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News :: Israel / Palestine |
Some Rabbis on the Arafat Payroll |
Current rating: 0 |
by ma'ariv via gehrig (No verified email address) |
03 Apr 2004
Modified: 08:15:00 AM |
An introductory note from me, and then an article from the centrist Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv. |
Anti-Zionists of the nessie/wendy campbell mold try to portray Zionism as an utterly alien ideology that somehow "took over" mainstream Judaism. Their argument goes like this: the existence of a few small non-Zionist sects of ultra-Orthodox Jews proves that "true Judaism" is anti-Zionist, and -- by implication -- any branch of Jewish practice which _isn't_ anti-Zionist is therefore not really "true Judaism."
There are all sorts of fatal flaws with this position -- not the least being the presence of many ultra-Orthodox Jews in the Knesset -- so many, in fact, that one of the largest parties in Israel, Shinui, created in the last few years _solely_ on the platform of fighting Orthodox influence on lawmaking, has become so big so quickly.
But the interrelation between Judaism and Zionism is a big topic, and I don't intend to do a big thing about it (although I may when I have more time).
Here I just wanted to mention the one standard example that folks like nessie and Wendy Campbell use to shore up their point: a small ultra-Orthodox organization called Neturai Karta. If you've ever seen a picture of Orthodox Jews burning an Israeli flag, it was these guys. Their position -- and their websites with names like "Jews Not Zionists" or something like that -- makes them the poster kids of folks trying to argue that Zionism and Judaism are opposites.
In fact, one of the ways I first learned to spot Wendy Campbell's posts despite her sea of nyms was by her constant references to Neturai Karta sites. Wendy posted their URLs here on UCIMC several times, in fact.
So I thought this article was particularly interesting.
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Arafat transferred funds to Neturei Karta
Captured PA documents reveal that $55,000 given to leader of the anti-Zionist sect.
Amir Rappaport
Rabbi Moshe Hirsch, known as the “Foreign Minister” of Neturei Karta, has never hidden the fact that he prefers a Palestinian state in place of Israel - the Neturei Karta sect refuses to recognize the state of Israel until the coming of the Messiah. However, now it appears, from documents disclosed by the defense establishment, that Rabbi Hirsch has also been in the pay of PA Chairman Arafat himself.
The incriminating documents were captured in the Mukata, Arafat's headquarters, two years ago during Operation Defensive Shield. While looking for PA efforts to fund terror organizations, security officials discovered that large amounts of money had been transferred to the Neturei Karta sect in Jerusalem. The captured documents show that Hirsch received from Arafat $55 thousand just two months before Operation Defensive Shield. Among the documents are receipts with Arafat’s personal signature authorizing the transfer to Rabbi Hirsch under the heading “outgoing expenses”. In the same period, Arafat allocated a much lower sum to terror operatives.
The captured documents include letters written in English by Hirsch to Arafat. The letters are addressed as to an eminent rabbi: “Dear Abu Amar (Arafat’s Arabic name), may you live a long and happy life”.
Hirsch has never hidden his relationship with Arafat. He is a regular member of the Palestinian National Council and served in the past as Minister of Jewish Affairs in a Palestinian government. Members of the sect recently demonstrated against Israel and for Palestine at the International Court of Justice at the Hague.
Rabbi Hirsch’s son denounced the allegations as “evil slander” and denied all financial links with Arafat.
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