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Last update - 11:50 02/12/2007
U.S. ultra-Orthodox group breaks mold by taking stance on peace process
By Anthony Weiss, The Forward
Tags: Zionism, peace process 

An ultra-Orthodox umbrella organization spoke out at its annual conference last week against the division of Jerusalem, marking the first time that the traditionally non-Zionist body has taken a public stance on the peace process.

Agudath Israel of America has traditionally steered clear of matters involving Israeli sovereignty, on the grounds that a true Jewish homeland can be established only by the coming of the messiah. At its national convention last week, however, Agudath Israel passed a resolution stating that Israel should not surrender any part of Jerusalem to Palestinian sovereignty and that America's government should not pressure it into doing so.

The conference came a few days before the Annapolis peace talks on November 27. Shortly before the talks, an Agudath Israel official met with high-ranking members of the Bush administration to press the case.
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Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudath Israel's executive vice president of government and public affairs, acknowledged that it is unusual for Agudath Israel to speak out on matters relating to the peace process. But he explained, "The issue of Jerusalem is one that is sui generis: It stands on its own. It is the heart of Eretz Yisrael."

Rabbi Avi Shafran, director of public affairs for Agudath Israel, told the Forward that the resolution passed by acclaim with no objections. The unanimity suggests that the issue of Jerusalem may pull groups into the debate over the peace process that have traditionally steered clear of these matters.

The stance also could be an important signal of the political tides in Israel. Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the head of Agudath Israel of America, told the convention that he had consulted with the leading Agudath Israel rabbis in Israel and they had urged him to speak out on the matter.

Israel's ultra-Orthodox political parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, have traditionally been flexible on territorial matters in exchange for domestic funding, but that may not hold true for Jerusalem.

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      1.   Even secular Israelis agree with them 11:25  |  Hilonit 02/12/07
      2.   those people are nuts? 11:38  |  joey 02/12/07
      3.   THIS RESOLUTION PROVES THEY SILENTLY AGREED TO ALL LAND SURRENDER 12:38  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 02/12/07
      4.   THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE HAS A HOME AND NOONE 12:44  |  JERUSALEM 02/12/07
      5.   WHY ARE THEY AGAINST PEACE? 12:49  |  Kooky Dennt 02/12/07
      6.   THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE WARNED 40 YEARS AGO 12:52  |  Alon chiloni 02/12/07
      7.   Kookey Dent & Joey 13:27  |  rich 02/12/07
      8.   American |Orthodoxy 13:46  |  Joe 02/12/07
      9.   Are they going to lay their lives on the line in support? 13:46  |  PETER SM 02/12/07
      10.   The very earth quakes at the thought... 13:48  |  Joseph 02/12/07
      11.   #9 Peter SM 14:19  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      12.   # 10 i think you will find its a geographical fault 14:37  |  SJ 02/12/07
      13.   LABRAHAS there is an apartheid"wall"in Belfast. 14:44  |  PETER S.M. 02/12/07
      14.   The river Indus was the site of the composition of the sacred 14:46  |  lakshmi 02/12/07
      15.   #13 Peter SM 15:17  |  Labhras 02/12/07
      16.   Laqshmi and Jerusalem 15:21  |  Kooky Dennt 02/12/07
      17.   ultra orthodox 15:30  |  Salomon MOYAL BLOCH 02/12/07
      18.   Non Zionist Aguda - do have a say 15:45  |  Phil 02/12/07
      19.   Hilonit 15:46  |  sh 02/12/07
      20.   We need to start soon 15:58  |  VOICE of the MOHEL)) 02/12/07
      21.   lakshmi... 16:02  |  epicurus 02/12/07
      22.   Only Free Access To Holy Sites Under Israeli Rule 16:20  |  Straight Talk 02/12/07
      23.   THATS BECAUSE IT`S A JEWISH ISSUE NOT AN ISREALI ISSUE 16:47  |  ELI W 02/12/07
      24.   Jerusalem 17:12  |  Jason Alster 02/12/07
      25.   Agudah Non-Zionist? What a Joke! 17:42  |  Dovy 02/12/07
      26.   What is Agudah? 17:50  |  Dovy 02/12/07
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      28.   What is Agudah? (III) 17:53  |  Dovy 02/12/07
      29.   One Jersalem forever,and all religions have 18:10  |  TOMY 02/12/07
      30.   Dovy is Naturei Karta. He is a disgrace to our people. 18:21  |  Jane 02/12/07
      31.   Lakshmi 18:23  |  Jane 02/12/07
      32.   Dovi and Rav Yoelish 18:58  |  Sherlock Holmes 02/12/07
      33.   Jewish tribalism and inter-tribal hatred. 19:04  |  chelemer 02/12/07
      34.   To Dov and # 30 19:09  |  Rob 02/12/07
      35.   yeah, they sure are taking a stance on peace 19:17  |  newageblues 02/12/07
      36.   31Jane,why not?But it is also a fact that many jews post second 19:26  |  lakshmi 02/12/07
      37.   To My Critics 19:30  |  Dovy 02/12/07
      38.   One Step Further 19:34  |  Dovy 02/12/07
      39.   While We`re At It 19:54  |  Dovy 02/12/07
      40.   Satmar 20:18  |  Dennis Slapo 02/12/07
      41.   Further replies to Dovi 23:09  |  Joseph 02/12/07
      42.   @18, as a secular israeli i agree with you. 23:25  |  v 02/12/07
      43.   Lakshmi 23:27  |  Jane 02/12/07
      44.   #40 23:32  |  Jane 02/12/07
      45.   To #41 00:27  |  Dovy 03/12/07
      46.   Lets face it,Every Jew is a Zionist,just open 01:21  |  TOMY 03/12/07
      47.   #46, Tomy, assimilated Jews don`t care about anything spiritual? 02:17  |  newageblues 03/12/07
      48.   43 Jane,someone pointed out that because there are 41 african 02:27  |  lakshmi 03/12/07
      49.   #47 newageblues,What I meant is that 03:58  |  TOMY 03/12/07
      50.   Lakshmi 04:57  |  Jane 03/12/07
      51.   lakshmi baseless claims 05:25  |  bbl 03/12/07
      52.   Great, more wing-nut Jews opposed to peace... 06:42  |  peacelover 03/12/07
      53.   TO Dennis #40 07:28  |  Harry D 03/12/07
      54.   (((((HONORABLE VOICE OF THE MOHEL))))) 07:31  |  Harry D 03/12/07
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      58.   lakshmi #57 -- none of that supports your assertion 18:03  |  bbl 03/12/07
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