Presented from a Neturei Karta delegation to the Palestinian
authority On April 29, 2001 at the Orient House, Palestinian headquarters
in East Jerusalem.
From the inception of the Zionist state and particularly in recent
times, the impression has been created in the World that there is
some connection between the state which falsely calls itself Israel
and the Jewish people as a whole. Therefore, we who continue to uphold
the never-changing tradition of the Jewish people find it proper to
again clarify the following points:
1) A Jew is one who remains faithful to the laws
of the Jewish religion, that is, the Holy Torah and its commandments.
2) The Jewish people became a people before they
had their own land, and continued to exist as a people also after
they went Into exile, because our very peoplehood is based exclusively
on the Torah.
3) The Holy Land was given to the Jewish people on
the condition that they observe the Torah and its commandments. When
they failed to do this, their sovereignty over the land was taken
from them, and they went into exile. From that time, we are prohibited
by the Torah with a very grave prohibition to establish a Jewish independent
sovereignty in the Holy Land or anywhere throughout the world. Rather,
we are obligated to be loyal to the nations under whose protection
we dwell.
4) This situation has existed for close to 2000 years
when the Jewish people were dispersed throughout all corners of the
world. During this time, the Jews always remained faithful to the
country in which they lived.
5) The Jewish people are grateful to all those merciful
nations which have allowed them to observe Torah and the commandments
undisturbed. We especially recognize with gratitude the kindness of
the Islamic peoples. Whereas in other nations there were those who
persecuted and murdered Jews, it was precisely the Islamic nations
who opened their gates and accepted the Jews with a welcoming countenance.
6) From ancient times, the relations between the
Jewish and Islamic peoples have always been those of peace and brotherhood,
and friendship always reigned between them. The proof of this is the
fact that for centuries, in all the Arab lands, hundreds of thousands
of Jews lived in honor and amidst mutual esteem.
7) Jews throughout all generations yearned to grace
the sacred soil of the Holy Land and to live there. However, their
sole purpose was to fulfill the commandments dependent upon the land
and to absorb Its holiness. Never, G-d forbid, did they have any nationalist
or sovereign intent whatsoever which, as mentioned above, is forbidden
to us. Indeed, also here in the Holy Land, our fathers lived in neighborly
harmony with the Palestinian residents of the land, helping one another,
to mutual benefit.
8) Until about two hundred years ago, the vast majority
of Jews observed the Torah and the commandments in entirety. Jewry's
leaders were Torah scholars, who directed the people according to
the Torah. They were loyal citizens in the host nations where they
dwelled and to the local laws. They prayed for the welfare of their
respective governments. To our sorrow, at that time, new winds of
"freedom and equality" began to blow in Europe. A small
number of Jews were lured by this spirit and slowly left their observance
of Torah and commandments. Together with this, they began to deride
the spiritual leadership of their people. This assimilation was the
basis upon which, one hundred years ago, the ideology of Zionism was
born. Its founders were assimilated Jews who had abandoned the Torah.
9) Immediately at the founding of the Zionist movement,
masses of Jews under the leadership of their Rabbis, launched a heavy
battle against Zionism. Their attack was directed not only at the
non-religious Zionist idea, but rather, primarily at its opposition
to the Torah-ordained path that Jewry must follow while in exile.
As such, the Zionists incited the nations of the world, demanding
political sovereignty over the Holy Land while remaining oblivious
to the resentment this would arouse In the Palestinian Arabs, the
land's veteran inhabitants. As stated, the leaders of Orthodox Jewry
vehemently opposed the movement with all force.
10) The Zionists refused to heed the voice of the
Rabbis and Torah authority. They persisted in their ways until they
succeeded in influencing the British government to issue the Balfour
Declaration concerning the "establishment of a national home
for the Jews in the land of Israel." To our great sorrow, from
that point on began the deterioration of the good relations between
the Jews and the Arab inhabitants of the land. This occurred because
the Arab people understood that the Zionists wished to seize rulership
from them. In addition, the Arab people had suspicions as if the Jewish
people wished to seize control of the Temple Mount and other similar
sites. Matters worsened as a result.
11) The Jewish leadership of that time saw it as
proper to clarify before the Arab leaders that the Torah-true Jews
had no desire whatsoever for sovereignty, and that our desire was
to continue to live in peace and
brotherhood with the Arabs, as we had always done. The leader of the
G-d-fearing Jewish community at that time, Rabbi Yoseph Chaim Zonnenfeld.
of blessed memory, organized a delegation in July of 24' which visited
King Hussein and his sons Faisal the King of Iraq and the Amir Abdullah
In order to lucidly present to them the position of the G-d-fearing
Jewish community. The Jewish delegation clarified unequivocally that
Torah Jewry is totally opposed to the Zionist sovereignty over the
Holy Land. It Is worth noting that the delegation was received with
great honor. They were even assured that all Arab lands were completely
open to Jews, however, on the condition that the Jews do not demand
political rights. This condition also applied to the Holy Land. One
of the members of the Jewish delegation, Professor Yisroel Yaakov
De Haan, paid with his life for his participation.
12) Torah Jewry protests at every opportunity against
the Zionist rule over the Holy Land, and the Zionist rebellion against
the neighboring nations. Torah Jewry has condemned the Zionist oppression
of the Palestinians, the land's veteran inhabitants who have been
driven from their homes and properties. The Zionists' barbaric and
violent deeds are absolutely antithetical to the essence of the Jewish
people.
13) Torah Jewry has never ever recognized the Zionist
state. Since the Zionists succeeding in establishing their state,
Torah Jewry has continuously announced to the world that the Zionists
do not represent the Jewish people, and that the name "Israel"
that they use is a forgery. For as has been stated above, it is forbidden
to us from the Torah to rebel against the nations, and all sovereignty
by us is prohibited. Rather, we await the days when all the world
will recognize the sovereignty of the Creator, and the words of the
prophet Isaiah will yet be fulfilled: "And they will beat their
swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. No nation
will lift its sword against any other, nor will they learn warfare
anymore."
14) Anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews have refrained to
this day from taking any funds from the Zionist regime, whether for
their educational institutions, synagogues or other benefits. Obviously,
we do not participate in the Zionist elections, whether for the
"Knesset" or for the municipality. We do not serve in their
army, and we even avoid speaking in the Hebrew language that the Zionists
Invented. (incidentally, this is not the holy and true Hebrew language
in which the Bible is written.) All this is done because Torah Jewry
does not recognize the Zionist regime, which Is against the Torah
and against humanity.
15) Lately, the question has once again arisen concerning
the Temple Mount and sovereignty over it. Thus, we wish to state unequivocally:
a) In our time, it is a severe Torah prohibition for any Jew to set
foot on any part of the Temple Mount area. b) The Jewish people have
no claim whatsoever to sovereignty over this holy site, which is under
Islamic authority, nor over any other holy site. Rabbi Zonenfeld was
once asked, "Is it true, that the Rabbi prefers an non-Jewish
government over all of the Holy Land"? Rabbi Zonenfeld replied,
"If King Hussein would rule over Palestine, the holiness of the
Holy Land would not be diminished to even to an Iota degree".
We yearningly await G-d's great day, when He will return His Divine
Presence to Zion, restoring the holy city to its former holiness and
glory as in days of old, to be a light to the peoples and the nations.
16) The Zionists have no right of any sovereignty
over even one inch of the Holy Land. They do not represent the Jewish
people in any way whatsoever. They have no right to speak in the name
of the Jewish people. Therefore, their words, declarations and actions
are not in any way representative of the Jewish people. This is because
the Zionists' seizing of power over the Holy Land is antithetical
to Jewish law, and also because the Zionists do not behave like Jews
at all rather, they desecrate the sanctity of the land.
17) We once again clarify that it is our desire to
live in peace with our Arab and Palestinian neighbors, as we did before
the Zionist revolution, and as Jews all over the world till today
live, accepting the yoke of rulership of their host nation, with complete
loyalty. Our sole desire is to serve our G-d and to fulfill His commandments
with a perfect heart and to delight in the radiance of the sanctity
of the Land, which is so precious and important to all religions.
We conclude with blessing: He Who creates peace in Heaven above, may
He spread His Tabernacle of peace over the Land and City which He
has chosen.
Sincerely, Neturei Karta - Torah true Jewry Jerusalem, Palestine
Sunday Iyyar 6 April 29, 2001
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