THERE are Arabs who are described as friends of Israel. These individuals work for its interests, either openly or covertly, driven by material, emotional motives, or sometimes out of hatred for their enemies. It is not difficult to identify these individuals through their explicit positions, statements, articles, and television interviews.
Those who oppose Hamas, however, do not fall into this group of Israel supporters. For various reasons, Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi is regarded as one of the most well-known, outspoken, and controversial Jewish clerics in New York.
In his sermons and speeches, Rabbi Mizrachi often expresses strong and controversial views. He is known for his vocal criticism of certain groups and his advocacy for policies he believes will support Israeli interests.
He has been outspoken in his opposition to the Palestinian cause, asserting that Palestinians who remain in Israel must be slaves, reflecting the views of some Arab Zionists. His comments regarding Palestinians, including his opposition to providing them with medical assistance and his extreme rhetoric that his group will one day slaughter them, have sparked significant controversy. Mizrachi has also publicly rejected Palestinian culture, including their food, and said if he could, he would bomb Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Mizrachi has previously stated that much of the support Israel receives from the United States can be attributed to the beliefs held by the Protestant evangelical movement, particularly the ideology of “Christian Zionism.” This movement views the return of Christ to Palestine as conditional upon the return of Jews to the land, the establishment of a Jewish state, and the rebuilding of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. According to this perspective, this cannot be achieved before the establishment of the State of Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates. When these conditions are met, the Battle of Armageddon will take place, and Christ will emerge to rule the world for a thousand years.
Therefore, supporting Israel and its expansion is seen as both a religious and political duty. Rabbi Mizrachi said he and other Israeli leaders are aware of the evangelical agenda, and that evangelicals know that the Jews are aware of this as well. However, both parties continue to pursue their respective goals, each convinced of the validity of their own beliefs and the invalidity of the other’s.
In a well-known sermon, Rabbi Mizrachi stated that Azerbaijan is Israel’s largest ally among Islamic countries, highlighting Israel’s heavy reliance on Azerbaijan’s logistical support, to the point where it almost feels like an extension of Israeli territory. He said while Azerbaijanis do not particularly like Jews, they depend on them for protection, adding that Israel would never find itself in such a position.
Rabbi Mizrachi also said Israel had previously supported the Kurds of Iraq in various ways, but ultimately abandoned them when the Iraqi government, backed by American and Iranian support, became stronger. While Israel maintained good relations with Saddam Hussein, it abandoned him when he was no longer of use.
Israel also established the Free Lebanon Army in the south, led by Antoine Lahad, providing full support to resist Hezbollah. However, when Lahad’s forces collapsed against Hezbollah, Israel left him to face his fate. Rabbi Mizrachi’s words serve as a warning to all non-Jewish supporters and advocates of Israel, whether paid or not. Israel, he cautioned, will not come to their aid in times of trouble or crisis, but will abandon them just as it has done to others in the past.
By Ahmad alsarraf
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