Letter from Neturei Karta to Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to the Holy Land

TO HIS HOLINESS, POPE
BENEDICT XVI
Peace and Greetings!
It has come to our attention that Zionist-appointed “rabbis” have again been offering
unsolicited insidious and malicious statements against you in the name of the entire
Jewish People and the Jewish religion. As anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews with a
conscience, we feel it is imperative for us to condemn and to express our disgust at
such statements.
The so-called “chief rabbis” of the Zionist State of Israel, who are not simply satisfied
with supporting the relentless persecution and terrorism against the indigenous
Palestinian People, have now issued demands to you to state that the Jewish People
worldwide belong in their State. Such statements reflect arrogance and contempt for
the principles of Judaism for thousands of years that teach us to live in brotherhood
in all countries wherever we live. On the other hand, such paid “religious” appointees
of the Zionist regime have no concern for desecrating the name of G-d and our Torah
with their support for this racist regime that operates in violation of all the principles
of Judaism.
We also condemn the despicable statements of Shmuel Eliyahu, the so-called chief
rabbi of the city of Safed, that have been publicized in the media in the State of
Israel. Such people may wear the mantle of a rabbi, but they are enemies of peace
and harmony, enemies of the values of the Torah.
On the contrary, we appeal to you and all leaders of goodwill to use all pressure at
their disposal to put an end to the vicious and brutal behavior of the Zionist state
against the Palestinian People, and to seek the peace of Jerusalem by restoring the
rights of all Palestinians, both those in historic Palestine and those living as refugees
outside of historic Palestine. Nothing else will ensure peace and justice.
Yours truly,
Rabbi Meir Hirsh
Neturei Karta, Palestine