May 22, 2008

JERUSALEM – The American Jewish Committee welcomes the apology of Or Yehudah Deputy Mayor Uzi Aharon, who it had been alleged was behind the burning of copies of the New Testament in the town last week, and urged Israeli Jewish leaders to issue a public condemnation against such despicable behavior.

"Burning books, especially scriptures of any religion, is a travesty of Jewish ethics and historical experience," said Rabbi David Rosen, AJC's International Director of Interreligious Affairs. "No provocation can justify such outrageous behavior. We hope a strong reaction from Jewish leaders in Israel will serve as a deterrent against the repetition of such deplorable acts."

American Jewish Committee