Circumcision is a non-partisan issue in Israel, and Germany must protect the
Jewish tradition, Kadima faction chairwoman Dalia Itzik said on
Thursday.
Itzik penned a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
asking her to “exercise her authority to halt any criminal proceedings that are
being conducted or which are due to be conducted against mohels in Germany, and
to advance, as quickly as possible, a law permitting circumcision ceremonies
upon German soil.”
The Kadima faction chairwoman opened the letter by
appealing to Merkel as a friend of Israel. Itzik wrote that, when she was
Knesset speaker, she was “deeply impressed by [Merkel’s] leadership and
willingness to strengthen the bond between the Jewish and German
peoples.”
Itzik thanked Merkel for speaking out publicly against the
criminalization of non-medical circumcision and proposing to advance a law
permitting it.
According to Itzik, legislation allowing circumcision will
“strengthen the firm bond between the Jewish people in Israel, the Diaspora and
Germany.”
“I value and am impressed by Merkel as a person – she is from
East Germany, a professor and a woman running a complex country. She’s amazing,”
Itzik told The Jerusalem Post, adding that Merkel is pro-Israel.
Itzik
also recounted that the two politicians had a good rapport during the
chancellor’s visits to Israel, and as Knesset speaker, she worked to change
regulations so Merkel would be allowed to give a speech in the plenum, a
privilege usually only given to presidents.
The Kadima faction chairwoman
expressed hope that, because the letter comes from an opposition party, it would
show the chancellor that the issue of circumcision is beyond
politics.
Itzik explained that she called for Merkel to promote
legislation ensuring that the legality of circumcision is completely
unambiguous.
“This is a basic element in Judaism, a foundation stone,”
she said. “This is not an issue only for religious or ultra- Orthodox
people.”
People may think circumcision is primitive, Itzik added, but it
is not the government’s job to decide, though they can regulate the practice and
license mohels.
She also pointed out that Israelis are especially
sensitive to Germany, and as such, Merkel must stop the criminalization of
circumcision.
Itzik admitted to feeling squeamish at her grandchildren’s
circumcision ceremonies, but added that “it doesn’t matter. No one knows how the
child feels. It is a sign of Judaism, and the German government cannot
intervene.”