STATEMENT On The
Assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin
Neturei Karta International


27 March 2004, Leicester, England

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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