DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Members of a group of Hasidic Jews who oppose Zionism, the Neturei Karta, demonstrated on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall Thursday evening in support of Palestinian rights and against what they label the “Zionist genocide in Gaza.”
Wearing scarves bearing the colors of the Palestinian flag on top of their traditional Orthodox garb, the protesters held signs declaring, “Judaism condemns the State of Israel and its atrocities,” along with “The State of ‘Israel’ does not represent world Jewry,” and “Torah demands all Palestine be returned to Palestinian Sovereignty.”
This was the group’s third demonstration in New York City on Thursday, according to their web page. They also protested at Brooklyn College and at Hunter College in Manhattan. On Friday, the delegation attended a press conference in front of the United Nations headquarters, organized by Al Awda NY.
The Neturei Karta group actively opposes Zionism and advocates for a dismantling of the State of Israel under the religious belief that Jews are forbidden from establishing sovereignty in Israel until the arrival of the Messiah, according to the Jewish Virtual Library. They consider the existence of today’s Israel a rebellion against God, leading to the tragic bloodshed of Arabs and Jews alike. Their belief, however, is not shared by the majority of Orthodox Jews.
