Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger Shlita released statements of criticism against rabbonim who have come out against a prisoner exchange deal to bring Gilad Shalit home.

Remarks attributed to the chief rabbi state that Rabbi Metzger stressed a halachic ruling must be based on halacha, not emotion, and he cannot understand how rabbonim whom have already come out against a deal can do so since the information required to make a halachic ruling is not yet available, accusing the rabbonim of acting on their �own political beliefs�.

The Rav stressed this is a life and death matter, and therefore, prior to arriving at a halachic ruling, a rav must first have the facts and thoroughly review them, which is not the case to date in the matter of a Shalit deal, since no deal exists at present.

The Rav�s remarks are basically directed at a number of rabbonim affiliated with the political right-wing, whom have spoken out against a deal which involves the release of hundreds of terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit.

In a related matter, Gilad�s parents, Noam and Aviva, are meeting with Rav Metzger on Wednesday, as well as with Rishon L�Tzion Rabbi Shlomo Amar Shlita, to discuss tefillos and other actions on Gilad�s behalf. The meetings were arranged by Ze�ev Fleischman, an activist working on behalf of Gilad�s release.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)