The Congress of Rabbis for Peace, known as "Pikuach Nefesh," sent an urgent and sharply worded letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cabinet ministers calling on them to publicly and firmly denounce both U.S. President Donald Trump and the emerging American agreement with Iran.
In the letter, the rabbis object to Trump’s recent claim that "if not for me, Israel would not exist," and say Netanyahu has "a golden opportunity to sanctify God’s name before the entire world." They urge him to declare openly that Israel does not exist because of Trump or the United States, but because of "the God of Israel," who gives Israel the strength to defend its people and defeat its enemies.
The rabbis also argue that Netanyahu has previously stood up with courage against unilateral U.S. moves that endangered security, and that doing so brought him respect in Congress rather than harm. They say that if he now declares Israel rejects any agreement with Iran and continues striking its enemies, including in Beirut and Tehran, it will strengthen ties with the United States rather than damage them.
The group says it is headed by Rabbi Yosef Gerlitzky, Rabbi Avraham Levin and Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Schreiberg, and includes about 400 rabbis across Israel. All are said to have signed a halachic ruling opposing any territorial withdrawal or transfer of land from Israel, based on Shulchan Aruch, section 329. The congress regularly publishes its religious and political positions in media outlets in Israel and abroad.
