Dep. Minister Kara, Rabbis Ask Syrians: Keep Holy Sites Safe
Dep. Min. Ayoub Kara and top rabbis head to Turkey for meeting of religions.
By Gil Ronen
First Publish: 5/12/2011, 6:51 PM / Last Update: 5/12/2011, 8:00 PM
Flash 90
Deputy Minister of Galilee and Negev Development Ayoub Kara on Wednesday accompanied a high-level delegation of religious leaders to a symposium in Turkey, where they will ask Syrians to make sure holy sites are not damaged in the current civil war.
The delegation includes Holon's Rabbi, Rav Avraham Yosef, son of Rav Ovadiah Yosef, and Rav Avraham Sherman, who heads the Great Rabbinical Court of Appeals in Jerusalem.
Holy men from all of Israel's recognized religions are participating in the delegation to a symposium against global religious extremism. Kara is not a religious figure, but belongs to the Druze religious community.
Analysts say that this is the first time an Israeli political figure has been invited to Turkey since the Gaza terror flotilla disrupted the relations between the countries.
Radio Kol Chai reported Kara and the rabbis would be meeting "Syrian personages" in Turkey and that they intend to ask the Syrians to make sure that Jewish holy sites are not damaged in the current fighting in their country.
In a preparatory conversation, Syrian opposition elements said they would be willing to place the holy sites under guard and to warn the general public not to harm the holy sites of any religion.
During the recent upheaval in Egypt, it was reported that unidentified assailants set fire to a synagogue in the town of Ghabes and burned Torah scrolls.
Tags: Defense/Middle East