A senior Israeli rabbi has published a biblical-style prayer calling for the downfall of Iran’s clerical leadership, as nationwide protests and an extensive internet shutdown intensified religious and political commentary in Israel.
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Safed and a prominent figure in the Religious Zionist movement, shared the prayer on social media during what Israeli outlets described as a night of significant unrest inside Iran. The text blended quotations from Jewish scripture with contemporary references, including verses such as, “You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword,” and, “Rise up, Lord, and let Your enemies be scattered.”
According to the prayer, Eliyahu asked God to “destroy the leaders of Iran” whom he said sought Israel’s destruction, while urging protection for “the people rising up against them” and calling on Iran’s security forces to “help, not fight” protesters.
The remarks came as analysts from the Critical Threats Project and the Institute for the Study of War reported a nationwide internet shutdown in Iran, reducing connectivity to about one percent of normal levels.
Reuters also reported that Iran warned US President Donald Trump that any US attack would prompt retaliation, while Al Jazeera said Iranian authorities labeled the demonstrations “riots,” announced mass arrests, and imposed sweeping communication restrictions as protests spread across multiple cities.