Re: Israel & Palestine
Eliyahu advocates carpet bombing Gaza
By MATTHEW WAGNER
Talkbacks for this article: 205
All civilians living in Gaza are collectively guilty for Kassam attacks on Sderot, former Sephardi chief rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu has written in a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Eliyahu ruled that there was absolutely no moral prohibition against the indiscriminate killing of civilians during a potential massive military offensive on Gaza aimed at stopping the rocket launchings.
The letter, published in Olam Katan [Small World], a weekly pamphlet to be distributed in synagogues nationwide this Friday, cited the biblical story of the Shechem massacre (Genesis 34) and Maimonides' commentary (Laws of Kings 9, 14) on the story as proof texts for his legal decision.
According to Jewish war ethics, wrote Eliyahu, an entire city holds collective responsibility for the immoral behavior of individuals. In Gaza, the entire populace is responsible because they do nothing to stop the firing of Kassam rockets.
The former chief rabbi also said it was forbidden to risk the lives of Jews in Sderot or the lives of IDF soldiers for fear of injuring or killing Palestinian noncombatants living in Gaza.
Eliyahu could not be reached for an interview. However, Eliyahu's son, Shmuel Eliyahu, who is chief rabbi of Safed, said his father opposed a ground troop incursion into Gaza that would endanger IDF soldiers. Rather, he advocated carpet bombing the general area from which the Kassams were launched, regardless of the price in Palestinian life.
"If they don't stop after we kill 100, then we must kill a thousand," said Shmuel Eliyahu. "And if they do not stop after 1,000 then we must kill 10,000. If they still don't stop we must kill 100,000, even a million. Whatever it takes to make them stop."
In the letter, Eliyahu quoted from Psalms. "I will pursue my enemies and apprehend them and I will not desist until I have eradicated them."
Eliyahu wrote that "This is a message to all leaders of the Jewish people not to be compassionate with those who shoot [rockets] at civilians in their houses."
Source
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Comments:
finally
lawrence - canada
05/31/2007 04:03
finally some common sense! that is what is needed to make the pals pay for their decision to elect a genocidal hate mongering leadership. but now watch how the liberal press, especially the british will spin this story.
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You don't have to be a learned rav...
Josh - midbar
05/31/2007 04:06
to understand this. Gaza must be destroyed.
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Carpet Bombing Gaza
Tommy - USA
05/31/2007 04:19
God's word say that you eventually will have to do it, is the only solution to this problem Palestinians are enemies of Israel the only and they will always be enemies of Israel as long as Israel exist, eventually you will destroy Jordan, Egipt and Syria as in Ezekial, Isaiah, Joel ect. I am doing a good study about this is all in God's word
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Carpet Bombing Gaza
Brian - USA
05/31/2007 04:22
Both Gaza and the West Bank. Let the palestinians have Jordan. Not one IDF troop life for 1,000,000 palestinians. USA supporter of Israel. God says smite your enemies and save your women and children.
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Whatever it takes to make them stop
Saint Augusto - USA
05/31/2007 04:28
Finally, a sane man. Finally, a true rabbi.
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Works for me.
Len the davidide - USA
05/31/2007 04:34
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carpet bomb Gaza
Paul - USA
05/31/2007 04:39
Put him in charge!! The only way to defeat Israels enemies is to completely destroy them. Then, peace.
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There is a better way!
Saint Augusto
05/31/2007 04:40
Simply put: They must go!
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listen, olmerd to the rabbi's wisedom
Moishe
05/31/2007 04:41
do that what rabbi advised, olmerd, or vacate the PM office, weak soul
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Carpet Bombing Gaza
mgarcia
05/31/2007 04:49
iT IS FAIR. And afterwards, don't appologize for protecting yourselves! You have a right to LIVE in peace. If they don't want to, then let THEM live with the consequences. Enough Already!!!
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Now That's A Genuine Manhig Yisrael!
Dr.Zechariah
05/31/2007 04:54
Kol hakavod to Rabbi Eliyahu for speaking clearly with a Jewish voice at a time when fools rule in Israel. The halachic proofs he brings to support his ruling are unambiguous in their relevance to our present untenable situation in the south. I pray we soon have a leader that will follow his advice.
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I read somewhere...
David - Israel
05/31/2007 04:57
That one who is compassionate with the cruel will end being cruel with the innocent.
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Morally correct!
David - USA
05/31/2007 04:58
The Rabbi is not talking about bombing peace loving civilians, he is talking about a relentless, savage and violent enemy that does its best to kill civilians. Going against these terrorists as though performing a civilian SWAT rescue endangers Israeli lives. The terrorists want an endless war of attrition, this is unacceptable! The morally correct way is to bomb them until they desire peace.
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here i totally agree with orthodox position
ralph
05/31/2007 05:01
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Eliyahu letter
Sam Klein - USA
05/31/2007 05:02
The Rabbi is 1,000 percent correct.This rocket situation will never stop untill they are destroyed by ihe military