New York, NY, July 13, 1995...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed support for Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to a ruling by a group of prominent Israeli rabbis regarding the evacuation of army bases in the West Bank. The rabbis ruled that Israeli soldiers were religiously obligated to refuse orders to turn over the army bases to Palestinians.

"As you correctly point out," David H. Strassler, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, wrote to the Prime Minister, "rulings which call on soldiers to disobey legitimate orders cannot be tolerated and will lead to anarchy. It is critical to stress that differing political views is not the issue here. The rabbinic edict challenges the fundamental structure of the Israel Defense Forces and accordingly, it must be publicly and unequivocally rejected."

A similar letter expressing support went to Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.