RCA Condemns West Bank Arson

The Rabbinical Council of America, the largest Orthodox rabbinical organization, strongly condemns the vigilante arson attack on a Palestinian home in Duma, a village in Samaria (the West Bank), which resulted in the murder of a one-and-a-half year old infant.

We support the Israeli government’s description of this as “a terrorist crime” and its commitment to bring those responsible to justice as quickly as possible. We welcome Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement, “This is a terrorist attack. Israel takes firm action against terrorism, no matter who its perpetrators are.”

Rabbi Leonard A. Matanky, president of the RCA, said, “The ongoing struggles between Israel and the Palestinians will only be resolved through direct negotiations, and never through violence. This is the way of civilized nations and is the blessing of the establishment of the State of Israel. We regret that Hamas is now calling for revenge, and urge the Palestinian Authority to work with the Israeli government to respond to this crime with restraint and responsibility.”