Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, the Chief Rabbi of Samaria, in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet on Thursday, discussed remarks by Yeshivat Ateret Kohanim President Rabbi Shlomo Aviner against voting for Ofer Winter's Amcha Yisrael Party because of its non-Jewish candidate, Yoseph Haddad.
"I don't support voting for small parties, but halachically, it is permissible, and you can vote for Yoseph Haddad," Rabbi Levanon stated.
He addressed the passage from Maimonides’ Laws of Kings that Rabbi Aviner brought, which also prohibits women from being appointed to public office: "We appoint women to public office, and sorry for the ancient saying, Golda Meir was the 'only man' in the government at the time, so now too, we find exceptions. Nations of the world (ie non-Jews) who support our stance, you could vote for them too."
Earlier this week, Rabbi Aviner discussed Haddad's membership in Amcha Yisrael, and said that "you can not give a gentile leadership positions over the nation in Israel. You have to treat a gentile nicely if they fit the classification of a resident alien [ger toshav]. He cannot be given positions of leadership over the nation." Even if he is one of the righteous among nations, he can not be a leader in the Land of Israel. He could be a private citizen, not a leader."
In response, Winter said: “Those who are worthy of fighting and being wounded are also worthy of leadership. They were worthy enough to be wounded and even to fall for the country. They were worthy enough for us to follow them into battle, and they are worthy enough to lead. Yoseph, my brother, I am proud of you for having commanded and led soldiers in Golani. I am proud of you for risking your life for the people of Israel and being wounded in battle."