A religious circumcision in a Synagogue. Photo: jspace.com.

JNS.org – Israel on Friday strongly condemned a decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that Jewish ritual circumcision is a “clear human rights violation.”

With a majority of 78 in favor, 13 opposed and 15 abstentions, the council—an international organization whose resolutions are non-binding but heavily influence EU countries—deemed the practice a “violation of the physical integrity of children.”

The council passed a resolution calling for a ban on “certain operations and practices… before a child is old enough to be consulted.” The age suggested for allowing circumcision was 15.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the resolution “cast a moral stain” on the council and that it “fosters hate and racist trends in Europe.”