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Last update - 13:33 22/07/2009
Israeli rabbis to U.S. Jews: Sway Obama administration in our favor
By Haaretz Service
Tags: U.S., Shlomo Amar, rabbis 

A group of Israeli rabbis, headed by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, have sent a letter to U.S. rabbis and the President's Conference, urging them to exert political leverage in Israel's favor, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday.

"The American government pressures Israel to prevent Jews from building houses in extensive areas in the Land of Israel, which is very unfortunate," the rabbis wrote. "We ask you to make use of your political power to lobby the American authorities to reconsider this policy in the spirit of truly democratic justice, and give weight to halakhic considerations that are binding for the Jews."

Israel's previously cordial relations with the U.S. have been damaged by the Israeli government's insistence, in the face of U.S. opposition, that it can continue building within existing settlements.
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The signatories stressed that although it is an unusual declaration coming from religious figures, they have no intention to make a political statement.

"We would like to express our deepest regret, not from a political point of view, but rather a religious one, as the Torah stipulates the settlement and population of Eretz Israel," they said.

"While a person is allowed to reside wherever he wishes, Jews will not be allowed to reside in the territory of the future state," the rabbis also wrote, referring to the future of the settlement once a Palestinian state is established.

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      2.   Lies Lies Lies!!!!! 13:41  |  Jason 22/07/09
      3.   Israeli Rabbis 14:12  |  Steven 22/07/09
      4.   Go talk to someone who wants to listen 14:22  |  Bill 22/07/09
      5.   Are American Jews as an extension of Israeli politics? 14:36  |  Natallie Durson 22/07/09
      6.   US Jews 14:41  |  Joe Kelsall 22/07/09
      7.   Unlikely to work 15:00  |  Nathan 22/07/09
      8.   What kind of a Rabbi advocates breaking the law??? 15:23  |  CJ 22/07/09
      9.   America is not a Jewish country. 15:55  |  Maureen Ann 22/07/09
      10.   Israeli Rabbis to US Jews 16:09  |  DT 22/07/09
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      13.   #7 Nathan is correct 16:12  |  Minority US Jew 22/07/09
      14.   actually this is quite interesting 16:13  |  Murray 22/07/09
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      18.   Natalie Durston Lobby 16:24  |  Daniel 22/07/09
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      35.   answer to #23 19:28  |  flora 22/07/09
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      37.   #28 well put 19:52  |  Yasha 22/07/09
      38.   les 19:57  |  mark 22/07/09
      39.   aryeh 19:59  |  mark 22/07/09
      40.   Foolish Move 20:18  |  bronxite10 22/07/09
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      44.   Les #38 20:47  |  arieh zimmerman 22/07/09
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