Jerusalem: Leaflets bearing the signatures of hardline rabbis and urging revenge for the shooting deaths of eight young Jewish theological students were posted around Jerusalem today.

"We hope to see the day when our enemies are punished," the leaflets said, urging Jews to match their enemies "measure for measure."

Among the signatures was that of Uzi Sharvaf, a rabbi who received a presidential pardon in 1985 after being convicted for a 1983 attack on a West Bank university that left three students dead.

The leaflets decried the Israeli government s decision "to appease the Arab enemy" and called for a harsh response to last Thursday s attack by an east Jerusalem Palestinian, the first in Jerusalem in more than four years.

"Only a real Jewish leadership can send the country to war knowing that it is a righteous battle against the enemies of Israel and God," the leaflets said.

They called on Jews to conduct "local actions as well" with the blessing of religious authorities.

On Monday, Israeli public television reported that ultra-nationalist rabbis were planning to avenge Thursday s shooting at the Merkaz Harav religious school in west Jerusalem.

Two influential ultra-nationalist rabbis met at the school with a group of former students who have combat experience from their military service, the television said.

The school issued a statement denying "any involvement by any of its students or its rabbis in such a plan."

Source : PTI