December 2004Issue 374



Kill in the name of God

A declaration claiming that the Halakha (Jewish religious law) commands the killing of innocent Palestinian civilians if this helps to save Jews, has been signed by the heads of the ‘Arrangement Yeshivot’ and other religious leaders in Israel. Yeshivot comprise whole army units of students drawn from Jewish seminaries who obey their own religious leaders. ‘The only religious voice raised against this appalling document was that of a small and courageous group called “Rabbis for Human Rights”,’ writes Israeli peace activist Uri Avnery. ‘Their statement discloses that the Yeshiva heads have intentionally falsified the Talmud passages “quoted” by them. The actual text forbids a Jew to kill innocents even to save his own life... May God protect us from those who would speak in His name.’

www.gush-shalom.org




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