ISTANBUL

Real believers in Judaism mourn the crimes being done to Palestinians by the state of Israel, as these violations are clearly barred by their faith, said a spokesman for an anti-Zionist group. 

"In our religion, killing and stealing are clearly forbidden. (Israel), on the other hand, establishes its state by taking it from the Arabs. That's why we are crying with the Palestinians,” said Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a rabbi and spokesman for Neturei Karta, a group founded in Jerusalem.

In an interview with Anadolu, Weiss discussed the principles of Zionism, the founding ideology of the state of Israel, as well as the use of violence against Palestinians and the appropriation of land.

Weiss said there are many people who confuse Judaism and Zionism and are confused about this.

“Zionism is the ideology of the state of Israel, which tries to present itself as the Jewish state. They claim that they represent Jewish religion, they claim that they are speaking in the name of God.

They claim that they are the voice around the world of Jewish people that have an attachment with God or the Torah. That’s not true,” said Weiss, referring to the first five books of the Jewish and Christian scriptures.

Weiss highlighted that those “who speak up against” this situation are often labeled "antisemitic" or "haters of the Jewish people and their religion."

He said that in reality, Judaism and Zionism are fundamentally opposed to each other.

He said Zionism led to the Great Catastrophe (Nakba) in 1948, with the founding of the state of Israel, which resulted in the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.  

‘Judaism and Zionism are opposed to each other’

"Judaism and Zionism are as different from each other as the earth and the sky; they contradict each other. Judaism is about submitting to Almighty God, while Zionism is the name for extreme nationalism that aims to possess everything related to forming a nation,” he said.

Weiss stressed the significance of expressing gratitude in line with the Torah, noting that the Jewish community, who enjoyed centuries of prosperity in regions under Muslim rule, was warmly welcomed by Muslims.

He also said Zionist ideology often resorts to an argument that is not accurate, claiming that "Muslims harbor hatred towards Jews." He said: “Despite Muslims and Jews having lived together for centuries, Zionists claim that opposition to their state is due to Muslims hating Jews. The state of Israel, in every aspect, acts in direct contradiction to the tolerance and prohibitions of the Torah.”

“As devout Jews, we pray to God every day for the swift removal of the Zionist state of Israel, which has caused so much bloodshed among Palestinians and Jews. We pray to God for the speedy liberation of Palestine. May Palestine be free, and may the world serve God in harmony,” he added.

Weiss also claimed Jews adhere to the commandments of the Torah, but such obedience is not present in Zionism.

"They do not adhere to the Ten Commandments of the Torah and do not observe the Sabbath. On the Sabbath day in Israel, everything continues as usual. Therefore, calling themselves a Jewish state is complete nonsense, deception, a mockery.

“The state is not backed by a religion but an ideology. Someone proudly told the Zionists that they are democratic. Of course, when we look at how they treat Arabs and Muslims, saying this is quite laughable,” he added.

Citing the Torah’s famous Book of Exodus, he said; "We, as Jews, made a covenant with God on Mount Sinai to obey Him and never violate the Torah. This covenant still stands. We adhere to it, being Jewish requires it. But Zionism was established approximately 150 years ago, and it equates ‘Israel's territory’ with Judaism. It has no connection to the religion of Judaism.”

Judaism, according Weiss, says that even in an uninhabited (desolate) area, the establishment of a Jewish state is clearly forbidden.

“To declare the existence of a Jewish state is direct rebellion against God. This is because we are in an exile that we were sent to by God. We will remain in that exile until a metaphysical change occurs, where all of humanity will serve God in harmony,” he said.  

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul