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Fringe ultra-Orthodox sect mourns Israel Independence Day

Unlike most of the ultra-Orthodox, who tacitly accept Israel and its governing institutions, this small extremist group openly commemorates Israel's independence as a day of grief.
A member of Neturei Karta, a small faction of ultra-Orthodox Jews who oppose Israel's existence, waves a Palestinian flag to express support for the Palestinian bid for statehood recognition at the United Nations as thousands of Palestinians attend a demonstration on September 21, 2011 in the West Bank city of Nablus. Palestinians are preparing to submit a formal request to become the 194th member of the United Nations when the General Assembly begins its meetings on September 20, despite US and Israeli opp

It is the same every year. "Pashkevils," (polemical posters) devised by the extremist Neturei Karta group leadership are distributed throughout ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods on the eve of Israel's Independence Day. Their text calls on “God-fearing Jews” to take to the streets and demonstrate throughout the city.

“The Jewish people in the Holy Land and the Diaspora mourn bitterly over the 66 years of existence of the Zionist state, rebelling against God and his Torah. They pray for its speedy end, Amen!"

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