Torah true Jews mourn
the fifty six years of the illegitimate State of Israel in
Palestine and express their solidarity and deep sympathy with
the Palestinian People in their suffering and struggle against
the Zionist oppression.
The practical outcome of Zionism in the form
of the State known as ‘Israel’, is completely
alien to Judaism and the Jewish Faith and has been and continues
to be the cause of untold suffering and bloodshed both Jewish
and non-Jewish.
With a continuing chain of events over more
than half a century, ranging from the withholding of the ‘right
of return’ from the Palestinian refugees and leading
currently to such issues as the ‘wall’ and ‘extra
judicial assassinations’, Zionism has proven to be one
of the greatest desecrations of God’s name and the Jewish
religion.
The Jewish Religion is a spiritual belief handed
down through the generations for thousands of years. It is
a basic part of the Jewish belief, to accept willingly, the
Heavenly decree of exile affecting the Jewish People and not
to try and fight against it or to end it by our own hands.
In practical terms, exile for us means that Jews must be loyal
subjects of the countries in which they live and not attempt
to rule over the established indigenous populations of those
countries. The Torah certainly forbids us to form a State
of our own. This applies whether in the world at large or
in Palestine.
The Zionist movement, however, which was founded approximately
100 years ago based on secular nationalistic aims, was a complete
abandonment of our religious teachings and faith in general,
and in particular an abandonment of our approach to our state
of exile and to the peoples among whom we live.
The ideology of Zionism is secular and atheistic and advocates
taking the law into ones own hands by trying to force the
outcome in the form of a State. Irrespective of the cost in
life and property to anyone who stands in the way. The Zionist
ideology is the antithesis of Jewish religious values and
is an embarrassment and a disgrace to the Jewish People.
One must add to the wrongs of Zionism and the state of “Israel”,
the fact, that in order to achieve an ill conceived nationalistic
ambition, a shocking contravention of the Jewish Religious
values of natural and humanitarian justice was committed,
in setting up an illegitimate sectarian regime in Palestine,
completely against the wishes and over the heads of the established
population, the Palestinians, both Arab and God fearing Jew.
This inevitably had to be based on illegal confiscation of
property and loss of life.
According to the Torah and Jewish faith, the
present Palestinian. Arab claim to rule in Palestine is right
and just. The Zionist claim is wrong and criminal.
Our attitude to the ‘State of Israel’ is that
the whole concept is flawed and illegitimate. It is a tragedy
for the Palestinians and also for the Jewish people.
Furthermore, the Zionists have made themselves to appear as
the representatives and spokespeople of all Jews, thus, with
their actions, arousing animosity against the Jews. But, their
claim is simply not true! Zionism is not Judaism. Zionists
cannot speak in the name of Jews.
Finally, we stress that the connection between
Arab and Jew goes right back into ancient history. Mostly
the relationship was friendly and mutually beneficial. Historically,
the situation frequently was that when Jews were being persecuted
in Europe they found refuge in the various Arab and Muslim
countries. Our attitude to Muslims and Arabs can only be one
of friendliness and respect.
We are awaiting the annulment of Zionism and the peaceful,
speedy, dismantling of the State of Israel, and would welcome
the opportunity to dwell in peace in the holy land under Palestinian
rule.
Ultimately we await the revelation of God’s glory through
out the world, when all mankind will recognize the one God
and serve Him together in harmony and happiness. AMEN
RABBI COHEN - London, U.K.
RABBI WEISS - New York, U.S.A.
RABBI HIRSH - Jerusalem, Palestine.
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