Washington – The U.S. State Department on Sunday issued a statement criticizing an Israeli rabbi who reportedly wished God would send a plague to kill off all Palestinians, including the “evil hater of Israel,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
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“We regret and condemn the inflammatory statements by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef,” U.S. State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley. “These remarks are not only deeply offensive, but incitement such as this hurts the cause of peace.”
“As we move forward to relaunch peace negotiations, it is important that actions by people on all sides help to advance our effort, not hinder it.”
Yosef had said during his weekly Shabbat sermon that the Palestinians, namely Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, should perish from the world. Yosef, a founder of the Shas Party, also described Palestinians as evil, bitter enemies of Israel.
“All these evil people should perish from this world … God should strike them with a plague, them and these Palestinians,” Yosef had said.
The 89-year-old is a respected religious scholar but is also known for vitriolic comments about Arabs, secular Jews, liberals, women and gays, among others.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday distanced himself from Yosef’s remarks, but stopped short of a condemnation.
“Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s remarks do not reflect Netanyahu’s views, nor do they reflect the stance of the Israeli government,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
“Israel plans to take part in peace negotiations out of a desire to advance toward a peace agreement with the Palestinians that will end the conflict and ensure peace, security and good neighborly relations between the two peoples,” the statement continued.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat slammed Yosef’s remarks, saying they were paramount to incitement to genocide.
Erekat called on the Israeli government to denounce the remarks by Israel’s former chief rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and to take action against racist remarks by other elected officials.
And ever imam that curses zionists at every chance and not a word from the state dept. What a bunch of idiots and bigots.
…”the 89-year-old is a respected religious scholar but is also known for vitriolic comments about Arabs, secular Jews, liberals, women and gays, among others.” … did he ever spoke against women?! are maybe they just added it to make him look like a boogeyman…
What yosef has said is worse than the 9/11 mosque yet where is the ADL and ll the other jewish organizations. Why don’t they speak out and condemn this crazy rhetoric from this rabbi. He is openly advociating genoicde against Palestinians yet all the American jewish leadership is silent.
but when the president’s priest called Jews bad words, I didn’t hear the state department condemn him. then we find out that in the 20 years the president claimed he went to this church with Wright, he really only showed up maybe 3 or 4 times. maybe because he is really a muslim.
3- because the ADL is an american organization?
To Poster No. 2. yosef (aka chochom ovadia) has spoken used inflamatory langauge including wishes for death or violence against just about every non-orthodox group he disagrees with including women who he thinks do not dress sufficiently tziniusdik or have the chutzpah to want to daven by the kosel. This is getting to be a pattern of behavior.
I don’t understand this “Rabbi”, what a chilul Hashem he’s creating.
Think Rav Ovadia should go to Rav Amnon to get 39 lashes for his stupid and reckless comment!
“Offending the palestinians????….condemnation by the US State Department???”
Please give me a brake. Palestianians sole objective has always be the total destruction of Israel as a state and genocide of the Jewish people in particular.
State Department: you deeply offended me! Why not condeming those hate spewing imans or those black american “ministers”? The State Department acts like hypocrytic, bend-over Obama appeasers.
It is unbecoming for the State Department to comment on Religious leaders sermons. The Rav I am sure was reffering to those who have blood on their hands and meant lgazem not pasken lmaase. After all of the blasphemy that emits from Immams and mosques throughout the region who actually preach and practice violence why focus on the words of Rav Ovadia.I smell a double standard here.
Modern Anti-semtism at it’s best. Ridiculous!! Imams are promoting suicide bombers, killings, jihad and they find a scapegoat in a old Rabbi
It is inappropriate for the State Dept. to comment on the Rabbi”s sermon .Do they monitor and comment on the sermons of the mosque”s?
(Reply to #3):
I don’t believe that any good will come out of Rav Ovadiah’s remarks, and it would be better if the Rav left his feelings unsaid, but saying that he advocates genocide against the Palestinians would be, to the best of my knowledge, a distortion of his statements. I believe he called for the Palestinians to incur the wrath of G-d, as opposed to being butchered by other people, which you’re implying with accusing him of advocating “genocide.”
The State Dept. should follow the speeches made by some Imams, spoken in Arabic, throughout the world. Then they would really have something to condemn.
The palestinians actualy tried to capture and kill Rabbi Yosef so wey shouldnt he say it?
(Reply to #5 ):
Come on, Lodzker. You don’t really believe that, do you? You think if a Romanian newspaper would feature some scathing anti-semitic editorial or carricature that the ADL wouldn’t condemn it because it’s an American organization? If so, you’re deluding yourself.
To no. 5. Thats even more reason for the ADL to speak out and condemn this hateful language. For a Rabbi who has many followers in Israel to descend to the level of Ahmadinejad and advocate genocide against Palestinians is disgusting. I will guarantee you that this episode will come back to hurt jews in the year ahead.
Two weeks ago VIN reported another story from EY about another Rabbi was put in jail for writing a book about when its OK to kill innocent Palestinians during periods of conflict. What yosef said here is even worse. Will he also be put in jail for advocating death to Palestinians and their elected leadership?
The acharonim in many of their seforim were very careful not to publish anything that would anger the goyim and even went out of their way to praise the malchus even when we know they didn’t mean it. I wonder if rabbi ovadia realizes that the whole world hears his remarks..
This rav is going to get someone killed!!!!! What a esteemed blunder!!!!!!! I do not support non Jews living in Israel, however I believe we must wait until a Messianic Era before they will be eager to live elsewhere. This is G-ds plan and G-d’s plan only. Bitachon. Trust in Hashem! There is no reason to cry for more pain and suffering!!!!!!
Doesn’t anyone realize that the Palestinians are at war with us? Have you not heard the things that they say? Did you not see the rockets? Do you know what Hamas is?
No. 12. You must live in a cave and never read a newspaper. The U.S. State Department and other government officials have frequently spoken out against the hateful and antisemitic diatribes of many many muslim leaders, most recently in cases involving Egypt, Sudan and Pakistan. (Go the http://www.state.gov) Sec. of State Clinton frequently denounces the antisemitic comments of President Ahmadinejad and the Mullahs who urge the destruction of EY.
(Reply to #18 ):
Care to explain why Rav Ovadiah’s comments are even worse? I understand you’re upset about it — so am I. But don’t get ahead of yourself just to drive home your point.
I’m no fan of R Yosef, but make no mistake about it, the state dept does not comment on every lecture around the world. This is a calculated move against Israel. As if to equate this with the daily itbach al yahud speeches. Obama is an anti semite and he hates your existence.
#20 ,
Non-Jews have a right under Torah law to live in Eretz Yisrael even under a Jewish theocratic state, indeed the Talmud praises non-Jews who want to live in E”Y. All they have to do is to follow the Noachide laws; Muslims, and probably also Christians, qualify as non-idol-worshipers.
#23,
Rav Ovadiah’s comments are worse because his political party is part of the Israeli governing coalition. The comments seem calculated to blow up the peace talks and start another hot war, which will result in many deaths.
I didn’t hear the state dep. Condemning when a iranian pastor (I don’t know how they call their selfs) says these kind of words against a jewish leader
stevenberger Says:
Doesn’t anyone realize that the Palestinians are at war with us? Have you not heard the things that they say? Did you not see the rockets? Do you know what Hamas is
So what??
When we were at war with Germany..would you ever hear an American leader say…”may g-d send a plague on the entire German people”..?
There are rules of war..and civilized ways of speaking.
As for so called hypocrisy..
People expect Iranians to say what they do..THATS WHY THEY ARE BOYCOTTED.
Israel is supposedly a civilized nation receiving billions of dollars in aid from the US and partners in the world economy..of course they’ll be condemned.
To all those that are posting derrogatory comments about Chacham Ovadia Yosef, I really don’t know what you are thinking- if you are. To speak in such a manner against the godol hador and to think that you’ll get away with it. Before anyone dares to write another negative comment about R’ Yosef, I urge uyou out there to think it through veruy well – you’re playing with fire….
After this, no one will ever again refer to yosef as “chacham ovadia”. Its mind boggling to think that any responsible religious and political leader (and he is BOTH) could make such stupid comments which seem almost deliberately timed to blow up this week’s peace talks in D.C.
(Reply to #25 ):
On the other hand, Rabbi Shapira condoned the killing of Palestinians at the hands of Jews — flesh and blood, while Rav Ovadiah Shlit”ah didn’t go that route at all, as I pointed out above. It’s one thing to say, “May G-d kill so and so…” It’s entirely something else to say, “Go out and kill so and so,” poltical party head or not…
If I have to choose in some state dept spokesman & R’ Ovadia who is just a massive ‘Buki’ is all corners of the Trorah, I’d pick chacham Ovadia any day.
Only a person with no appreciation for Torah wisdom would spout defamatory statements against Rav Yosef. Those who condemn him in gross terms display the greatest ignorance and manifest a complete absence of any Torah values.
The same people who do this are the ones who carry the ridiculous illusion that there is any hope of a peace treaty with a people that is trained to hate and murder Jews from the cradle to the grave.
Those who hate us and are doing their best to destroy us deserve to be cursed to the utmost.
The Crowley clown is the same dhimmi that chose anti American Imam Rauf as the US spokesman around the world and sent him on a free junket to do so.
It seems that most posters understand the provocation this statement by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, but are just acknowledging that he should be quit, and kept his view to himself. I for one will condemn anyone who would preach intolerance, would that be an Ayatollah from Iran, or Rabbi in Israel. It is self evident that at age 89 Rabbi Ovadia Yosef lost his Talmudic wits, there should be Halacha of forced retirement at a certain age, the same as driving a car, a new test for eyesight, motor skills, the fact is when a person gets older he/she slows down.
Rabbi Meir and his wife Bruria had some neighbors who were troubling him. He wanted to daven that they would die- his wife said to daven that they do teshuva. He listened to his wife and they did teshuva. The Rav should daven that the “Palestinians” do teshuva. He should take a lesson from Yonah also who had to tell non-Jews to do teshuva.
What’s funny is! Could anybody quote the exact words he used!!
Response to #28 … I couldn’t agree w you more. Response to #29 … I really don’t know how can be go to sleep tonight after you disgustingly spoke of the gadol hador… You have to kiss his feet- R Ovadia shlita knows more torah than you’ll ever know so please keep your mouth shut and ask mechila… What a chutzpah!
No. 30 . You are splitting hairs. Do you really think Al Jazeera or any of the Arab journalists will make this semantic distinction. They will all say Yosef urged the killing of all Palestinians thereby legitimizing sucicide bombers and terrorists who shoot rockets into Israel. If this is what Yosef wants, he will likely get his fondest wish.
TERRIBLE CHILLUL HASHEM!!!
He is forgeting that we are still in golus, on people like this “rabbi” we pray every day velamalshinim!!!
It amazes me that anybody who thinks that the Rov is crazy is upset by his comment. It’s not like he told his followers to go and kill Palestinians, he issued a curse. Either G-d will listen or he won’t.
Many of us who have posted “derogatory” comments about Rav Yosef respect his lamdus and yiras shamayim but are absolutly convinced that these comments were irresponsible, dumb, or whatever term you want to use. He should have kept his thoughts between himself and the Ebeshter. His words will bring many tzoros on yidden. So those of you defending him please explain what good can come from this. Blindly saying a “gadol” is always right is not the jewish way. We crtically analyze everything we hear before we form a judgment and the nearly universal judgement here is his statement was very wrong and poorly timed
I’d like to apologize to the world for another posek genious but at the same time I want to remind the world that Judaism is not the only religion prone to attracting and creating nutcases preachers. So we are all even now.
in the days of charles lindberg the hitler lover and all the american first natzis.the state dept.would have defended them against verbal insults as well.it’s not the end of history rather history is dead.wake up children.em ain ani li me li.
Although I have tremendous respect for HaChacham Ovadia, I believe that not all ideas need to be said, not all that is said needs to be written and not all that’s written needs to be published.
I’m not sure how good the impact of this statement will be on the world outlook of Israel and the Jewish religion, and that in these tense times, we should not make ourselves appear to be as fanatical as certain sects of Islam to the point where we wish death upon others.
I believe that if a person feels that he has the power to cause something to happen to someone based upon his will alone, he should at least be wishing that those people should repent and see the truth rather than to wish them to die.
That does not mean that there won’t be a tragedy that strikes the Palestinian people. Some of my recent ‘Goralos’ predict that there will be a tragedy that strikes Gaza, an earthquake in the north of the land, and another war in Iraq, waged by its neighboring countries.
When I asked about whether we should fear Iran, the Gorel came to a passuk that said “Do not fear them…” Dvarim, 7:18
I don’t know whats the problem, I say it for sure 20 time by davening that hasham should kill the goyim… The only differents is that r’ ovadyah called his name, ok I can still live with that, as if they don’t say this about us…
What about former Sec of State James baker who said F*ck the Jews? and Present Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who was overheard by Arkansas State Trooper Patterson saying Motherf*cker Jew, Jew Bastard etc. ?
What About the Musfti of Al Ichza who screams Itback Al Yahud and the other Muslim clerics who call Jews Pigs and Dog and sons of monkeys?
Rav Ovadiah Shlit”a missed Obama and his Jew hating advisors and friends, and Obama’s court Jews who do damage to Israel like Emanuel, Dennis Ross, Indich, Axelrod, Waxman, Greyson, Soros, Kissinger etc.
Hashem has His cheshbonos and when the time comes they will all get their’s as it tells in teh beginning of Masecta Avoda Zara
ovadia yosef has lost all the respect i once had for him, i will no longer refer to him as Rav.
Do you all realize that we have a president that patronized a church where the pastor espoused hate of Whites and Jews and this was not at all upsetting to the President? A matter of fact, this country elected a man who found nothing wrong with choosing a man who did not speak out against this pastor even at the risk of losing votes. Obama was not embarrassed by the pastors rants, nor did he feel that by not speaking out against him publicly people would think that he agreed with Reverend Wright’s rhetoric. How hypocritical of the State Department to criticize Rav Yosef for his comments. How dare you people speak against Rav Ovadia Yosef! There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with what he said. I think we should all say Amen to his statement. There is nothing wrong with cursing people who wish for Klal Yisroel”s demise.
#48 ‘sefosyim yishak mayshiv devorim nechonim’
#40 ’…blindly say a gadol is……is not the jewish way’ oh yes, and can you refer where you get your ‘jewish way’? and who are your, with your pea size brain to say he is not right?r how much torah, shass s’u do you know as you come to this conclusion that he is wrong, mr midjet. you hear day in day out how the arabs curse us, immans all over the world especially in arab land that doesnt bother you?. any way just go ahead and love our mortal enemies and hate us ..remember you might be jewish but you definately dont have a jewish nesham,a see magan avroham simon 48…
To No. 45
And we too should be mispallel the same for you and your mishpacha. How can you post such vile comments here on VIN or anywhere else. Chazal say the pain and suffering evil people seek to impose on innocents will come back to to haunt them for generations. Be careful what you wish for.