'Israeli' Chief Rabbi David Yosef denies Palestinians rights

• Chief rabbi denies Palestinian people, rights.
• Rabbi Yosef claims Gaza, Nablus, Jenin belong to 'Israel'.
• Rabbi calls for occupying new Palestinian territories.
• Yosef invokes destruction of Gaza over synagogue desecration.

Sephardic Chief Rabbi (Rishon LeZion) David Yosef made sweeping statements denying the status of Gaza, Palestinian identity, and territorial rights during a visit to a Museum in Jerusalem on Thursday evening.

Responding to an attendee's question about whether to pray for a return to the Gaza Strip, Yosef affirmed the role of prayer while distinguishing it from physical action.

"Praying, of course, yes, praying. Taking action - that's a different question," Rabbi Yosef stated.

Rabbi claims Gaza, Nablus, and Jenin belong to 'Israel'

Expanding on territorial connections, Rabbi Yosef insisted that the entire region falls under sovereign entitlement.

"Gaza is the Land of Israel, Gaza is ours, Nablus is ours, Jenin is ours, all of them are ours," Yosef declared. "May we deserve a redemption in which we can truly return to all of our places. Every day, every day in prayer, we need to say with great intention."

Addressing the synagogues that remained in Gush Katif following the 2005 'Israeli' disengagement from Gaza, Yosef pointed out that the structures were desecrated.

"Unfortunately, the synagogues remained in their sanctity and they desecrated them," Yosef remarked. "For that alone, I say, they deserve that all of Gaza, blessed be He, will destroy it and we will return there."

Rejection of Palestinian nationhood, rights

Rabbi Yosef commented on prematurely forcing events, stating that patience is necessary until full redemption arrives.

"We are not rushing the end. We are waiting, we have the patience," he said. "We know that when redemption comes, it will be such heroism of the people of Israel in the face of all nations, let alone in the face of this mob that is not a people, that they call themselves a Palestinian people but they are not a people."

Yosef concluded his address by unequivocally denying Palestinian rights:

"They have never been a people and have no rights. The rights are ours. We say these things unequivocally."