Germany: Peres: Circumcision 'at core of Jewish identity'

Israeli President Shimon Peres stressed that circumcision is "at the core of Jewish identity," as he weighed in on a controversy in Germany in a letter sent to his German counterpart Joachim Gauck on Thursday.

Circumcision is "a Jewish ritual that has been at the core of Jewish identity for thousands of years and defines the Jewish people, from the time of the first commandment given by God to Abraham," he wrote.
"I am therefore confident, Mr President, that Germany, in keeping with its values, will remain committed to conduct their Jewish religious traditions in freedom," Peres said in the letter quoted by his office.

Germany's ethics committee on Thursday supported the practice of religious circumcision but with conditions, a German official said, after a court ruled the practice was tantamount to grievous bodily harm.
The ruling stirred an uproar from religious and political leaders in Israel as well as Muslim countries.

Read more: Peres: Circumcision 'at core of Jewish identity' | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Austria Faith Leaders Defend Circumcision

As the debate on religious circumcision is raging in Germany, Austria’s faith leaders united on Friday, July 27, to condemn calls from two provincial leaders to limit the practice as an attack on religion.

"We are concerned about all attempts to exploit the debate that has been triggered by the Cologne verdict to promote a hostile attitude in Austria towards Judaism, Islam or religion in general," Peter Schipka, general secretary of the Roman Catholic Austrian Bishops' Conference, told journalists on Friday, Reuters reported.

The meeting was attended by leaders representing Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths in Austria.

Read more: Austria Faith Leaders Defend Circumcision - Europe - News - OnIslam.net