The Yesha Rabbis Council convened last night to discuss the impending withdrawal and expulsion from the Jewish communities of Gush Katif. The Council represents the rabbis of Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha).
The rabbis raised various ideas, including prayer and fasting, protest vigils, hunger strikes, civil disobedience, and more. They plan to turn to the hareidi sector and ask for its cooperation, continue the house-to-house efforts that were so successful prior to the Likud referendum, and possibly to recommend prayers that the government should be toppled before it can carry out its plans.
The rabbis ruled that no one is permitted to take part or aid in the uprooting of Jewish towns - but did not say explicitly that soldiers must refuse orders to do so. The question of refusal appears to be moot in any event, as the government has ordered the formation of a special unit of 2,000 soldiers to carry out the expulsion; the unit will be comprised of soldiers whose political opinions will not stand in the way of carrying out this mission.
The rabbis further called upon residents of the towns slated for demolition - 21 communities in Gaza and four in northern Shomron - not to enter into negotiations regarding "pitzui tmurat pinui" - compensation in exchange for evacuation.
The rabbis who convened last night in Maaleh Adumim were: Council Chairman Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba; Beit El's Rabbi Zalman Melamed; Rabbi Elyakim Levanon of Elon Moreh; Maaleh Adumim Hesder Yeshiva head Rabbi Mordechai Rabinowitz; Council Secretary Rabbi Daniel Shilo of Kedumim; and Rabbi David Dudkevitz of Yitzhar. MK Uri Ariel (National Union) briefed the rabbis on the situation at present.
Rabbi Shilo said, "The very idea of uprooting towns and giving away land is deeply shocking, and we call upon the residents not to cooperate with any enticement that might be offered them. We must disengage from the disengagement and from the idea of making peace with enemies who do not want peace with us. We must rather concentrate on peace amongst ourselves, and to let the army deal with terrorism."
Member of Knesset Avshalom Vilan (Yahad) has called on Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to charge the members of the Yesha Rabbis Council with sedition, adding that their call not to participate in the uprooting of Yesha communities will lead to a civil war.
The rabbis raised various ideas, including prayer and fasting, protest vigils, hunger strikes, civil disobedience, and more. They plan to turn to the hareidi sector and ask for its cooperation, continue the house-to-house efforts that were so successful prior to the Likud referendum, and possibly to recommend prayers that the government should be toppled before it can carry out its plans.
The rabbis ruled that no one is permitted to take part or aid in the uprooting of Jewish towns - but did not say explicitly that soldiers must refuse orders to do so. The question of refusal appears to be moot in any event, as the government has ordered the formation of a special unit of 2,000 soldiers to carry out the expulsion; the unit will be comprised of soldiers whose political opinions will not stand in the way of carrying out this mission.
The rabbis further called upon residents of the towns slated for demolition - 21 communities in Gaza and four in northern Shomron - not to enter into negotiations regarding "pitzui tmurat pinui" - compensation in exchange for evacuation.
The rabbis who convened last night in Maaleh Adumim were: Council Chairman Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba; Beit El's Rabbi Zalman Melamed; Rabbi Elyakim Levanon of Elon Moreh; Maaleh Adumim Hesder Yeshiva head Rabbi Mordechai Rabinowitz; Council Secretary Rabbi Daniel Shilo of Kedumim; and Rabbi David Dudkevitz of Yitzhar. MK Uri Ariel (National Union) briefed the rabbis on the situation at present.
Rabbi Shilo said, "The very idea of uprooting towns and giving away land is deeply shocking, and we call upon the residents not to cooperate with any enticement that might be offered them. We must disengage from the disengagement and from the idea of making peace with enemies who do not want peace with us. We must rather concentrate on peace amongst ourselves, and to let the army deal with terrorism."
Member of Knesset Avshalom Vilan (Yahad) has called on Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to charge the members of the Yesha Rabbis Council with sedition, adding that their call not to participate in the uprooting of Yesha communities will lead to a civil war.