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The Chief Rabbi at the Mosque: "The trauma of Israel began with the burning of synagogues"
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger visits the Palestinian village where the mosque was torched and said: "The trauma of Israel began with the burning of synagogues."
Dozens of residents of the village received the rabbi in protest, waving Palestinian and PLO flags and signs against the West Bank settlements written in Hebrew, English, and Arabic.
The visit, which was arranged by Salfit Governor Munir al-Abushy, was coordinated first with the IDF. In addition, dozens of Palestinian police officers secured the rabbi's entourage throughout the village.
"I hope this visit calms the spirits in the village," said al-Abushy, "the local residents will understand that there are good people in Israeli society, and that even religious figures condemn this action – it's sending a good message."
The governor noted that he believes "the land belongs to two peoples, who will live on it in two states once the Palestinian one is established – with the help of G-d."
The Chief Rabbi, who arrived with a message of reconciliation, stressed that his visit is intended to encourage the villagers and not Heaven forbid to disturb the rehabilitation of the place. While standing at the doorstep of the burned down mosque, Rabbi Metzger condemned the arson and said, "We, the people of Israel, have a trauma from 70 years ago when the greatest destruction we have ever known, the Holocaust, started with the burning of synagogues on Kristallnacht."