Rabbi threatens secession from Israel

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JERUSALEM, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- An Israeli rabbi is calling on his followers to prepare for creation of an autonomous state if Israel withdraws from Judea and Samaria.

Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe told The Jerusalem Post in an article published Friday he is calling on his supporters to make preparations to secede from the State of Israel if withdrawal from Palestinian territories occurs.

Wolpe, who founded an umbrella organization of right-wing groups called SOS Israel, believes Judea and Samaria belong to the Jews and should remain in Jewish hands.

"Why should we wait until soldiers come to people's homes," says Wolpe who began preparing a response after Israel withdrew from Gaza and communities in Samaria in 2005.

The Post says Wolpe did not provide any concrete answers to questions about how such a separate Jewish state would be organized or how it would defend itself.