A speech by Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, a senior figure in Israel's religious Zionist community, has drawn sharp criticism after remarks he made at a recent religious conference in Jerusalem became public on Wednesday.
Speaking at the "B'chol Levavcha" (With All Your Heart) conference, Rabbi Eliyahu outlined what he characterized as Israel's victories during the current war. Alongside military achievements in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, the rabbi pointed to developments at the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, as another success.
"The Arabs at the Temple Mount are going... uh... less than locusts," Rabbi Eliyahu said during his address. The comment was part of his broader assessment of Israel's security situation and recent developments.
The rabbi framed these events within a larger historical context, telling attendees: "We are in a process of redemption, not just in the last two and a half years."
The conference received partial funding from the Jerusalem Municipality, which stated it had no advance knowledge of the content of Rabbi Eliyahu's speech or the specific statements he would make.
Following media inquiries, municipal officials said they were unaware of the remarks and would investigate the matter. They emphasized that if the statement was indeed made, it does not reflect the city's position.
"The details in your inquiry are not known to the Jerusalem Municipality and the matter will be examined. If the statements were indeed made, they do not represent its position," the municipality said in response.
Officials stressed that events receiving municipal support are instructed to avoid political or offensive content, though they acknowledged the city cannot control every statement made by speakers. "It should be emphasized that the municipality is careful to note that political or offensive remarks should not be made at various events it supports, however it has no control over statements made by speakers," the municipality stated.
