MK Avi Maoz, chairman of the Noam party, sent an urgent warning yesterday (Monday) to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar following the attack on a Chabad house in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, calling for immediate intervention with local authorities before the situation deteriorates.
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Maoz demanded the Foreign Ministry act now. “I request your urgent intervention with the authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the safety of the Chabad emissaries and Israelis there, before there are, God forbid, casualties and property damage,” he wrote.
In his letter, Maoz emphasized the role Chabad houses play for Israelis and Jews worldwide. In places where there is no Israeli diplomatic presence, he said, Chabad emissaries provide practical assistance to Israelis and serve as a central address for them.
“It is the duty of the State of Israel to do everything in its power to assist the Chabad emissaries, ensure their safety, and make certain they can continue their sacred and important work in complete security,” he wrote.
The demand comes against the backdrop of local protests against the Chabad house. Over the weekend, local residents and Buddhist monks demonstrated outside the facility and called for its closure, escalating tensions around its operation as a center for Israelis and Jews staying in the area.