Right-Wing Podcast Host Sparks Outrage Over Comments on Settler Violence

Attorney Tamir Dortal, host of the right-wing podcast "Al HaMashma'ut" (On Meaning), has ignited controversy with remarks made on Thursday. In a podcast episode, Dortal stated that even if Israeli soldiers were to die in a violent confrontation with Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria, it would be a "good" outcome.

Dortal posed a hypothetical scenario to Rabbi בני לאו (Beni Lau), asking whether it would be good or bad if the "sovereign Jewish people" decided to carry out an ethnic cleansing of Jews in Judea and Samaria, and if this would be prevented by force and bloodshed. Rabbi Lau responded decisively that it would be bad.

Dortal then disagreed, arguing, "I think it is good. Even if IDF soldiers die in this event, and 20 or 100 times more settlers die, but in the end, this event is prevented and the Land of Israel remains in our hands, it is good." Rabbi Lau distanced himself from Dortal's statement, calling it a point of contention between them.

Dortal, identified with the political right, has previously hosted prominent political figures on his podcast, including Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Constitution Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman, and former Ambassador and Minister Gilad Erdan.