Where NETUREI KARTA Is Right

Last week, a demonstration took place at the International Court of Justice in The Hague involving several members of the Neturei Karta movement (= Guardians of the City). A remarkable sight, because as ultra-Orthodox Jews, they speak out in unmistakable terms AGAINST the State of Israel. They regard the entire Zionist endeavor as an ungodly attempt to force the promised restoration of Israel. Israel went into exile because of unbelief, and only on the basis of faith will they be permitted to return to their land and once again form a nation there. That is what the Torah says (including Deuteronomy 30), and that is what the prophets say (including Ezekiel 20). Therefore, in their view, no salvation whatsoever can be expected from the present State of Israel. In fact, Israel has for decades been one of the most unsafe places in the world. They also point out that, until 1948, Jews had a reasonably secure existence in Arab and other countries. This changed overnight when the Jewish state was proclaimed. From then on, hatred and persecution became their lot. They also condemn the fact that Israel exercises so much aggression against the Palestinians. They believe that Theodor Herzl did the world – not only the Jewish world – a tremendous disservice. All Jews should wait for the coming of Messiah instead of taking matters into their own hands and militantly establishing a state of their own. On the website of this movement, you can read much more about their reasons.

As much as these Orthodox Jews may incur the hatred and resentment of their fellow Jews… they are largely right. The establishment of the Jewish state IS not the restoration of Israel promised by God. In fact, the present state will in due course be destroyed, as we know from the prophecies. THAT something resembling an unbelieving Jewish state would once again exist in the end time was clearly foretold. But that does not make this phenomenon the promised restoration—or even the beginning of it. Those are two TOTALLY different things. Before too long, Babylon will probably also be rebuilt. But does that mean we should shout hallelujah as soon as its reconstruction begins? Quite the opposite, I would say. Read Revelation 17 and 18. Isaiah writes (Isaiah 6:9-13) that when the time of Israel’s unbelief has finally come to an end, the cities in the land will have been destroyed. The cultivated land will be a wilderness. And not a single living inhabitant will be found there. Elsewhere we read that what remains of the people will have fled into the wilderness. All of this forms the setting for the dramatic end of the present State of Israel. Only THEN, and not before, will GOD gather the remnant of Israel from all the nations and bring them into the promised land.

Thus says my Lord Yahweh: In the day I cleanse you from all your depravities, then I will cause the cities to be indwelt, and the deserted places will be rebuilt; and the desolate land shall be served, whereas it had become a desolation to the eyes of everyone passing by. Hence people will say, This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the cities that were deserted and desolate and demolished are indwelt and fortressed. Then the nations which remain around you will know that I, Yahweh, have rebuilt what was demolished; I have replanted what was desolate; I, Yahweh, have spoken, and I will do it.
Ezekiel 36:33-36

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