Former Israeli security chiefs, left-wing politicians and a racism watchdog demanded on Thursday that authorities investigate Rabbi Gedalia Axelrod for possible incitement following a religious decree targeting political party leaders who help establish a government with backing from Arab-majority parties.
Axelrod, a Chabad rabbi who previously headed the Haifa Rabbinical Court, issued the ruling in an open letter concerning a government supported by the Joint List and Ra’am. He invoked din rodef, a religious designation that permits stopping someone considered a grave threat by any means, including killing. He argued that those supporting such a government would endanger the people of Israel.
The designation, which literally means “law of the pursuer,” has no standing under Israeli law. It carries particular significance in Israeli political history because Yigal Amir cited it as religious justification for assassinating prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in November 1995.
Twenty former senior security officials signed a letter asking Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blatt, head of the police investigations and intelligence division, to open an investigation into incitement to violence or racism. Signatories included former Shin Bet chiefs Carmi Gillon and Ami Ayalon, former Mossad chiefs Danny Yatom and Tamir Pardo, and former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon. They warned that Axelrod’s supporters could interpret his ruling as an instruction to commit violence and urged action to prevent another political assassination.
The Center for Victims of Racism said it had filed a complaint with police and state prosecutors. In a Facebook statement, the organization argued that religious authority could not be used to legitimize incitement to violence and racism.
Democrats lawmaker Michal Rozin separately complained to State Attorney Amit Aisman, saying the declaration went beyond protected speech and warranted an investigation into incitement to violence. Referring to Rabin’s assassination, she warned of the consequences of authorities overlooking such rulings against elected leaders.
Joint List lawmaker Ofer Cassif also wrote to Aisman, urging particular vigilance toward threats, incitement and attempts to justify killing elected representatives for carrying out their public mandate. Haifa’s mayor likewise condemned the decree and called for an investigation, saying a religious title did not give anyone authority to sanction political violence.
Asked by Haaretz whether Axelrod’s position represented Chabad, the organization’s Israeli spokesperson, Rabbi Shimi Segal, said official religious positions were determined solely by its rabbinic court. Axelrod does not belong to that court or hold a leadership role in Chabad, Segal said, describing the rabbi’s statements as personal views.
Ra’am holds eight Knesset seats and the Joint List holds 11, giving the Arab parties a combined 19 seats. Among leaders of Zionist parties opposed to Benjamin Netanyahu, only the Democrats’ Yair Golan has not ruled them out as partners in a prospective government.
