Local rabbi reacts to Mideast conflict between Gaza, Israel
A brief cease-fire has ended and Israel and Hamas are at it again. Israeli forces launched a large-scale ground offensive into the Gaza Strip in an effort to destroy the terrorist organization’s arsenal of rockets. Here in El Paso, the rabbi of a west side congregation asked people of all faiths to pray.
“May God who established peace in the heavens grant peace unto us, unto Israel and to all human beings everywhere,” Rabbi Stephen A. Leon from B’nai Zion Synagogue prayed.
A message of peace, not war, sat outside a west side Jewish congregation as the sun set in El Paso. Nearly 7,000 miles away from the U.S., militants acted against Hamas terrorists.
“It hurts us when any Palestinian child is killed, and what appears to happen is when Israelis and Jewish people are killed, there’s rejoicing and celebration,” Rabbi Leon said.
Prayers are being said here locally, while battles continue in the Mideast conflict.
Reports have said 243 Palestinians are dead with more than 1,800 wounded. In Israel, only one death has been reported, although several people have been injured.
“The entire situation is one that troubles us a lot because human lives are being lost,” Rabbi Leon said.
Tensions were ignited in June when three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped while hitchhiking in the west bank and killed. One of the victims had American citizenship. Hamas denies it is responsible for the deaths of the teens.
The European Union and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon are pressing for a another ceasefire, but so far neither Israel nor Hamas have indicated that they are willing to stop the fighting.
