Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter
Photo: Yaron Brener
Chief rabbi: Review Law of Return
Day after neo-Nazi cell exposed in central Israel, Metzger says law essentially good, but should be 'renovated'. Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter disagrees
"The Law of Return should be reviewed and renovated, since it is essentially good," Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger said following the arrest of new immigrants suspected of neo-Nazi activity.
Speaking Monday at a toast at the National Police Headquarters ahead of the Jewish New Year, the rabbi added, "The actions of the neo-Nazi youths are simply horrifying.
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"A lesson should be learned and my words should be taken to the government table. There is a dispute over whether the Law of Return is good or not, and I feel this cell is a red light.
"There could be a grandmother who is a Holocaust survivor, her son could marry a gentile and the grandson would be a gentile, and as far as we are concerned, this a gentile wandering among us, the rabbi explained.
Also present at the ceremony was Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter and Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen.
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter opposed Metzger's position against Russian immigrants and said, "What stands out about the immigration from the former Soviet Union is that same group of heroes that has only now received citations."
Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen said, "I view these incidents with the utmost severity. We believe there are several dozens of other people who are involved in neo-Nazi activity, and the police will act against them very harshly. This is a social phenomenon that has not been known to the police in the past."
