An Israeli rights group is calling on the army to fire its chief rabbi for "incitement" ahead of Israel's recent Gaza offensive.

In a letter sent by the Yesh Din group to Israel's defense minister and military chief of staff, the group cites passages from a booklet it says was prepared by the office of the chief military rabbi. The group says the booklet was passed on by troops who received it on the eve of the military operation.

The passages compare the Palestinians to the Philistines of the Bible, suggest they have no right to any lands claimed by Israel and express opposition to any territorial withdrawals. They also urge troops to show no mercy to their enemies.

Wednesday's letter from Yesh Din says the passages "border on incitement to racism."

The military had no immediate comment.