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Foreign Minister Shalom: "Jews don't destroy synagogues." (AP)
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| By israelinsider staff and partners September 10, 2005 |
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| The last service in the Neve Dekalim synagogue, stripped of its ark and torah scrolls, last thursday. (AP) |
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In a remarkable turnaround, the government of Ariel Sharon now appears unwilling to authorize the destruction of some 20 synagogues in Gaza. The demolitions were to have taken place Friday, but Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz requested a deferral so that the cabinet could vote on what would have been the greatest destruction of synagogues since Kristallnacht in November 1938. Hours before the expected vote, it now appears that a majority of ministers -- 11 according to media sources -- oppose the destruction. Three are reportedly for and seven -- including Sharon himself -- are undecided.
All residences and military facilities have already been destroyed prior to the expected handover on Monday, September 11. The destruction of the synagogues had been considered a foregone conclusion until several days ago, when religious leaders began lobbying to prevent the process.
Suddenly Ministers who had not batted an eye about approving the expulsion of nearly 10,000 residents from Gaza and northern Samaria were discovering in themselves the stirrings of long-suppressed religious feeling, or perhaps guilt at being in the first Jewish government to destroy houses of worship.
According to Haaretz, 11 ministers have indicated that they will vote against demolition. The 8 Likud ministers are: Health Minister Danny Naveh, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Education Minister Limor Livnat, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, minister without portfolio Tzachi Hanegbi, Tourism Minister Abraham Hirchson, Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz, and Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra. Three are from the Labor party: Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Environment Minister Shalom Simhon and Communications Minister Dalia Itzik
Haaretz reported that only three ministers have said for certain that they will vote in favor of demolition: Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz, minister without portfolio Haim Ramon and acting Science Minister Matan Vilnai.
The remaining ministers, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Vice Premier Shimon Peres and Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit are still unsure how they will vote. Government sources in Jerusalem, however, told Haaretz that Sharon will oppose the demolition, despite the fact that he had previously supported the move.
Shalom said he was moved by the positions of rabbi and Diaspora leaders who, he said, "warned that this would serve as a dangerous precedent and it that must be prevented so other governments would not be able to harm Jewish holy sites based on this precedent." He said that "I myself had built a synagogue in memory of my father, and I cannot see myself supporting the destruction of synagogues," adding "Jews do not destroy synagogues" -- a proclamation echoing the line of the Orange anti-expulsion movement that "Jews don't expel Jews."
Shalom said it would be a test for Abbas and his government. I hope the Palestinian Authority will come to its senses and see to it that barbarianism and vandalism do not take over. If they do, the world will understand who we are dealing with."
The Palestinian Authority clearly would be in a "Catch-22" situation, forced to either protect the synagogues or to allow their destruction or desecration at the hands of the Arab mobs. Palestinian minister Saeb Erekat urged Israel to demolish them, saying it would be unfair to put the Palestinians in a situation of "damned if we do, damned if we don't." Erekat insisted: "We maintain the highest respect for Judaism. We don't want to be put in a situation that we are demolishing synagogues in front of the world, or some of our people may do something that we don't want them to do."
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