual Jerusalem Day flag march to prevent Palestinians from feeling emboldened. Shortly after, the U.S. State Department revoked his visa. While no official reason was provided, Israeli officials suggested it was a response to his rhetoric regarding Arabs.
Summary of Key Events
| Year | Event/Action | Outcome/Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Advocated carpet bombing | Called for extreme casualties to stop Kassam rockets |
| 2008 | "A Religious Prime Minister" pamphlet | Argued for a leader with a kippa |
| 2009 | On Either Side of the Border pamphlet | Accused of forgery to propagate hatred |
| 2010 | Housing rental letter | Urged against renting to Arabs; investigation closed 2012 |
| 2017 | Trump's Jerusalem proclamation | Organized 250-rabbi letter of support |
| 2022 | Coalition influence & Flag March | Contributed to government crisis; U.S. visa revoked |
| 2023 | Turkey-Syria earthquake comments | Described disaster as divine punishment |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Eliyahu's view on the Israeli Prime Minister?
Eliyahu believes that Israel should be led by a prime minister with faith and religious values, specifically advocating for a leader who wears a kippa.
How did Eliyahu influence the 2022 Israeli government?
He was instrumental in convincing Knesset Member Idit Silman to leave the Yamina party, which contributed to a coalition crisis in the Bennett–Lapid government.
Why was Eliyahu's U.S. visa revoked?
The U.S. State Department revoked his visa in 2022. While no official reason was given, Israeli officials believe it was due to his controversial statements regarding Arabs.
What was the controversy regarding the "On Either Side of the Border" pamphlet?
The pamphlet claimed the Pope and Cardinals helped Hezbollah members visit Auschwitz to learn how to kill Jews. Critics, including historian Danny Orbach, claimed it was a forgery containing factual errors that proved it was not written by an Arab.
How did Eliyahu respond to the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake?
He wrote that the earthquake was a divine punishment for Syria's historical treatment of Jews and for Turkey's defamation of the State of Israel.