HaGaon HaRav Zamir Cohen, a leading figure in the baal teshuvah movement, spoke over the weekend about the guilty verdict handed down in the manslaughter trial of IDF Sgt. Elor Azariya.
“There is no doubt this verdict places IDF soldiers in grave danger. To find one guilty of manslaughter places fear in all soldiers who will be scared to open fire at a terrorist approaching, fearing he too will be convicted of manslaughter” Rabbi Cohen stated.
“This may lead to bloodshed. Who know how many have been killed to date due to their fears – not opening fire until they themselves are killed”.
“At the very worst he should have been censured but not convicted of manslaughter. Certainly, everything possible must be done today towards pardoning him and B’ezras Hashem, this will occur towards a Chaim Tovim U’Leshalom”.
“A soldier must know ‘if one comes to kill you, get up and kill him’ and if one is seen who is certainly a terrorist, he should fire at him without fear. There should not be fear of being found guilty but quite the contrary, try to make sure he doesn’t emerge alive from the situation. They must know one who decides to kill will not emerge alive, of course without becoming entangled in the law”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
Also, the dead man, the enemy, had not been neutralized to satisfy the proper safety concerns and requirements of the IDF.
As the dead man had not been handcuffed, he was definitely a danger, and it was the soldier who shot him who acted correctly, as it was too dangerous for any Jewish soldier to approach the dead man to handcuff him, for an explosion could have occurred as the dead man could have been carrying explosives.
So it does not matter the motives of the accused soldier, for he was the only person who instinctively felt the danger, and he is a hero. He is not only innocent but he is a true hero, making a very quick decision to protect the other Jewish soldiers.
He is perfectly innocent.
The judge should reconsider.
So,the Rav is saying that, in the case of haba bamachteret, that one may execute him after he is already disabled?
I have no sympathy for the terrorist and support the soldier, but I would have thought the justification lay elsewhere.
the Zionists hate Torah.
Karlbenmarx: Last time I considered the issue, it would seem that HKBH himself is a zionist. Never good to paint with so broad a brush when the label has many flavors.