In a bold statement, Rabbi Warren Goldstein, Chief Rabbi of South Africa, has come out strongly against calls for a cease-fire in Gaza.
He argues that such pressure not only gives legitimacy to Hamas's violent actions but also leaves Israel in a precarious position, "International pressure for a negotiated cease fire is immoral and dangerous."
Instead of pushing for a cease-fire, the Rabbi insists that the UN, EU, and especially Israel's close ally, the US, should be unequivocally demanding that Hamas unconditionally and immediately release all hostages.
Rabbi Goldstein didn't hold back when describing the consequences of negotiating with Hamas. "By demanding a negotiated ceasefire instead of surrender," he stated, "the world sends Hamas – and all Jihadi terrorists – a dangerous message: no matter what you do, no matter what evil you perpetrate, you will always be able to extract compromises and concessions. Your violence, intimidation, and terror works."
He went on to criticize Western powers, saying, "As the United States, the UK, and the EU, in the name of a false moral equivalence, abandon Israel, their fellow democracy, to the savage wolves of Hamas, they strengthen the forces of terror – and the next target will be the West itself."
Drawing a stark comparison to World War II, the Rabbi argued, "In 1945, as the Allied forces neared victory in the war against Germany and Japan – both implacable ideological enemies – there was no suggestion of a ceasefire or compromise, no question that the goal was unconditional surrender. There can be no accommodation or compromise with the evil ideology of jihad. It must be defeated."
Voz is Neias contributed to this article.