Tzfat Chief Sephardi Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Eliyahu Shlita is quoted in the media and radio after being asked if one may be mechalel Shabbos if one sees an Arab preparing to start a fire on Shabbos. “If he appears to be coming close to a forest near our community to set a fire, may one be mechalel Shabbos and arrest them, or to phone police or even shoot at him?”

Rabbi Eliyahu begins his response by stating Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has referred to the fire as acts of terror and one leader of the Shin Bet states it is a weapon of mass destruction. It is simply a miracle that that people were no burned but we do not rely on miracles.

He responded “It is a mitzvah to prevent a fire on Shabbos and one may be mechalel Shabbos to stop the fire and the arsonists and if necessary, one may even shoot. He added “If someone had fired at them in Beit Meir, Carmel or Haifa we would have spared ourselves from this disaster”.

The rav concluded “I hope the IDF Chief of Staff and the Police Commissioner announce clear orders to soldiers and police since the fires are not over and this is their responsibility”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)