This past week has seen an intensive argument across Israel and the Jewish community with regard to a campaign by a number of rabbis publicly pressing the view that Jews are prohibited from selling or renting real property in Israel to non-Jews.

The original statement underlying the campaign was initiated by Rav Shmuel Eliyahu of Tzfat and joined by others.

It set off many reactions – from Prime Minister Netanyahu to Yad V’Shem.

It also has received repudiation from other leading Orthodox rabbis in Israel, including Rav Aharon Leib Steinman and Rav Shlomo Yosef Elyashiv.

The background for the debate over the Halakhic sources on this matter can be succinctly seen here and those expert in reading Hebrew and Torah sources can find more here.

Since this controversy erupted, the Orthodox Union has been addressing this controversy by speaking privately with leading rabbis in Israel.

Posted by Nathan J. Diament