Radical Jewish sect spends Sabbath in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Several members of an anti-Zionist Jewish sect have spent the Jewish Sabbath in Gaza with some of Israel's most bitter enemies, the militant Islamic group Hamas.

Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a leader of the radical Neturei Karta, said Saturday that his group was in Gaza to show support for the Palestinian people.

The sect decries Israel's existence because they believe Jews must live in exile without a country of their own until the coming of the Messiah.

Neturei Karta traditionally supports Israel's enemies — most notably Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom members hugged at a Holocaust denial conference in 2006.

They are estimated to have up to a few thousand followers and are mostly shunned by mainstream Judaism.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews make rare visit to Gaza

Fri Jan 1, 2:24 pm ET

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – A small group of ultra-Orthodox Jews were preparing Friday to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath in Gaza, in an unlikely show of support for Palestinians in the Hamas-run coastal territory.

Bearded and wearing black hats and coats, the four members of a tiny Jewish group vehemently opposed to Israel's existence were a rare sight in the poverty-stricken Palestinian territory.

Members of the Neturei Karta group have expressed support for the Iranian regime and for others who oppose the Jewish state, which they believe was established in violation of Jewish law. They made a similar visit to Gaza last year.

"It's crucial that the people of Gaza understand the terrible tragedy here is not in the name of Judaism," said one of the men, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of New York City, as the four prepared to observe the Sabbath at a Gaza City hotel.

Gaza is still recovering from Israel's devastating military offensive a year ago, which was aimed at halting rocket fire from the territory. Thirteen Israelis and almost 1,400 Gazans were killed in the three-week war.

The four men are American and Canadian citizens. Israel bans its citizens from visiting the blockaded territory. Weiss and his comrades entered Gaza through a border crossing with Egypt.

Neturei Karta, Aramaic for "Guardians of the City," was founded seven decades ago in Jerusalem by Jews who opposed the drive to establish the state of Israel, believing only the Messiah could do that.

Considered marginal even among ultra-Orthodox Jews, the group's size is estimated at between a few hundred to a few thousand people.

http://theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/44184/Neturei+Karta's+Latest+Chilul+Hashem.html

Neturei Karta's Latest Chilul Hashem

For Yisroel Dovid Weiss of the fringe Neturei Karta sect, the news that he and a number of his chassidim spending shabbos with terrorist leaders in Hamas-controlled Gaza was something to boast about, explaining they did so to send a clear sign of support for the Hamas regime.

As southern Israeli residents ran for shelter during recent rocket attacks, and the IAF was bombing weapons tunnels in retaliation for unprovoked rocket attacks, the Neturei Karta members felt it was appropriate to spend shabbos in the lion's den, with the very same people responsible for launching over 8,000 rockets into southern Israel during recent years.

According to a report released by Kol Chai Radio host Assaf Gibor, accompanying Weiss were Yisroel Pinchos Friedman, Yishai Rothenberg and an unnamed female, all hosted in the Commodore Hotel. Hamas provided special security for the VIP guests along with mehadrin food - and they did not leave the premises over shabbos. The report adds they were interviewed over shabbos by the media.

They left the hotel at 7:00pm on motzei shabbos, leaving Gaza via the Rafiach Crossing into Egypt.

(Yechiel Spira - YWN Israel)

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