Reform Movement Reaffirms Israel's Right to Self-Defense
Yoffie: "We strongly support Israel's right to defend herself and we are confident that the Israeli soldiers in the Golan Heights acted with maximum restraint yesterday."
NEW YORK, June 6, 2011 – In response to
violence Sunday when protesters stormed the Israeli-Syrian border and Israel
responded with gunfire, which sources are reporting killed as many as 23
Palestinians, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism,
issued the following statement:
We are saddened by any loss of life and
continue to pray that Israel and its neighbors can work to avoid violence and
seek to resolve their differences through negotiations and other appropriate
legal channels.
However, at the same time, we strongly
support Israel's right to defend herself and we are confident that the Israeli
soldiers in the Golan Heights acted with maximum restraint yesterday. Israel,
as any other country, has the right to protect its borders and its citizens and
we commend the Israeli leadership for ensuring the continued security of every
Israeli.
We pray that one day soon the words of the
prophets will come true and the vision of peace will be fulfilled.
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