Nathaniel Popper, The Forward : Chabad rabbi: Jews should kill Arab men, women and children during war
Talkback
Title: I sympathize with the need of Israel to defend itself, but ... Name: Stein City: State:
I sympathize with the need of Israel to defend itself, but ... Friedman misreads the biblical texts. According to Tora, Joshua and Judges: When the tribes of Israel returned to Israel from Egypt, they didnt genocide the local populations. Israel only destroyed 3 towns (Jericho, Ai, Hatsor - the ancient equivalent of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). Except for these 3, the Bible specifies Israel only killed the enemy `town-kings`, after defeating their armies. The citizens of these towns (mostly women, children, elderly, and surrendered soldiers) lived in peace under the Israeli tribes. Besides, Israel completely ignored the peoples who lived outside the towns, in the countryside, who remained in peace under Israels return. Eventually, all these peoples became part of Israel, after King David united them under his kingdom of Israel. Yes, ancient Israel had much cultural struggle (especially versus local idolatrous customs) but it was a relatively peaceful transition.