My friends,
Neturei Karta attend occasions such as this because we feel
that we have both a religious and humanitarian duty to publicise
our message as much as possible.
The assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin by the Zionist
State is the latest tragic episode in the one hundred year
old confrontation between Zionist and Arab in Palestine.
It
is tragic both for Jews and for Palestinians. It is tragic
because it is another instance of the trail of bloodshed which
has been the result of the Zionist Palestinian confrontation
which has existed since the formation of the Zionist ideal
to set up an illegitimate State in Palestine. Illegitimate
because it is contrary to Jewish Religious belief and contrary
to Jewish Religious teaching on basic humanitarian justice.
The
Zionists claim (misleadingly) to represent the Jewish People
and, as a result, any animosity arising among Palestinians
following the assassination of Sheikh Yassin could fall on
the whole of the Jewish People.
Those
who harbour this animosity are accused of anti-Semitism. However,
what has to be made abundantly clear is that Zionism is not
Judaism. Zionists cannot speak in the name of Jews. Zionists
may have been born as Jews, but to be a Jew also requires
adherence to Jewish belief and conduct. Anti-Zionism is not
anti-Semitism. On the contrary Zionism itself and its deeds
are the biggest threat to Jews and Judaism.
THEREFORE
Orthodox Jews wish to declare that the Zionists do not represent
the Jews in any way and they have no mandate whatsoever to
speak in the name of the Jewish People. Orthodox Jews dissociate
themselves entirely from the perpetuation of the confrontation
with the Palestinian People.
We
absolutely sympathise with the Palestinian cause, and protest
vehemently against the terrible wrongs being perpetrated against
the Palestinian People by the Zionist illegitimate regime
in Palestine.
Sheikh
Yassin embodied the Palestinian claim and dream to be their
own masters in Palestine and it was for this cause that he
died.
Orthodox
Jews endorse Sheikh Yassin’s claim because that is the wish
of the Palestinian People, the indigenous population of Palestine.
I
wish to add 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 countries. Our attitude
to Arabs and Muslims can only be one of friendliness and respect.
I
would like to finish with the following words. We want to
tell the world, especially our Arab and Muslim neighbours,
that there is no hatred or animosity between Jew and Arab.
We wish to live together as friends and neighbours as we have
done mostly over hundreds even thousands of years in all the
Arab countries. It was only the advent of the Zionists and
Zionism which upset this age old relationship.
We
wish to declare once again that the only solution to the impasse
in Palestine is the total peaceful dismantling of the Zionist
State.
We
consider the Palestinians as the people with the right to
govern in Palestine. The Zionist State known as “Israel” is
a regime that has no right to exist. Its continuing existence
is the underlying cause of the strife in Palestine.
We
pray for a solution to the terrible and tragic impasse that
exists. Hopefully based on results brought about by moral,
political and economic pressures imposed by the nations of
the world.
We
pray for an end to bloodshed and an end to the suffering of
all innocent people - Jew and non-Jew alike - worldwide.
We
are waiting for the annulment of Zionism and the dismantling
of the Zionist regime, which will bring about an end to the
suffering of the Palestinian people. We would welcome the
opportunity to dwell in peace in the holy land under a rule
which is entirely in accordance with the wishes and aspirations
of the Palestinian People.
May we soon merit the time when all
mankind will be at peace with each other.
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