Israel explores stripping terrorists’ families of citizenship and more.
After killing seven Jews on Friday night and another attack on a father and son by a 13-year-old killer. Israel’s Prime Minister and cabinet met to consider sweeping measures to stop Arab offences against Israeli Jews.
While these measures are laudable and very much needed in the fight against an enemy that at present benefits from the generosity of the Jewish State, it does not go far enough in eliminating Arab terror from Israel’s streets.
What is needed is a response that addresses collective punishment. We are taught the correct attitude toward a nation which collectively harms the Jewish people. Not only should the individuals who maim and murder Jews be punished, but the entire nation down to its lowest member as they all rejoice in the spilling of Jewish blood.
This rule is found in Jewish law (Rambam, Hilchot Rotzeach U’Shmirat Nefesh 4:11 with the Kesef Mishnah’s commentary and Yo’re De’ah 158:1 with the Shach’scommentary), which states in time of war, one kills anyone who is part of the enemy nation. The Midrash makes clear the rationale behind the law. When a nation fights us, there are no “innocents.” There are those who fight at the front and those at the back. However, they are all in it together. They are considered soldiers fighting on the front lines, according to halacha.
As we saw these Arabs rejoice in our streets over the deaths of these seven innocents, we can be in no doubt as to where their loyalty lies.
Should we persist in giving them the benefit of the doubt, we will be guilty of showing cruelty against the merciful. It’s time to sweep these evil people from our midst and cleanse our country of their hideous crimes.
