“Our opposition to Israel is not due to political considerations, but [instead is based on] a biblical prohibition [not] to found a Jewish State in the land of Israel before the redemption. The State of Israel is a big contradiction to the Jewish religion and to our real hopes. So, even if the day comes and the Israelis sign a peace agreement with the Arab world, our opposition to Israel will stand.”
The Kiryas Joel Satmar Rebbe Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum
Satmar Rebbe Meets With Muslim Billionaires Over Satmar Anti-Israel Newspaper Ad Campaign
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Two billionaire brothers from the powerful Hani-Al-Kassab family in the United Arab Emirates reportedly came to the US recently to pursue joint investments with haredim here.
The brothers, who reportedly own giant companies in Dubai and oil fields in the Emirates, saw Satmar’s hate-filled newspaper ads against Zionism, the State of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wanted to learn more about Satmar’s opposition to Zionism and the State of Israel, Yeshiva World reported based on a report in the Hebrew language haredi news website Behadrei Haredim.
A Jewish partner of the brothers reached out to Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, a grandson of the Kiryas Joel Satmar Rebbe Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum, to arrange a meeting between the brothers and the rebbe – a meeting which the rebbe agreed to, claiming it would sanctify the name of God.
“Why are you against the state of Israel?” the brothers asked when the unlikely meeting took place.
“The Zionists do not speak on behalf of the nation of Israel and are not their representatives. We did not recognize them as a Jewish state, and as a direct result, we do not even visit the Western Wall (Kotel) – the holiest place for the Jewish people – or the rest of Israel’s occupied land. We have no connection to the State of Israel and we would never offer a helping hand to support the government.”
When asked about his relationship with the Sefardi haredi Shas Party in Israel, Teitelbaum attacked them – and Agudath Israel.
“Just the opposite. We fight against them and Agudath Israel because we have no part in anything designed to establish the Zionist state and its government. It does not matter if the state is led by a religious or secular leader. The problem is the State known as Israel,” Teitelbaum reportedly said.
“Does this mean Satmar sides with the Arabs?” the brothers asked.
“Our opposition to Israel is not due to political considerations, but [instead is based on] a biblical prohibition [not] to found a Jewish State in the land of Israel before the redemption. The State of Israel is a big contradiction to the Jewish religion and to our real hopes. So, even if the day comes and the Israelis sign a peace agreement with the Arab world, our opposition to Israel will stand,” the Satmar Rebbe reportedly answered.