Chief Rabbi David Lau Shlita on erev Shabbos Nachamu spoke with Shechem Governor Akram Rajoub and told him that the entire Jewish People condemn the abhorrent murder and the shameful attack on the Darawshe family in Duma.

“The Creator of the world requires us to be concerned with human life, with all created beings. We must act with full force against those who did this and we must educate against those who might be liable to do such things,” Chief Rabbi Lau said.

Chief Rabbi Lau also said that he is full of pain over what happened. “What did this small child and his parents do wrong? There is no forgiveness for those who sow ruin, kill and deepen the rift between peoples,” he said.

Rav Lau called on Governor Rajoub to work – despite the pain and anger – to calm the situation and instill peace between the peoples. He added that he intends to go to Dura soon: “I would like to go and cry out because this is not the way of Judaism and the entire Jewish People, in Israel and around the world, condemn this reprehensible and awful act.”

Governor Rajoub said that he accepted Rabbi Lau’s remarks and thanked him. He added that he knew that this was not the tradition of the Jewish People and that he appreciated the Chief Rabbi’s desire for rapprochement between the peoples. He said that he would be pleased to host Chief Rabbi Lau in Duma and agreed that action needed to be taken to calm the situation and instill peace.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)