Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Sparks Controversy with Remarks on Arabs at Temple Mount

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, a leading figure in Religious Zionism and head of the Rabbinical Council of Communities, caused a stir with comments made during a recent speech at the "With All Your Heart" religious conference in Jerusalem. In his address, Eliyahu listed what he considered Israel's victories in recent conflicts, including those in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, and cited changes at the Temple Mount as another triumph. He controversially stated that "the Arabs at the Temple Mount are going... less than grasshoppers," referring to the security situation and developments in Israel over recent years.

Eliyahu framed these events as part of a broader redemption process extending beyond the current two-and-a-half-year conflict period. The conference was partially funded by the Jerusalem Municipality, which later stated it was unaware of the content of Eliyahu's speech or his specific remarks beforehand. Following media inquiries, the municipality said the comments were unfamiliar to them and that they would investigate the matter. They emphasized that if the statements were indeed made, they do not represent the municipality's position.

The Jerusalem Municipality also highlighted that events it supports come with instructions to avoid political or offensive statements, though it acknowledged it cannot control every speaker's words during such events. This incident has sparked debate over the boundaries of political and religious discourse in publicly funded forums in Jerusalem.