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Judaism and war

Judaism does not regard violence and war to promote justice as always wrong. It accepts that certain kinds of war will be ethically justified, and that it is sometimes morally acceptable to kill people.

Before declaring war or starting a battle there must be a genuine attempt to make peace and avoid the conflict.

Jewish law only permits combatants to be deliberately killed in war. Innocent civilians must be given every opportunity to leave the field of combat before a battle starts.

Old Testament

In much of the Old Testament God gives his clear approval to war. He is identified as a warrior, and is shown as leading the Jews in conflict, bringing them victory, protecting them from enemy forces.

But at the same time the Old Testament is filled with Jewish longing for peace.

Peace

Peace is seen as something that comes from God and that will only be fully realised when there is justice and harmony not just between peoples, but within individual communities.

Some of the present day arguments put forwards in the context of terrorism take up this idea that there can be no real peace without justice for all.The importance of peace to the Jewish people is emphasised by 'Shalom', the conventional greeting between Jews from the earliest times, which means 'peace'.

Self-defence

The Talmud states that a person (a Jew or a non-Jew) is permitted to kill "a pursuer" to save his own life. This ruling applies to both individuals and groups of people (including states).

The Rabbis

The ancient rabbis thought that there were three types of war that a Jewish state should consider:

• Obligatory wars: these are wars that God commanded Jews to fight. They include the biblical wars against the Canaanites and against the Amalekites.
• Defensive wars: (These are also obligatory.) If the Jewish people are attacked, they are obliged to defend themselves. This doctrine covers pre-emptive strikes (which is when a country attacks an enemy who is about to attack it).
  • Some writers think that a war of self-defence doesn't count as a war, but is merely the normal action that can be taken under the Jewish law dealing with attackers and based on Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed."
• Optional wars: These are wars undertaken for a good reason, and where no other form of "negotiation" remains possible.

The rules of war

The Jewish tradition is clear that before declaring war, or starting a battle, there must be an attempt to make peace - any military action without doing this is probably unlawful (Deuteronomy 20:10).

Only combatants are allowed to be killed intentionally in war. Military commanders should give non-combatants a good chance to leave the combat area before the battle starts. (This is usually impractical in modern warfare.)

However some authorities say that if a non-combatant knowingly stays in a place where a battle is about to take place, they lose their protection.

Find out more

• Ethics of war