mw13:
Most of the gedolim quotes were from when they were very much alive and when they were present in the situation in which they were deploring. And there are many more.
Regarding Rabbi Kook, he was influenced by outside influences according to the Gerrer Rebbe who said that Rabbi Kook, out of his love of the land, “says al tamei tahor viAl tahor tamei”. The Chazon Ish forbade learning his hashkafa sefarim. Rav Shach wrote about him as well.
At the same time, Rabbi Kook had tremendous power as the Chief Rabbi in Yerushalayim, and people had to respect him and glorify him in order to receive what they needed from him.
The Brisker Rav, who was certainly not a fan of Zionism, once needed something from Rabbi Kook that was pikuach nefesh, etc. He convened his B”D to request their permission – individually – for each honorific he used in his letter to Rabbi Kook with that request.
That’s the “respect” you’ve heard about.