Israel’s President Shimon Peres urged his German counterpart Joachim Guack on Thursday to allow Jews to continue circumcising their children, in a letter calling on Germany to allow Jews to practice the ancient ritual.

With the letter, Peres became the third Israeli leader who has tried pressure Germany over this issue, after a Cologne court ruling in May that prohibited the procedure for medical reasons.

Earlier this week, Israel’s Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger sharply criticized Germany at a press conference in Berlin, and called for a compromise on the issue. On Wednesday, Interior Minister Eli Yishai sent a letter with a similar sentiment to Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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In the letter, Peres called on Germany to protect the freedom of religion and worship of German Jews. Circumcision is a crucial Jewish custom which has been practiced for thousands of years, the President wrote.

Peres added that he is sure Germany will remain committed to ensuring the right of Germany’s Jewish community to practice Jewish religious tradition freely.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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