Neturei Karta: Opposing Zionism

What the report says

Al Jazeera’s documentary “Neturei Karta: Opposing Zionism” examines the ultra-Orthodox Jewish group Neturei Karta, which rejects Zionism and does not recognize the State of Israel. The film presents the movement as a long-standing minority current within Judaism that has maintained a visible, and often controversial, public stance in support of Palestinians and against Israeli rule over Palestinian territories.

According to the publisher, the documentary traces the group’s origins to early 20th-century Jewish opposition to Zionism and follows its evolution through major historical moments, including the Balfour Declaration, the killing of Jacob Israel de Haan and the political splits surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948. It uses voices from within Neturei Karta as well as historians to show how the group became increasingly isolated from mainstream Jewish communities while continuing street protests and other public actions.

The report also highlights the movement’s presence in places such as Jerusalem and New York and notes its ties with Palestinian leaders and causes over time. Al Jazeera says members have faced police pressure, threats and social exclusion. The documentary is relevant because it sheds light on an unusual Jewish anti-Zionist tradition and how it intersects with the wider conflict over Israel and Palestine.