Rabbi bars voters from backing party over non-Jewish candidate

• Despite ferevent pro-'Israeli' activism, election candidate Yoseph Hadad is facing religious-based discrimination from a top Rabbi.

Extremist Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, head of the Ateret Kohanim yeshiva in occupied Jerusalem, has sparked intense political and religious controversy across 'Israel’ Wednesday after issuing a religious ruling prohibiting Jews from voting for any political party that places a non-Jewish candidate in a leadership position. 

The ruling came in response to the newly formed right-wing Amcha Yisrael party, established by reserve brigadier general Ofer Winter, which placed pro-'Israel' Yoseph Haddad in the second slot of its electoral slate ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections. 

Religious discrimination

In an audio recording broadcast by local media, Aviner explicitly barred religious voters from backing the party, citing traditional religious texts to justify the systemic exclusion of non-Jews from political authority. 

"He can be a private citizen, yes, but not a leader." 

When pressed on whether exceptions could be made for non-Jews who served in the military or had significant contributions to the nation, Aviner reiterated that political leadership remains reserved exclusively for Jews, rendering the entire party slate unacceptable. 

"Certainly, a non-Jewish friend should be treated well if he meets the definition of a resident alien, but he cannot be given positions of leadership over the nation”.

Read more: Anti-immigration commentator Milo Yiannopoulos deported from US

Internal clashes 

Responding to the ruling, party leader Ofer Winter rejected Aviner’s edict, defending Haddad's placement by citing his military service in the Givati Brigade and his loyalty to ‘Israel’.

“I am proud of you for having been a commander and leader of soldiers in the Golani Brigade. I am proud that you risked your life for the people of Israel and were wounded in battle. You fought in uniform, and long after your service, you continue fighting to defend the people of Israel everywhere in the world.” 

The sharp public dispute underscores the deep-seated racial and religious chauvinism embedded within ‘Israel’s’ political and religious establishment, where even non-Jewish individuals who actively defend ‘Israeli’ policies face entrenched discrimination and rejection based on ethno-religious discrimination.