Rabbi: Gays To Blame For Bird Flu

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Rabbi David Basri, a prominent Kabbalah leader, says that gays have brought bird flu on Israel.

Basri is head of the Magen David Yeshiva in Jerusalem and on Tuesday he lashed out at the Meretz Party for running election ads supporting same-sex marriage. The Meretz Party is the only party in Israel supporting gay marriage.

At least two cases of the bird flue have occurred recently in Israel and Basri claims the outbreak is God's punishment for the promotion of same-sex marriage.

"The Bible says that God punishes depravity first through plagues against animals and then in people," Basri said in a religious edict.

Basri is already under investigation by Israeli authorities over remarks he made over the establishment of a bilingual school for Jewish and Arab students in Jerusalem.

"The nation of Israel is pure and the Arabs are a nation of donkeys. They are an evil disaster, an evil devil, and a nasty affliction," Basri allegedly told followers.

Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, is practiced by many high-profile stars like Madonna, Demi Moore and Britney Spears.