Rabbi Guy Alaluf Attributes Settler Hatred to Deep Christian Theological Roots

Rabbi Guy Alaluf, a community rabbi, researcher, and lecturer with expertise in Christianity, explained in an interview with Channel 7 that the animosity toward Israeli settlers stems from a profound Christian theological perspective. He argued that for two millennia, Christianity has viewed Judaism as a diminished religion, with Jews seen as weak for not accepting Jesus as the Messiah. The return of Jews to their land and their strength, especially embodied by settlers who live by the Torah and are deeply connected to the land, challenges this Christian worldview and provokes hostility.

Rabbi Alaluf dismissed the notion that European hatred of settlers is primarily due to a desire for Middle East stability, noting that far deadlier conflicts like the war in Ukraine receive far less focused criticism. He emphasized that the root cause is theological, stating that Christians will only accept Jews if they are weak or dead. Regarding Israeli society, he observed a significant shift over the past decade, with growing admiration for settlers, despite a shrinking minority on the Israeli left who continue to oppose them, often echoing Christian-derived views.

He highlighted the settlers’ substantial contributions to Israeli security, economy, demography, and social welfare, asserting that such positive impact makes the hatred against them irrational and deeply rooted in theology. Rabbi Alaluf believes that understanding this theological basis could lead to a rejection of such hatred and a revival of Jewish identity among European Jews who have assimilated Christian worldviews. He recounted meeting secular Jews who, upon learning about this theological context, felt a renewed connection to their Jewish heritage.