An interview addresses a rabbi’s assessment of the current situation in the Middle East and the role of Israel. It cites high casualty figures in the Gaza Strip, including around 75,000 deaths, as well as massive destruction affecting approximately 90 percent of buildings. It also reports increasing violence in the West Bank by settlers, including attacks on children and the confiscation of homes. At the same time, the conflict is escalating regionally with attacks on Lebanon and Iran, raising the risk of a wider war. The rabbi argues that, according to religious interpretation, the State of Israel has no right to exist and that the land should belong entirely to the Palestinians, while Jews could live there as citizens under Palestinian administration.
He draws a sharp distinction between Judaism and Zionism, describing the latter as a movement that distances people from faith. In this context, he interprets the term “Amalek” as a symbolic label for forces that alienate people from God and assigns this role to Israel’s political leadership. Within Israel, he says, there are tens of thousands of strictly religious Jews who refuse military service and accept imprisonment as a result. The rabbi emphasizes that many Orthodox Jews worldwide reject the State of Israel and do not participate in elections or accept state benefits. Historically, Jews are described as having lived peacefully in other countries for centuries, particularly in Muslim-majority regions.
From a religious perspective, he describes the Messiah as a spiritual figure who will bring peace and unity to all people without violence or political power. Concepts such as rebuilding the Temple or the “red cow” are interpreted as misunderstood or symbolic rather than as political directives. He views Zionism as a cause of rising antisemitism worldwide, as Israel’s actions are equated with Judaism. As an example, he points to Jewish life in Muslim countries such as Iran, where about 35,000 Jews lived and where state-supported institutions such as a Jewish hospital existed.