Rabbi David Stav has moved to quash persistent speculation about his entry into Israeli politics, issuing a clear statement after his name appeared in multiple reports about potential election slates.
The rumors gained momentum when Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal published a poll on his Twitter account testing voter support for a hypothetical party. The proposed list would be led by former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and include several figures including Avir, Shvut Raanan, Moshe Solomon, Nadav Ha'etzni, and Rabbi Stav, potentially joining forces with a party headed by Chili Tropper.
In response to the mounting speculation, Rabbi Stav issued an unequivocal denial. "In recent days my name has come up in reports dealing with various political formations," he wrote. "To remove any doubt: I have no intention of running in any form in the Knesset elections."
The rabbi, who serves as chief rabbi of the city of Shoham and heads Tzohar, a prominent religious Zionist rabbinical organization, added that he would continue his work within the religious sphere. "I pray for the success of all those who seek to lead the State of Israel to prosperity and growth," he stated, "but I intend to continue working from within the world of Torah in the Shoham rabbinate and in the Tzohar Rabbis organization."
