Rabbi Aviner Rules Against Voting for Party with Non-Jewish Candidate

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, dean of the Ateret Cohanim yeshiva, has ruled that it is forbidden according to Halakha, Jewish law, to vote for the party led by retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter, which includes Yosef Haddad, a non-Jewish candidate, in the second position on its list. Rabbi Aviner stated, "Certainly not," explaining that a distinction must be made between personal treatment of a gentile and appointing one to a leadership position.

He elaborated that while it is appropriate to treat a gentile well if they fit the definition of a "resident alien" (ger toshav), they cannot be given leadership roles over the nation. Rabbi Aviner referenced the Rambam's laws of kings, asserting that even someone recognized as a "righteous gentile" cannot serve as a leader in the Land of Israel. He clarified that this ruling does not negate the individual's status as a citizen, stating, "He can be a private citizen, yes, but not a leader."

The questioner reportedly mentioned the party's second-ranked candidate being a gentile, referring to Haddad's placement on Winter's list, without explicitly naming him.