Neturei Karta Sparks Outrage After Spending Shabbat with Palestinian Activist in Hebron

A delegation from the extremist anti-Zionist group Neturei Karta spent this past Shabbat (Parshat Bamidbar) in Hebron as guests of Issa Amar, a well-known Palestinian activist in the city. The visit, which took place near the Cave of the Patriarchs, has sparked widespread condemnation across the religious and Haredi communities.

According to members of the delegation who spoke with Kikar HaShabbat, the purpose of the visit was "to express solidarity with the residents of Hebron for their liberation from the yoke of occupation and oppression." The group's presence in the ancient city, home to both Jewish residents and Palestinian Arabs, represents the latest in a series of provocative actions by the fringe sect.

Shabbat Meals Filmed by Non-Jewish Host

One participant in the visit described the experience as "an uplifting Shabbat." The group stayed near the Cave of the Patriarchs with their host, Amar, described as an internationally active political figure in Hebron. During Shabbat, media representatives arrived seeking interviews with the delegation members.

"The Jews refrained from speaking with them due to the sanctity of Shabbat, but they interviewed the host at length," the participant stated. He emphasized that all prayers and Shabbat meals were documented on camera by their non-Jewish host, a practice that would typically be prohibited for observant Jews on the Sabbath.

The delegation member noted that the group deliberately avoided visiting the graves of the Patriarchs at the Cave of Machpelah "so as not to appear as settlers even for a moment." This decision underscores the group's extreme anti-Zionist ideology, which has previously led them to visit Iranian embassies and express support for regimes hostile to Israel.

Confrontations with Jewish Residents

The visit did not go unnoticed by Hebron's Jewish community. According to the Neturei Karta participant, sermons were delivered in local synagogues on Shabbat morning condemning their presence. "When the dog barks, it's a sign the stone hit its mark," he stated provocatively. "The proof that one can live in peace with Arabs according to Torah commandments makes a mockery of their entire enterprise."

The participant launched sharp criticism at Jewish residents and their leadership, accusing them of bearing weapons and providing poor education to their children. "We witnessed the education firsthand when young children cursed the participants, who turned the other cheek," he asserted. "They imagine in their minds that they will increase hatred throughout the world, but their vision shatters when a Palestinian from among the leading activists hosts yeshiva students in his home."

Three-Point Anti-Zionist Message

The Neturei Karta member clarified that the provocative visit was designed to convey three central messages from their perspective:

The visit has drawn fierce criticism from across the religious spectrum. Neturei Karta, a small but vocal sect, has a history of controversial actions that place them at odds with mainstream Orthodox Judaism. The group has previously clashed violently with Israeli officials, including an incident where members assaulted National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his wife in Beit Shemesh.

Many in the Haredi and religious Zionist communities view such actions as dangerous collaboration with elements hostile to the State of Israel and Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria. The timing of the visit, coming amid ongoing security concerns in the region, has only intensified the backlash against the extremist group's latest provocation.