Chief Rabbi Lau Speaks with Nablus Governor Akram Rajoub
(Communicated by the Chief Rabbinate Spokesman)

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau, yesterday afternoon (Friday, 31 July 2015),
spoke with Nablus Governor Akram Rajoub and told him that the entire Jewish
People condemn the abhorrent murder and the shameful attack on the Dawabsha
family in Duma. "The Creator of the world requires us to be concerned with
human life, with all created beings. We must act with full force against
those who did this and we must educate against those who might be liable to
do such things," Chief Rabbi Lau said.

Chief Rabbi Lau also said that he is full of pain over what happened. "What
did this small child and his parents do wrong? There is no forgiveness for
those who sow ruin, kill and deepen the rift between peoples," he said.

Chief Rabbi Lau called on Governor Rajoub to work – despite the pain and
anger – to calm the situation and instill peace between the peoples. He
added that he intends to go to Dura soon: "I would like to go and cry out
because this is not the way of Judaism and the entire Jewish People, in
Israel and around the world, condemn this reprehensible and awful act."

Governor Rajoub said that he accepted Rabbi Lau's remarks and thanked him.
He added that he knew that this was not the tradition of the Jewish People
and that he appreciated the Chief Rabbi's desire for rapprochement between
the peoples. He said that he would be pleased to host Chief Rabbi Lau in
Duma and agreed that action needed to be taken to calm the situation and
instill peace.