Rabbi Fruman speaks out
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Rabbi slams Jewish 'hooligans'
Rabbis, Yesha leaders, ministers to join forces in condemning recent settler violence
Rabbis, Yesha Council members, and government ministers are coming together in order to condemn recent settler violence against Palestinians, Ynet has learned.
"What happened yesterday is not violation of law and order – it's much worse," said Rabbi Menachem Fruman, addressing the torching of a Palestinian field in Samaria by what he referred to as "hooligans."
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Fruman, who is the rabbi of Tekoa and one of the leading religious figures in Judea and Samaria, harshly condemned recent violence, which radial settlers refer to as a "price tag" for the evacuation of unauthorized outposts. The rabbi is joining forces with settler leaders and ministers in condemning acts he characterized as "hooligans committing the crime of hurting Palestinians."
In the past, settler leaders refrained from publically condemning radical settlers, and any disagreements remained behind closed doors. However, this time the rabbis intend to express themselves unequivocally.
"There are camps that think it's a good thing to burn the fields of Palestinians…it shocks me, first of all morally and also in political existential terms," Rabbi Fruman said. "This builds a wall of fire between Jews and Arabs."
Meanwhile, former Knesset member, Rabbi Hanan Porat, has also joined the initiative. While condemning the evacuation of West Bank outposts, he has expressed his outrage in the face of the violent settler response.
"The 'price tag' response is immoral," he said. "It's unheard of that one needs to burn the vineyards and fields of Arabs. It's immoral…and it gives legitimacy to those who are interested in undermining the outpost issue. It's a very grave matter."
