In his speech to the Jewish Federations of North American General Assembly in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would ensure that all Jews feel at home in Israel, "Reform, Conservative and Orthodox," and that he would try to encourage Reform and Conservative communities in Israel.
In response, HaRav Simchah HaKohen Kook, the rav of Rechovot, said, "The Reform destroyed Judaism in the United States and everywhere else in the world were they lived. If they bring them here and encourage them, it will be awful. They are not a new form of Judaism. They are the destruction of Judaism. Judaism in the United States is shrinking, and they are the ones who caused that."
HaRav Yitzchak Peretz, rav of Raanana and a former Minister of the Interior in Israel, told Yated Ne'eman, "The Reform and the Conservative are a bridge to assimilation of the Jewish community of the United States that is shrinking. In contrast, the chareidi community of the United States is growing. Giving money to the Reform community in Israel can only encourage assimilation, R"l."
MK Rabbi Uri Maklev told Yated Ne'eman that the Reform are internal enemies of the Jewish people. "They put all their money and energy into lawyers and activist organizations who support anyone who attacks the Jewish people. They encourage and join together with those who hate the Jewish people the most, even when they are nothing but common murderers. They show mercy to the murderers. They know no limits. They have a lot of influence.
"They use all means, and are active in the Knesset, at the local authorities and organizations. They reach positions of influence. They have even reached the prime minister, who was chosen by the Israeli people who overwhelmingly detest the Reform. They harm Eretz Yisroel and constantly criticize and work against the political Right in Israel. They support the movement to mark products from the territories in Europe. Now a prime minister who was chosen by the Right supports them. Not one of them voted or supports Netanyahu, and nonetheless Netanyahu declares his support for them.
"Besides the destruction of Judaism, Netanyahu's support for them goes against the platform of the Government, the Coalition and his job."
