"The Israel Ambulatory Pediatric Association is calling for an end to a controversial circumcision-related rite that is also under fire in New York.
Direct oral-genital suction, known as metzitzah b’peh, should not be performed during Jewish ritual circumcision, the IAPA said. The association is calling on Israel’s Health Ministry to require maternity wards and clinics to advise parents against metzitzah b’peh, Israeli media reported.
IAPA is recommending that mohels, or ritual circumcisers, use a tube to take the blood from the circumcision wound, preventing direct contact with the infant’s incision.
The rite is not used in most Jewish circumcision ceremonies, but many in the haredi Orthodox community still adhere to it.
Rabbi Chaim Moshe Weisberg, a mohel, told Haaretzthat IAPA is not after the child’s best interest and is against circumcision.
“They want all parents to stop circumcising their sons, as they did in Germany,” Rabbi Weisberg said.”