NEW YORK, January 1, 2017 (WAFA) – Anti-Israel US-based Jewish organization Neturei Karta hailed, in a statement Sunday, the United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 which condemned Israeli settlements and called for an end to settlement activity.

It said, “For decades, the settlements have been a major cause for bloodshed and unrest in the Holy Land. Hundreds of innocent lives have been sacrificed on the altar of nationalism and lust for land.”

The organization congratulated the countries in the Security Council for taking what it described as “long-overdue step toward justice and peace”. It also congratulated President Mahmoud Abbas on his success in achieving the passage of this resolution.

The statement added: “At the same time, we wish to reiterate the Torah position that it is not just the West Bank that is illegally occupied. Jews have been sent into exile by the Almighty, and any kind of Jewish sovereignty over any territory is a violation of that decree.”

“Therefore the concept of the State of Israel is entirely illegitimate and forbidden. The crime is compounded when the creation of this homeland entails the occupation, oppression, subjugation and expulsion of another people,” the statement emphasized.

Regarding the reaction of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to the resolution, the organization said he has reacted with anger to this clear demonstration of unanimous world opinion against his state‘s crimes. “Drawing on Jewish themes, he has cast himself in the role of the Maccabee fighters whose victories we celebrate on Chanukah, and the Security Council nations as their enemies.”

“Let no one be fooled. The State of Israel has nothing to do with Judaism, and on the contrary, it has consistently tried to extinguish Torah observance and values. The Torah values life and service of the Almighty, while Zionism values land conquest and secular culture.”

M.N