Rabbi Beni Lau Criticizes Right-Wing Leaders for 'Destroying Our Home'

Rabbi Beni Lau has issued a sharp critique of the right-wing and Religious Zionist leadership, accusing them of "destroying our home" and fostering chaos. His remarks came in the wake of a severe car-ramming attack near the Makabim checkpoint on Route 443, which critically injured IDF reservist Neriah Laiter, son of Israel's US Ambassador Yehiel Laiter.

In a social media post, Rabbi Lau expressed shock over Laiter's injury and prayed for his recovery, praising the self-sacrifice of the Religious Zionist community. However, he then pivoted to criticize what he perceives as the sector's willful blindness to "terrible things happening in their sphere of existence in Judea and Samaria." He questioned whether voters would continue to "point their finger at a group of people in power who are destroying your and my home."

Rabbi Lau directed his criticism at figures like Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Minister Orit Strock, and MK Zvi Sukkot, suggesting their actions are driven not by security concerns but by a desire for a "Greater Land of Israel without any Arab presence." He argued this vision forces the IDF to divert resources from fighting terrorism to deal with "outlaw groups" that drag the army into costly operations. He identified "leaders whom the national-religious public worships and elevates" as contributing to the current "chaos."

As an example, Rabbi Lau cited the issue of the unauthorized settlement outpost of Homesh. He noted that while the government approved its return, its leaders quickly declared it a "first step" and moved it to a new hill in Area A, which he described as a strategic point in "Land of Israel" territory, disregarding the Oslo Accords.

He concluded that the support from rabbis and ministers for these actions, even when they contradict government decisions, creates an absurd situation of "offensive governance" where "there is no law, no state, no government, no sovereignty." Rabbi Lau urged his readers, particularly those in the Religious Zionist community, to reflect on whether their votes truly strengthen Israel, concluding with a call to "turn away from evil."