Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed Publicly Supports Central Command Chief Avi Blot Amid Defense Minister Dispute

Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed, head of the Beit El Yeshiva and a senior figure among Religious Zionist rabbis, publicly expressed strong support for Central Command Chief Avi Blot following a public dispute between Blot and the Israeli Defense Minister. While praising the Defense Minister for his significant efforts to advance settlement activity in Judea and Samaria, Rabbi Melamed sharply criticized the treatment of Blot, calling it "a very serious act." He emphasized that Blot enjoys widespread respect and has taken exceptional actions to support the settlements. Rabbi Melamed stated, "The Defense Minister has done wonderful things for the settlements in Judea and Samaria and achieved important results, but what was done to General Avi Blot was, in my opinion, very serious." He further praised Blot's unique contributions, saying, "No commander has done such wonderful things for the settlements in Judea and Samaria." Rabbi Melamed concluded by affirming his backing of Blot, saying, "We strengthen his hands."