An anti-Zionist rabbi accused Netanyahu of manipulating religion

Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a member of the Jewish religious movement Neturei Karto, which opposes the existence of the State of Israel, told Izvestia on February 5 that the religious community was saddened by the White House welcome given to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Unfortunately, the Zionist state of Israel is basically masquerading, hiding behind my religion and saying that religion justifies and supports their genocide in Gaza and oppression of the people of Palestine. Whereas Judaism is a 3,000 year old religion and we are categorically forbidden to establish any Jewish sovereignty after the destruction of the Temple 2,000 years ago, and categorically forbidden to kill and steal," he commented.

Weiss recalled that Arab and Muslim lands have welcomed Jews and given them a home for centuries. During the threats of the Crusades and the Inquisition, it was Arab and Muslim lands that gave Jews a safe haven, including, the Ottoman Empire in Palestine.

"You see tens of thousands of Jews in front of the White House opposing Netanyahu because they want this message to reach presidents. We are informing the world that it is illegal to occupy another people and that we can live together in peace and harmony with the Palestinian people," the rabbi declared.

Weiss also pointed out that the majority of Jews living in Israel are far from religious, while orthodox Jewish communities living in Western metropolitan areas do not include a state in the Middle East as part of their identity.

"Most Jews don't observe the Ten Commandments. They don't observe Shabbat. They don't observe kashrut. But they are certainly not an authority on Judaism," he concluded.

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On this day, The Wall Street Journal learned of Trump's conversation with Israel's prime minister, during which the American leader claimed "prime real estate" in Gaza.

Earlier, on February 4, U.S. President Donald Trump said he intends to continue to support Israel. Waltz also informed that the US needs to revisit the Abrahamic Accords and prepare for their next round.

Prior to that, on February 1, Netanyahu stated his desire to fly out to meet with Trump. The Israeli prime minister's office indicated that Netanyahu had agreed with Trump's special envoy for the Middle East to begin negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza deal in the United States on Feb. 3.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.