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Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu

Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu is an Israeli lawmaker and member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party.

Eliyahu is the son of the chief rabbi of Safed, Shmuel Eliyahu. He has been the subject of considerable controversy throughout his tenure as a minster due to his statements, such as suggesting that Israel had the possible option of using a nuclear bomb on Gaza and saying that Israel should re-occupy the Gaza Strip.

Ministers, two MKs summoned for investigation of Sde Teiman breach, two refuse summons

The breach occurred on July 29, after the IDF Military Police Criminal Investigation Division raided the base and arrested reservist soldiers on suspicion of sexually abusing a detainee.

|ByELIAV BREUER
MK ZVI SUKKOT protests last week at the Sde Teiman military base, against the detention of reserve soldiers suspected of sexually abusing an imprisoned Hamas terrorist. There’s a growing population that believes the law doesn’t apply to them, says the writer.
Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu attends a protest in Tel Aviv, November 27, 2024

'Nothing' more important than firing A-G, even Gaza hostages, Israeli minister says

Eliyahu doubled down on his comments, stating that "the path to releasing the hostages hinges on a complete military victory."

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Protesters wave Israeli flags outside Sde Teiman detention facility, after Israeli Military Police arrived at the site as part of an investigation into suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee, near Beersheba in southern Israel, July 29, 2024.

Walla reveals the Shin Bet alerted Israel Police that Israelis planned to break into Beit Lid base

The protesters arrived at the Sde Teiman base after Military Police Criminal Investigation Division soldiers, masked, arrested several reservists on suspicion of sexual abuse of a Nukhba terrorist.

|ByAMIR BOHBOT, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Protesters gather outside Sde Teiman detention facility after some of them broke in, after Israeli military police arrived at the site as part of an investigation into the suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee, near Beersheba, in southern Israel, July 29, 2024

Allegedly abused Nukhba terrorist assaulted guards, detained soldiers claim

Honenu detailed the incident where the soldiers allegedly sexually abused a Nukhba terrorist in Sde Teiman detention facility.

|ByBINI ASCHKENASY, SHLOMI HELLER

'Hamas must come crawling and begging for a Gaza hostage deal' - interview

Rather than "award" the Palestinians a state, Hamas must come "crawling and begging" for a hostage deal after being completely defeated, Eliyahu said.

FEBRUARY 20, 2024
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu speaks with The Jerusalem Post, February 2024

'IDF must kill terrorists on sight': Israeli minister doubles down after civilian's killing

On claims that his calls violate the IDF's open-fire rules, Eliyahu said "we are a state of law. At the end of the day, only God will hold terrorists accountable."

DECEMBER 4, 2023
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu attends the funeral Israeli soldier Moshe Yedidia Leiter, at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem on November 12, 2023

Russia says Israeli nuclear remark raises 'huge number of questions'

Asked in a radio interview about a hypothetical nuclear option, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu had replied: "That's one way."

NOVEMBER 7, 2023
ByREUTERS
Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu attends a ceremony at the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 19, 2023.

Amichai Eliyahu has got to go - editorial

It didn’t take long for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn Eliyahu’s remark and later announce that the minister would be suspended.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023
Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu attends a government conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem on January 8, 2023.

Netanyahu backed down from firing minister who called to nuke Gaza

The far-right lawmaker later said on X that 'any sensible person' knew the comments that Israel could use a nuclear weapon in the Gaza Strip were 'metaphorical.'

NOVEMBER 5, 2023
Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu arrives to a government conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem on January 29, 2023.

Israeli minister: IDF must move away from 'People's Army' model

Eliyahu's comments come amid ongoing coalition talks regarding a new draft law for ultra-Orthodox Israelis who study in yeshivas.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023
ISRAELI SOLDIERS pray at the Western Wall.