Parallels are often drawn between palestinian terrorists and Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria. Admittedly, there are loose cannons among both groups, but it's also widely assumed, even by many supporters of Israel, that comparisons between, say, HAMAS and YESHA are apt. If you're in that camp, here's a statement from the Yesha Rabbinical Committee that may surprise you.
YESHA Rabbinical Committee Decries Destruction of Trees
Press Statement November 5, 2003
[Received by pager and translated by IMRA]
We, the residents of YESHA, came to build - not destroy. To plant - not uproot.
The YESHA Council calls on the law authorities to prosecute those who uproot trees - an activity that is wrong on moral and all other grounds.
The destruction of fruit bearing trees is explicitly prohibited by the Bible. And particularly within the Land of Israel.
Only a special wartime situation could permit this and only the official government authorities have the right to make such a decision.
Any violent activity, any act of revenge, when carried out by individuals, rather than the government authorities, is prohibited and abhorrent and particularly contemptible.
Those doing this raise disgust and stain the entire community.
We demand that all such activity be halted immediately.
We wish to emphasize that this behavior of individuals should be punished.
They do not represent the general public of settlers.
Rabbi Daniel Shilo, Spokesperson
YESHA Rabbinical Committee
