Neturei Karta ("Guardians of the [Holy] City," in Hebrew)

views updated

NETUREI KARTA ("guardians of the [holy] city," in Hebrew)

Extremist Jewish anti-Zionist movement, which opposes Zionism prior to divine redemption and considers the existence of the State of Israel a heresy. The movement favors the peace process with the Palestinians and some of its leaders have been in contact, from 1975 on, with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). When the PLO proposed creating a government-in-exile, one of the leaders of the Neturei Karta, the rabbi Amram Blau, offered to be part of this government.

SEE ALSO Palestine Liberation Organization;Zionism.