The recent trip of Neturei Karta leaders
to Iran has evoked much in the way of hysterical comment in
some quarters.
The vicious nature of this reaction has puzzled us for some
time. Why should an attempt to create goodwill between the
Jewish people and the Iranian government in particular, or
the Islamic world in general, be viewed as negative effort?
If misunderstandings existed in the past, why should we not
try to alleviate them in the present?
If our efforts have relieved antagonism, shouldn't this
be seen as a positive thing for the Jewish people and all men?
If we are indeed concerned about the future of our relations
with the Islamic world, then shouldn't all efforts be made
to assure that those relations be pleasant?
For those who took time to bypass the media blizzard of
disinformation, several things about our trip should have been
clear. Our position as stated throughout the conference was
explicit and free of any ambiguity. We affirmed the reality
of the mass murder of Jews during the Second World War. And
we were not the only speakers there who did so. But (also of
enormous significance) we told those assembled that the reality
of the Holocaust should not be used as a pretext to strip the
Palestinian people, either as individuals or collectively,
of their property and land.
It is our Torah based obligation to constantly declare before
all humanity that the deeds done to the Palestinian people
throughout the last century and continuing to this day are
unconscionable. Our experience has shown that the fulfillment
of this obligation yields only positive results.
Further, it is our assumption that the approach of Zionism
has not lessened the Jewish-Gentile antagonism but has exacerbated
it. The trail of suffering created by this movement stretches
back over the decades and continues to the present.
These tragedies should come as no surprise to anyone since
the Torah expressly forbids the desire or the implementation
of any Jewish sovereignty over the Holy Land.
We ask that the interested reader take the time to read
the texts of the actual talks given in Tehran.
Our beliefs were confirmed when the Iranian President Dr.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, at our meeting with him after the December
Conference, condemned anti-Semitism in no uncertain terms.
He stated (and his words were carried by the Iranian news
agency IRNAJ) that
"vigilant and just human beings will not blame the Jews
for the crimes committed by the fake Zionist regime and its
supporters in the occupied territories, including genocide
of defenseless and oppressed women and children."
And, in contrast to the stereotype perpetrated by the would-be
mind controllers of the media, the President's solution to
the conflict in the Holy Land was to suggest that "a free
referendum to establish a government based on the will of the
Palestinian nation in which all Palestinians, including Jews,
Christians and Muslims will be given the chance to vote."
Obviously two paths lie before the Jewish people. There
is the path of Zionism that summons Jews to a state of perpetual
war in order to "protect" Jewry and there is the
path of the Torah which calls upon us to seek peace and dialogue
with all men.To us the choice is elementary. |