Bibi for Reform • Haredim - furious
The prime minister declared his support for the Reform Movement in the US • Haredim "serious words – we'll demand clarifications"
- Avi Schiff
- כ"ט חשון התשע"ו
חיים כץ
"I pledge Reform Jews will feel at home in Israel," declared tonight (Tuesday), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the annual conference of the Jewish Federations of North America.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke tonight before the main forum of American Jewry, and related to Ran Baratz who called the reformers 'an enemy'.
He declared: "I pledge that all Jews, whether Reform, Conservative or Orthodox – will always feel at home in Israel. Unity of the Jewish people is important at all times and especially at this time. There is a wave of anti-Semitism in Europe and other problems."
"I appointed the Cabinet Secretary Avihay Mandelblitt," he said, "to open a debate between religious streams of Judaism, so that the streams sit together and discuss issues in order to reach solutions. Every Jew must feel that the Western Wall belongs to him and every Jew should feel welcome in Israel," he said and hinted at the Women of the Wall affair.
He added: "For the first time the Israeli government with the Jewish Agency will invest and strengthen the Reform and Conservative communities in Israel."
Haredi MKs protested against these words and MK Moshe Gafni of Torah Judaism commented: "The Reform stick a knife in the Torah of Israel, what Netanyahu said was very serious and we'll demand clarification when he returns to Israel."
Health Minister Yaakov Litzman commented: "The words of the Prime Minister for the Reform offend us and explicitly contradict the coalition agreement signed with us. Throughout the ages we knew that the Reform and Conservative are tearing the Jewish people apart and one should not let them harm the Torah of Israel. Too bad the Prime Minister gave them an expression and we will do everything so that his commitment will not be executed".
Shas faction chairman MK Yoav Ben-Tzur said tonight: "The stance of observant Judaism is known about the Reform movement and opposes its way altogether. This position will not change."
Netanyahu also spoke about US-Israel relations and said: "The last few years were not easy in relations between the countries, but we remember two facts: one is that Israel has no better friend than America and America has no better friend than Israel. The second is that there is only one state for the Jews and we must work to unite all Jews and maintain a Jewish state."
He also talked about his conversation with President Obama, "I said I was committed to the vision of two states," he stated, "even if the idea is not reachable today, I hope to be able to achieve it in the future. When there will be a Palestinian leadership willing to recognize Israel as a Jewish state - there will be peace."
He added that "Israel is currently holding quiet contacts with Arab countries, who understand that Israel is not their real enemy."
In the shadow of the prime minister Netanyahu's visit to the US and his meeting with President Obama, President Reuven (Ruvy) Rivlin, accepted the invitation of the US president and is destined to arrive on an official visit at the White House in early December.
The two will convene in Washington to discuss strengthening relations between the two countries in light of the enduring challenges of the time.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke tonight before the main forum of American Jewry, and related to Ran Baratz who called the reformers 'an enemy'.
He declared: "I pledge that all Jews, whether Reform, Conservative or Orthodox – will always feel at home in Israel. Unity of the Jewish people is important at all times and especially at this time. There is a wave of anti-Semitism in Europe and other problems."
"I appointed the Cabinet Secretary Avihay Mandelblitt," he said, "to open a debate between religious streams of Judaism, so that the streams sit together and discuss issues in order to reach solutions. Every Jew must feel that the Western Wall belongs to him and every Jew should feel welcome in Israel," he said and hinted at the Women of the Wall affair.
He added: "For the first time the Israeli government with the Jewish Agency will invest and strengthen the Reform and Conservative communities in Israel."
Haredi MKs protested against these words and MK Moshe Gafni of Torah Judaism commented: "The Reform stick a knife in the Torah of Israel, what Netanyahu said was very serious and we'll demand clarification when he returns to Israel."
Health Minister Yaakov Litzman commented: "The words of the Prime Minister for the Reform offend us and explicitly contradict the coalition agreement signed with us. Throughout the ages we knew that the Reform and Conservative are tearing the Jewish people apart and one should not let them harm the Torah of Israel. Too bad the Prime Minister gave them an expression and we will do everything so that his commitment will not be executed".
Shas faction chairman MK Yoav Ben-Tzur said tonight: "The stance of observant Judaism is known about the Reform movement and opposes its way altogether. This position will not change."
Netanyahu also spoke about US-Israel relations and said: "The last few years were not easy in relations between the countries, but we remember two facts: one is that Israel has no better friend than America and America has no better friend than Israel. The second is that there is only one state for the Jews and we must work to unite all Jews and maintain a Jewish state."
He also talked about his conversation with President Obama, "I said I was committed to the vision of two states," he stated, "even if the idea is not reachable today, I hope to be able to achieve it in the future. When there will be a Palestinian leadership willing to recognize Israel as a Jewish state - there will be peace."
He added that "Israel is currently holding quiet contacts with Arab countries, who understand that Israel is not their real enemy."
In the shadow of the prime minister Netanyahu's visit to the US and his meeting with President Obama, President Reuven (Ruvy) Rivlin, accepted the invitation of the US president and is destined to arrive on an official visit at the White House in early December.
The two will convene in Washington to discuss strengthening relations between the two countries in light of the enduring challenges of the time.
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