Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest Israel's Gaza offensive

Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest Israel's Gaza offensive

Neturei Karta is opposed to the Zionist movement

Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest Israel's Gaza offensive

Members of Jewish Neturei Karta faction wave placards reading ‘Stop the Zionist terrorist massacre in Gaza.’

JERUSALEM - Dozens of black-clad ultra-Orthodox Jews belonging to an l anti-Zionist faction on Wednesday protested against Israel's deadly 12-day-old offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Some 40 members of the Neturei Karta faction gathered in the centre of the ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood of Mea Shearim in occupied Jerusalem, waving placards reading "Stop the Zionist terrorist massacre in Gaza."

The protestors also shouted "We are against the Zionist government!" and shrieked "Gevald!" -- a Yiddish term for "Help!"

Neturei Karta is a Jewish group opposed to the Zionist movement and the Jewish state, which they believe must not exist before the coming of the Messiah.

Israel launched a massive air and ground offensive against the Gaza Strip on December 27 which has killed 689 Palestinians and wounded more than 3,000.

Palestinians have fired hundreds of rockets at southern Israel during the same period, killing four people. Six Israeli soldiers have also been killed in combat in Gaza.

About 10,000 Israelis in Tel Aviv – who are not part of the Neturei Karta Jewish group – had recently protested against the Israeli attacks against Gaza.

According to the Israeli peace group Gush Shalom, “conducting war in the world's most thickly populated area (Gaza) condemns the (Israeli) soldiers to become war criminals.”

“Those who sent soldiers to conduct intensive warfare in the world's most thickly inhabited area knew well in advance that the undoubted result would be a bloodbath, the killing of civilians, children and adults, whole families buried under the ruins of their homes,” read a statement by Gush Shalom.

“The (Israeli) government dooms a whole generation of young Israelis to become, quite literally, war criminals – except for those who are themselves killed by the artillery shells which are supposed to protect them,” the statement added.

Source: Middle East Online