Opposition leader MK Yitzchak Herzog last week started a storm as he called on government leaders to take in Syrian refugees at a time European nations are doing the very same thing. German is expected to absorb at least 100,000 Syrians and Herzog feels that the Jewish People know better than others what it means to seek refuge and Jerusalem must respond appropriately.
Herzog was critical of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other cabinet ministers for not already having opened the gates to Syrian refugees as their plight is critical.
Yesh Atid party leader MK Yair Lapid responded saying “If only we had the peace and quiet and the ability to take in refugees but we are not Italy, France, and certainly not Germany. This is a European problem and there is absolutely no reason for us to become involved”.
Minister (Likud) Yariv Levin added “MK Herzog’s populist offer to take in refugees from Syria is irresponsible and scorns the moral conscience. The State of Israel has been at the forefront of humanitarian aid and the first to take in and treat Syrian wounded. That said, we must know when to stop and draw the red line”.
Levin adds that it would be dangerous to take in refugees from a hostile nation thereby permitting them to join forces with enemies from within.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu echoed Levin’s words, stating how Israel has been and continues to accept Syrian wounded. He explained that to date, the nation has treated over 1,000 wounded and assisted them to rehabilitate their lives. PM Netanyahu added Israel is also cooperating with European nations to assist in providing aid to the refugees.
Deputy Minister (Likud) Ayoub Kara stated that some 70 years ago Israel had its own refugees and today Israel must be concerned with her image in the international community, which compels action.
Rabbi Dr. Yuval Cherlow, a leading rav in the Tzohar Rabbonim and a hesder rosh yeshiva, feels the Torah commands Israel to act. He explained that experts in the defense establishment and IDF must evaluate the situation and if they feel that they can determine which refugees are innocent civilians and not enemies, then a small group of these refugees may be taken in by Israel.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
8 Responses
Herzog is 100% correct. Israel does not yet have enough murderous enemies living in it’s borders yet, they should bring them in by the tens of thousands! Wow, how lucky the Jewish nation is that this complete lunatic was not elected PM.
Yes!!!Shure and put them in a refugee camp !!Like Israel doesn’t have enough problems add some more maybe they will vote Labour
This man is out of his cotton pickin mind!! How can ANYONE in their left mind support this mishugina????
And we should all listen to the left, after all they have a good track record of great ideas. Going back to the 67 war, give back the hat habais, trade land for peace, Aslo, intifada 1, 2 and 3, 4 5 6…..
Many Syrians have relatives in Israel and there is no reason not to welcome them.
Is this Herzog fellow serious?
Wow..
Accepting non-Muslim refugees would make a lot of sense. However these are the refugees that European countries welcome. Israeli policy has long been to try to get non-Muslims in the Middle East to support Israel (and most have made a point of not doing do).
Remember that “Palestinians” and “Syrians” are one group of people – the only distinction is based on the boundaries drawn up by the British and French in the 20th century. They speak one dialect, have one set of customs and are interrelated.
Charlie Hall – please note that David Cameron was told by Lebanese education minister Elias Bousaab that 2 out of every 100 Syrian refugees are really ISIS terrorists who are trying to smuggle themselves into Europe. There is no reason to believe that they would not be happy to get into Israel as well. Sorry, Charlie. THAT is one heck of a good reason not to welcome them into Israel.
That’s besides for the fact that most Arabs who already are in Israel don’t love us too much, to put it mildly, and many of them would be very happy to push us into the sea. We Israelis are terrified to be within daled amos of them, not knowing who is friend or foe. Why would we want to import their relatives from Syria?! Let their relatives in Jordan, Lebanon or anywhere else welcome them – why Israel? How about wherever you live (if you don’t live here on my side of the ocean)?! Do YOU want them near you?
Chazal say “כל המרחם על אכזרים סופו שיתאכזר על רחמנים”
For those of you who don’t have Hebrew characters: Kol hamerachem al achzarim, sofo sheyisachzer al rachmanim i.e. whoever has compassion for cruel people will end up being cruel to compassionate people.
We see all the time how many instances of current PC behavior is misplaced compassion for evildoers – terrorists, abusers – no need to elaborate any further. All the “yefei nefesh” – and in fact, all of us, should do some soul searching to see who we feel for and why.