Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger Shlita released statements of criticism against rabbonim who have come out against a prisoner exchange deal to bring Gilad Shalit home.

Remarks attributed to the chief rabbi state that Rabbi Metzger stressed a halachic ruling must be based on halacha, not emotion, and he cannot understand how rabbonim whom have already come out against a deal can do so since the information required to make a halachic ruling is not yet available, accusing the rabbonim of acting on their “own political beliefs”.

The Rav stressed this is a life and death matter, and therefore, prior to arriving at a halachic ruling, a rav must first have the facts and thoroughly review them, which is not the case to date in the matter of a Shalit deal, since no deal exists at present.

The Rav’s remarks are basically directed at a number of rabbonim affiliated with the political right-wing, whom have spoken out against a deal which involves the release of hundreds of terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit.

In a related matter, Gilad’s parents, Noam and Aviva, are meeting with Rav Metzger on Wednesday, as well as with Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Shlomo Amar Shlita, to discuss tefillos and other actions on Gilad’s behalf. The meetings were arranged by Ze’ev Fleischman, an activist working on behalf of Gilad’s release.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)