Prominent Rabbi Criticizes Halachic Ruling Permitting Olive Harvesting in Palestinian Groves

Rabbi Yehuda Gilad, head of the Ma'ale Gilboa yeshiva and rabbi of Kibbutz Lavie, has sharply criticized a halachic ruling by Rabbi Dov Lior that permits Jews in Judea and Samaria to harvest olives from Palestinian groves, even those far from Jewish settlements. In an interview with Kol Rega radio, Gilad stated that disputes over land ownership cannot justify damaging others' property, asserting that such actions contradict both morality and Jewish values. He emphasized the need to consider state laws and the ethical consequences of such acts alongside religious arguments. Gilad warned that justifying the seizure of Arab property could set a dangerous precedent against Jews in other countries. Citing the biblical story of Abraham's purchase of the Cave of the Patriarchs, Gilad noted that even with a divine promise of the Land of Israel, Abraham legally acquired the land from its owners. The rabbi argued that adherence to justice and morality strengthens the Jewish people's claim to their land. He described the damage to Palestinian property and attempts to justify it with religious reasoning as "desecration of God's name" and a "distortion of the Torah." Gilad clarified that this issue involves a small group of radicals, not the majority of settlers. Rabbi Yehuda Gilad, born in 1955, is a notable figure in the liberal wing of religious Zionism. Originally from Brazil, he studied at the Merkaz HaRav and Ar Etzion yeshivas. He represented the Meimad party and served as a Knesset member from the Labor-Meimad bloc in 2002-2003. Gilad advocates for a more flexible approach to conversion and often criticizes the right-wing religious-nationalist camp for prioritizing territorial issues over ethics and social concerns.