HALACHA AND DEMOCRACY
We cannot remain blind to the disastrous
consequences to Israel as a Jewish state if Israelis were to begin to
believe that the halacha opposes democratic rule. It is frightening to
think of what would happen to relations between religious and
non-religious Israelis, and especially to our own children who would
grow up thinking that they must make an "either-or" choice between Torah
and Israel.
BASIC POSITION:
THE PEACE PROCESS
We supported Mr. Peres for Prime Minister
because of our long-standing support of the Oslo Accords and the peace
process, as well as evidence of our view that commitment to Torah does
not imply support for one particular political stance. The monolithic
support of the religious parties for Binyamin Netanyahu, and the nature
of the campaign material implied it was a religious imperative for every
observant Jew to vote for the right wing. This made Meimad's position
all the more important as a message to religious Zionists.
THE JEWISH
CHARACTER OF ISRAEL
 The
religious Zionist community has a proud history of integrity and
commitment as a full partner in building the State of Israel, but
today--more than ever--the majority of the religious Zionist community
is entrenched in the extreme right, so far from the center of Zionism
that it seems marginal, at best, to the majority of Israelis.
Meimad
- POB 8067 Jerusalem 91080 Tel:+972 2 612240 Fax:+972 2 612340
© Copyright - Rav
Yehuda Amital - Rabbi Michael Melchior
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