Re: Question for Dr. Pipes
Reader comment on item: Neturei Karta, Paid Agent of Israel's Enemies

Submitted by Aymenn Jawad (United Kingdom), May 13, 2009 at 12:32

Dear Dr. Pipes:

Are you aware that Neturei Karta is actually split into two factions? The first faction, and by far the majority of the estimated 5000 members of Neturei Karta, whilst opposing Zionism does not take part in anti-Israel activism of any sort. The second faction, consisting of at most 100 members (as pointed out by the Anti-Defamation League), is the one that engages in the activities you have documented (e.g. visiting Iran for the Holocaust denial conference in December 2006). They are led by "Rabbi" David Yisroel Weiss and Rabbi Moshe Hirsche. Indeed, after Mr. Weiss and his ilk attended Thug-in-Chief's (Ahmadinejad's) conference, Rabbi Zelig Reuven Katzenellenbogen, the leader of the moderate faction, issued the following statement:

"This new path (i.e. actions of Mr. Weiss et al.), which has never been the path of our forefathers and our rabbis, to replace the study of the Jewish viewpoint regarding the exile with matters of state and political affairs, and to mingle with peoples, and to try to bring about the dismantlement of the Zionist state by force...go straight against the views of the Neturei Karta leadership. And it is the total opposite of the ways of Neturei Karta (bold in original). We must clarify how much we have been hurt by the huge desacration of G-d's Name caused by these actions and it is impossible to remain silent on this issue." (from a translation of a condemnation poster issued by the moderate faction- see wikipedia entry for Neturei Karta).

So, I suggest that it is not Neturei Karta that is the paid agent of Israel's enemies, but rather Mr. Weiss's and Rabbi Hirsch's tiny radical faction.

Yours faithfully,

Aymenn Jawad.

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