Neturei Karta: The New Settlers

ז' לחודש הראשון תשע"ד

Rafi saw this reported on the haredi site Hadrei Haredim in Hebrew. So, rather than go back and translate it myself, I will post his summary in its entirety, and comment on it and the issues presented. The highlighting is mine.

Life In Israel: Yeshiva Shaarei Ramallah - won't be opening anytime soon
April 3, 2014 

This is really a non-issue, simply because the idea did not pan out, so I should not even be mentioning it.. but I found it funny enough that someone would actually try this that I wanted to point it out.

There has been talk about the possibility of Jews remaining in their homes in Judea and Samaria even in the event of a peace deal that would give land to the Palestinians. Some say they would be willing to live under Palestinian rule...

That was all a theoretical discussion. When PM Netanyahu even raised the possibility in a public forum, after a diplomatic snafu between him and Habayit Hayehudi, it became clear that it was so theoretical that it was only even said in order to throw some pressure onto the Palestinian side, but is not a realistic possibility.

Well, it looks like some people might actually consider it as a realistic option, if they could work out the details. 

According to a report on Bechadrei, some rosh yeshiva from Yerushalayim has initiated a plan to establish a yeshiva in the Palestinian Authority territory. As mentioned, the plan has been shelved - for now - as it has been deemed to be not possible at this time. 

Yisrael Meir Hirsch, of the Neturei Karta, revealed that he had helped a rosh yeshiva (unnamed) put together such a plan to move his yeshiva and students to the Palestinian territories. The purpose of such a move would be to avoid the Israeli draft issues that will now affect the haredi yesivas. 

Hirsch says he looked into the option, but at this time there is nobody and no body within the Palestinian Authority that is willing to take responsibility for the security of such a yeshiva.

The plan has been put on hold for now. Maybe at some future time when the Palestinian State might become more official, it could possibly be raised again as an option.

With Yeshivat Shaarei Ramallah off the table, Hirsch decided instead to advise the rosh yeshiva on his alternative options for getting his students out of the claws of the IDF draft. He told the rosh yeshiva that they should go to the draft board and declare that they do not recognize the State of Israel and its borders, as an occupying force. That, Hirsch says, would get them off the hook of the draft. He says this is how the anarchists on the left get out of the draft, and this is what should be done.

I wonder what ramifications there are for making such a statement in an official capacity.. Perhaps it means the yeshiva won't receive any budgets for such students that so declare their positions. Perhaps such boys would be ineligible for the various welfare payments and Bituach Leumi and whatever else the State of Israel gives its citizens, whether haredi or not (child payments, unemployment, stipends for kollel, etc.). Doing so might move such people into the realm of those who refuse to take money from the state...

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Interesting...

So, the self-proclaimed, anti-Zionist Haredi Jewish group, Neturei Karta would turn into settlers,...sort of, and without the kevanna (intent). So, is this some form of middah k'neged middah (measure for measure-justice)?

It seems to me that they still value living in Eretz Yisra'el. As I have tried to tell people, time and time again, the only differences between the so-called "Religious Zionists" and Neturei Karta are the how, when, and by whom.

Are we to come to Israel now, build it up, and take possession of it?

Or are we to wait for Mashi'ah to come first, and do all of the work?

Neturei Karta still believes that Eretz Yisra'el is the homeland of the Jewish People, and that all goyim (non-Jews), not fulfilling certain requirements to live here, will not be allowed to live here.

Surprise, surprise...

Even the venerated Satmar Rebbe ztz"l, Rabbi Yo'el said that the proper place for the performance of misswoth (Torah commandments) is Eretz Yisra'el. We are just not supposed to come here en masse,...yet.

Interesting that the deal breakers appear to include the lack of "Palestinian" interest and the lack of security concerns being addressed.

"Palestinians" do not have a place on their map, even for Neturei Karta.

Gee. I guess the "Palestinians" just see Neturei Karta as Jews, just like any other Jews, and do not want them around, just like they do not want settlers around, and for that matter do not want left-wing, self-identified "allies" around in Tel-Aviv either.

You see? We are all just Jews to them.