Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger made history last week when he became the first Israeli Chief Rabbi to be interviewed on an Arab television station. The interview was conducted on Thursday in Rabbi Metzger's Jerusalem office, and seems to have made a hit in the Arab world. He later said that he was informed that it was broadcast ten times on Al-Jazeera, and was sold to six other Arab stations.
The rabbi's message was one of conciliation and peace, emphasizing that Jews are forbidden to harm "Moslem holy places." "Let no one dare to harm [them]," he said. "The ways of Torah are ways of pleasantness, and our purpose will not be achieved by violence."
He also called on Moslem and other religious leaders "to transmit the same message to their believers, in order to prevent antisemitic or terrorist acts in our holy places, including synagogues and cemeteries around the world - something that has occurred often recently."
A Foreign Ministry source said that the interview was a welcome addition on the Arab media scene, which is so often filled with anti-Israel content and portrayals.
The rabbi's message was one of conciliation and peace, emphasizing that Jews are forbidden to harm "Moslem holy places." "Let no one dare to harm [them]," he said. "The ways of Torah are ways of pleasantness, and our purpose will not be achieved by violence."
He also called on Moslem and other religious leaders "to transmit the same message to their believers, in order to prevent antisemitic or terrorist acts in our holy places, including synagogues and cemeteries around the world - something that has occurred often recently."
A Foreign Ministry source said that the interview was a welcome addition on the Arab media scene, which is so often filled with anti-Israel content and portrayals.