Heritage Minister Eliyahu Questions Commitment of Anti-Government Protesters

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has again sparked controversy with remarks targeting participants of anti-government protests. Speaking at a pre-election panel in a Tel Aviv school on Tuesday, Eliyahu questioned the willingness of protesters, specifically mentioning those demonstrating at Kaplan Street, to fight in the military. "I don't want to draft someone from Kaplan, have him enlist in combat, and then he won't get up to charge," Eliyahu stated, casting doubt on their fighting spirit. He expressed a desire for a "value revolution" through changes in the education system to foster greater dedication.

This latest statement refocuses attention on the minister, whose ministry was established in 2015 largely for coalition purposes. Eliyahu, ranked fourth on the Otzma Yehudit party list, has a history of making provocative declarations. In November 2023, about a month after the October 7th Hamas attacks, he suggested that dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza was "one way" to create deterrence.

Previously, in July 2025, Eliyahu caused a significant media storm by prioritizing the conquest of Gaza over the return of hostages. He asserted that "the mission is not first and foremost the hostages" and called for Gaza to become Jewish, claiming this would ultimately benefit Arabs as well.