Rabbis' wives warn Jewish women against Arab men

At least 27 Israeli rabbis' wives have signed a letter calling on Jewish women to avoid intermarriage with Arabs. The letter also warns Jewish women they risk falling under the sway of Arab men if they serve alongside them in Israel's national service.

Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

"For your sake, for the sake of future generations, and so you don't undergo horrible suffering, we turn to you with a request, a plea, a prayer," said the text of the letter, quoted in Israeli media reports.

Among the signatories to the letter are the wives and daughters of senior rabbis, including the daughter of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual head of the Orthodox party Shas, which is part of Israel's coalition government.

The letter accuses Arab men of using Jewish names to deceive women.

"They ask to be close to you, try to find favour with you, and give you all the attention in the world,” it says. “The moment you are in their hands, in their village, under their control, everything changes. Your life will never go back to the way it was, and the attention you so desired will turn into curses, beatings, and humiliations.”

The letter is reportedly being distributed by a group called Lehava (Flames), an organisation that seeks to prevent Jewish assimilation.

In recent weeks, about 300 rabbis have signed a letter calling on Jews to avoid renting or selling property to non-Jews, and right-wing groups have staged demonstrations warning Jews against fraternising with Arabs.

The rabbis' letter drew condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Tuesday evening Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, called for Palestinian movements to act together amid rising tension on the border. The main Palestinian parties attended with the exception of Fatah.

“The factions discussed rocket attacks against Israel. We do not want to give the Israeli occupation a pretext for intensifying its aggression,” a source close to the meeting told AFP. “There was a consensus on the necessity of coordination in the response to aggression.”