Israeli Chief Rabbi: Israel has ‘moral obligation’ to help Kurds
President Reuven Rivlin visited the Sukkah of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau in Modi’in as part of the tradition of presidents to visit the Sukkah of the Chief Rabbis, “a tradition that brings together the State of Israel with the Jewish religion,” he said.
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
Rabbi Lau pointed out that during these days “our hearts are with the Kurdish people who are in danger of mass destruction.”
“It is our moral obligation to act on the matter immediately and before it is too late,” he added.
Turkey last Wednesday launched a ground incursion and an air campaign against Kurdish-held areas in Syria, and vicious battles have been taking place at several locations in the province. There are reports of mass casualties among the Kurds’ ranks and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported Tuesday on violent clashes throughout the area. At least 163 members of the Kurds’ Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed by Turkish air and land strikes, 149 troops from the Syrian factions loyal to Ankara were killed in clashes with the SDF, while eight Turkish soldiers were killed in combat.
Israel officials have warned that the Turkish campaign could generate another mass humanitarian crisis in Syria.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon last week touched on the issue of Israeli support for the Kurds and told IDF Radio that “if we want to act we know how to do so, but not always openly. You have to think about how we help in a way that won’t harm those we help.”
Good on you Chief Rabbi.