The Battle for the Zionist Idea Matan Peleg

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Battle for the Zionist Idea Matan Peleg The Battle for the Zionist Idea Matan Peleg May 2016 | Iyar 5776 1 © This booklet is not for commercial use and may not be copied, duplicated, or reproduced without the express consent from the author. 2 The Battle for the Zionist Idea Matan Peleg To the activists of Im Tirtzu Dedicated to the memory of Rivka Altabef 3 “The State of Israel will be tested not by its wealth, nor by its mili- tary or technology, but by its moral character and human values.” David Ben-Gurion 4 Introduction: Since its establishment, the State of Israel has been faced with two central threats: a physical threat and an ideological threat. The former is expressed via bloody attacks, war, and terrorism, and has but one purpose – to wipe Israel off the map. The latter is expressed via efforts to convince the world that the Jewish state has no right to exist. Therefore, the goals of both these tactics are one and the same. In order to negate the State of Israel’s right to exist in the eyes of the world, international propaganda organizations spread blood libels and lies claiming that the State of Israel was founded in sin and carries out heinous crimes against humanity, including ethnic cleansing, genocide, and an apartheid regime for its Arab citizens. They strive to rally the nations of the world to condemn, boycott, and impose sanctions on Israel. In recent years we have been witness to a growing phenome- non that is no less concerning: the adoption of anti-Israeli ideals among many of Israel’s dominant elite. In academia, culture, the media, and the judicial system, Israel is frequently depicted as a racist state that requires fixing, rather than a spark of light in a dark geopolitical environment bereft of human rights and lacking all hope. Rather than accepting upon itself the historic role to defend the Zi- onist idea that brought the Jewish democratic state into the world – the most humane and moral state ever established in the Middle East – the Israeli elite focuses, at best, on casting doubts upon Is- rael, and at worst, on calling for foreign intervention. As we will see throughout this booklet, this is not the first time in history that the Jewish people have been forced to defend their diplomatic and spiritual character both at home and abroad. This booklet was written with the purpose of drawing the reader’s attention to the titanic battle raging between two ideas: the Zion- ist idea that strives for Jewish independence in the State of Israel, and in opposition, an idea seeking to limit the sovereignty of the Jewish people and to halt its renewed and unprecedented revival in the Land of Israel. Matan Peleg CEO, Im Tirtzu Movement 5 From “In the Kingdom of the Cross” / Uri Zvi Greenberg …Two thousand years the silence burns beneath these trees, A drug that is collected in the abyss – and I will not know the meaning; Two thousand years the bleeding has continued here, silence continues, And yet no mouth has yet spat out the poison spittle. In the books are chronicled all the deaths at the hands of the goyim, But the answer is not written there: our answer to the deaths. 6 A Lethal Obsession* In Those Times “All the nations hate Israel” (Genesis Rabbah 67:7) The magnifying glass of the world has been focused on the Jew- ish people for thousands of years. The attempts to denounce, dis- credit, and harm the Jewish people have been so numerous that it is hard not to suspect that we are dealing with a real obsession. In fact, it is a “lethal obsession” and not “anti-Semitism,” as this inexplicable manifestation has accompanied mankind since well before the term “anti-Semitism” was even coined. Evidence of its antiquity can be easily found. In the year 300 B.C.E. a Hellenist philosopher by the name of Hecataeus of Abdera prop- agated a libel that originated in Ancient Egypt, claiming that the Jews are “a people of lepers,” and were therefore exiled into the desert. The purpose of this libel was to demean and downplay the idea of the Israelite Exodus from Egypt that was so significant in the Jewish ethos.1 A short time later an Egyptian priest by the name of Manetho published a similar libel about the “expulsion” of the leprous Jews from Egypt. The famed Greek stoic Posidonius explained that the Jews were “a people of heretics, hated by the gods.” In the nd2 cen- tury B.C.E., a philosopher named Mnaseas claimed that the Jews worshiped the head of a donkey (considered to be a contemptible animal), and the rhetorician Apollonius Molon (Cicero’s teacher) wrote that “the Jews have done nothing for the good of mankind.” He held in contempt the abstract idea of god and claimed that Moses was an imposter. Democritus and Apion, each in their turn, charged that the Jews had a habit of capturing strangers, fattening them up, and sacrificing them while chopping up their flesh.2 And the list goes on. The Jews have always been perceived as strangers and as out- siders, and as a result have been the targets of dozens of various blood libels throughout history that have legitimized their murder. This has all stemmed from jealousy, frustration, fear, or from the Note: The term “lethal obsession” was coined by Professor Robert S. Wistrich, one of the world’s leading researchers on anti-Semitism. His book A Lethal Obsession: Anti-Semitism from Antiquity to the Global Jihad was published in 2010 by Random House publishing, New York. 7 need for a scapegoat. “The Jews killed Jesus” (4th century); “They prepare matzah with the blood of Christian children” (England, 1149; France, 1171; Germany, 12353); “They are poisoning water wells” (Switzerland, 1348); “They are planning to take over the world” (a plot which was most widely distributed with the writing of the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” in the beginning of the 20th century in Russia4). This obsession and fevered imagination remains alive today. It seems that with time the only things that have changed are the wordings of the libels themselves. After all, it is hard to find a fun- damental difference between the “blood matzah” libel and the libel published in 2009 by the popular Swedish newspaper, Afton- bladet, which claimed that Israeli soldiers are harvesting the or- gans of Palestinians for sale. It is even harder to find a significant difference between the libel that the Jews are the source of all evil in the world, and the poems of German author and Nobel Prize laureate Gunter Grass who accused Israel in 2012 of “endangering world peace.”5 The Jew-hating imagination knows no bounds. 8 Lethal Obsession in These Times “Abraham was on the one side while the whole world was on the other side” (Genesis Rabbah, Lech Lecha, 42) It is important to emphasize that not everyone who obsesses over Israel is necessarily doing so out of ill intent. The international media as a whole is certainly not anti-Semitic, but the attention devoted by leading media outlets to Israel is most definitely out of the ordinary. Matti Friedman, a journalist who worked for the Associated Press (AP) for five years and with other foreign media outlets, was in- terviewed on this matter.6 During his work at the AP, he explained that nearly 40 reporters cover Israel, which is more than the num- ber of reporters who cover China, Russia, or India, and more than all of the reporters who covered all of the 50 countries in Africa combined, including those countries in which the “Arab Spring” broke out. “In three years the Syrian conflict has claimed an estimated 190,000 lives, or about 70,000 more than the number of people who have ever died in the Arab-Israeli conflict since it began a cen- tury ago. News organizations have nonetheless decided that this conflict is more important than, for example, the more than 1,600 women murdered in Pakistan last year (271 after being raped and 193 of them burned alive), the ongoing erasure of Tibet by the Chinese Communist Party, the carnage in Congo (more than 5 mil- lion dead as of 2012) or the Central African Republic, and the drug wars in Mexico (death toll between 2006 and 2012: 60,000), let alone conflicts no one has ever heard of in obscure corners of India or Thailand. They believe Israel to be the most important story on earth, or very close,” summarized Friedman.7 The same phenomenon is highlighted by Israeli journalist Ben- Dror Yemini in his fascinating book, The Industry of Lies. In one example (out of hundreds of notable cases that he presents in his book), Yemini refers to the amount of references to Israel and the treatment that Israel receives in the prominent British newspaper, The Guardian: “In 2011 the newspaper The Guardian mentioned Israel approximately 1,008 times. An average of three times in each issue. In that year 115 Palestinians were killed, most of them terrorists. 9 Iraq was mentioned 504 times. In that year 4,059 civilians were killed in Iraq and 3,021 civilians were killed in Afghanistan. At least 410 of them were killed by forces of which British soldiers were a part of. In that year, on that same soil, 46 British soldiers were killed. But Iraq and Afghanistan, where thousands of civilians were killed, deaths in which the British were involved both as killers and as victims – were mentioned in the newspaper less times than Israel was.”8 Even the United Nations is not a fundamentally anti-Semitic body, but its obsession towards the State of Israel can be proved using numerical data.
Recommended publications
  • JEWISH RELIGION WITHOUT THEOLOGY Chapter Four
    JEWISH RELIGION WITHOUT THEOLOGY Chapter Four JEWISH RELIGION WITHOUT THEOLOGY 107 CHAPTER FOUR 108 JEWISH RELIGION WITHOUT THEOLOGY IN Der Philosophische Gedanke und seine Geschichte, Nicholai Hartman offered his well-known distinction between “syste matic thinking” and “problem thinking”: whereas systematic thinking begins from a series of assumptions and proceeds to offer all- encompassing solutions, problem thinking begins from a problem and considers it in depth, without striving for comprehensive systems. Problem thinking is dialectical—it appraises the boundaries of the problem and the limitations of its solutions. According to Hartman, a typical instance of a systematic thinker is Spinoza, who founded an inclusive metaphysical system based on primary and irrefutable assumptions. A classic example of problem thinking is the philosophy of Plato, which is more intent on clarifying the predicament than on offering solutions, and hence its dialectical character. Yeshayahu Leibowitz obviously belonged to the species of problem-thinking philosophers. As other distinctions, however, Hartman’s too is overstated, and many thinkers focusing on problems transcend the dialectical move and go on to create a reasonably coherent system. Two renowned instances are Kier- kegaard and Nietzsche. Both transcended the critical, “negative” 109 CHAPTER FOUR stage and offered daring, “positive” solutions to the problematic raised by their work. Although these solutions were not articu- lated systematically, they do develop into extensive and coherent philosophies. This is also true for Leibowitz, who went beyond problem analysis to create an integrated system leading to a profound transformation in Jewish thought. In many regards, his trailblazing endeavor can be compared to that of Maimonides.
    [Show full text]
  • Vol. 47 No. 1 Pesach 2021 | Distributed to Over 6000 Households in Israel and Abroad
    Going the Distance An Unconventional Aliyah: from Vryburg to Zuqim Against All Odds: a Lone Soldier's Journey into an Elite IDF Unit Making it in Israel: Being Fearless in Business Don't Stop Me Now: Lessons from Inspiring Athletes The Ultimate Endurance Test: Recognising our Healthcare Workers Never Give Up: Maintaining a Strong Mind and Body Vol. 47 No. 1 Pesach 2021 | Distributed to over 6000 households in Israel and abroad Greetings from our Chairman 3 Going the distance, the I was excited to make a dierence as the rst female (and theme for this edition of youngest) Chairman in Telfed’s history. At the same time our magazine, is tting I was faced with the daunting task of leading such an for this time of year and important organisation with so much to do. I truly believe especially following the we are a vital organisation to thousands of Southern year that we have had. African and Australian Olim. The story of Pesach, the Jewish exodus from Egypt Throughout the last 4 years I have worked hard to make sure culminating in settling in that Telfed was able to go the distance and will continue the Jewish homeland, is the to do so in the future. We have renewed our leadership, ultimate story of resilience, broadened our volunteer base and refocused energy on perseverance and faith. where it is needed most. We have rejuvenated our regional The past year has proven that Telfed is a strong, resilient and youth committees and expanded our activities. organisation. We were able to respond rapidly during the pandemic, reaching members of the community in I would not have been able to complete this journey urgent need.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel in 1982: the War in Lebanon
    Israel in 1982: The War in Lebanon by RALPH MANDEL LS ISRAEL MOVED INTO its 36th year in 1982—the nation cele- brated 35 years of independence during the brief hiatus between the with- drawal from Sinai and the incursion into Lebanon—the country was deeply divided. Rocked by dissension over issues that in the past were the hallmark of unity, wracked by intensifying ethnic and religious-secular rifts, and through it all bedazzled by a bullish stock market that was at one and the same time fuel for and seeming haven from triple-digit inflation, Israelis found themselves living increasingly in a land of extremes, where the middle ground was often inhospitable when it was not totally inaccessible. Toward the end of the year, Amos Oz, one of Israel's leading novelists, set out on a journey in search of the true Israel and the genuine Israeli point of view. What he heard in his travels, as published in a series of articles in the daily Davar, seemed to confirm what many had sensed: Israel was deeply, perhaps irreconcilably, riven by two political philosophies, two attitudes toward Jewish historical destiny, two visions. "What will become of us all, I do not know," Oz wrote in concluding his article on the develop- ment town of Beit Shemesh in the Judean Hills, where the sons of the "Oriental" immigrants, now grown and prosperous, spewed out their loath- ing for the old Ashkenazi establishment. "If anyone has a solution, let him please step forward and spell it out—and the sooner the better.
    [Show full text]
  • Performing History Studies in Theatre History & Culture Edited by Thomas Postlewait Performing HISTORY
    Performing history studies in theatre history & culture Edited by Thomas Postlewait Performing HISTORY theatrical representations of the past in contemporary theatre Freddie Rokem University of Iowa Press Iowa City University of Iowa Press, Library of Congress Iowa City 52242 Cataloging-in-Publication Data Copyright © 2000 by the Rokem, Freddie, 1945– University of Iowa Press Performing history: theatrical All rights reserved representations of the past in Printed in the contemporary theatre / by Freddie United States of America Rokem. Design by Richard Hendel p. cm.—(Studies in theatre http://www.uiowa.edu/~uipress history and culture) No part of this book may be repro- Includes bibliographical references duced or used in any form or by any and index. means, without permission in writing isbn 0-87745-737-5 (cloth) from the publisher. All reasonable steps 1. Historical drama—20th have been taken to contact copyright century—History and criticism. holders of material used in this book. 2. Holocaust, Jewish (1939–1945), The publisher would be pleased to make in literature. 3. France—His- suitable arrangements with any whom tory—Revolution, 1789–1799— it has not been possible to reach. Literature and the revolution. I. Title. II. Series. The publication of this book was generously supported by the pn1879.h65r65 2000 University of Iowa Foundation. 809.2Ј9358—dc21 00-039248 Printed on acid-free paper 00 01 02 03 04 c 54321 for naama & ariel, and in memory of amitai contents Preface, ix Introduction, 1 1 Refractions of the Shoah on Israeli Stages:
    [Show full text]
  • 2 Israeli Attacks on Human Rights Organizations and Activists Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 2019 3
    2 Israeli Attacks on Human Rights Organizations and Activists Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 2019 3 Contents Introduction 8 Part I 11 Isolation of the Victim :Shrinking Space for NGOs in the oPt by the Israeli occupation 1. The belligerent occupation attempts to criminalize the victim: Smear 13 campaigns against human rights defenders 2 .Sanctions and the Restrictions on Freedom of Movement 29 3 .Attempts to Defund Human Rights Organizations 33 4 .Threatening human rights defenders 35 Part II 38 International Standards for Human Rights Defenders 1. International Conventions 39 2 .States ’Obligations towards Human Rights Defenders 44 Conclusion and Recommendations 46 4 Israeli Attacks on Human Rights Organizations and Activists Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 2019 5 Preface From the moment we took it upon ourselves to defend human rights and civilians in times of war, we were conscious to both the dignity in our mission and the dangers it bears on our lives and security as human rights defenders. Nonetheless, human dignity and advocating for the rights of victims were at the heart of our mission, our life goal and purpose. We were armed with the international law’s rules and mechanisms, which is the fruit of many peoples’ experiences and struggles to identify justice from injustice, in our mission to protect humans and their rights to live a dignified life. Decades passed and we fought via every legal route we had available tirelessly, without a single moment of hesitation in the face of the Israeli occupation’s restrictions and threats. As the occu- pation continued without rest to put hurdles in our path, and enjoyed the illusion of depriving us from the means and mechanisms to defend the defeated and oppressed, our will never waned and we were never persuaded to drift from the path we chose to tread, because it is our deep belief that we have no choice but to stand tall and defend, as Palestinian people, our existence, dignity and right to self-determination.
    [Show full text]
  • Map of Israel Poster
    Information for the Homeland – My Israel posters Map of Israel poster Eilat Eilat is the southernmost city in Israel. It is located on the shores of the Red Sea and borders with Egypt and Jordan. Through the ages Eilat was a commerce- and port-town and a hub for copper trading. In the Bible it is mentioned several times by the name Ezion Geber. Eilat was conquered in the War of Independence and the raising of the Ink Flag at the Umm Rashrash Police Station symbolized the end of the war. After Operation Kadesh (Suez Crisis) Eilat’s access roads were improved, an airport was built, and it was developed as a port city and tourist attraction. Today there is a constant struggle between nature and environment preservation and developmental plans for the port, hotels, and tourist and recreational facilities. Trees suitable to the arid environment were planted in the Holland Park at the city entrance. The city also has a bird-watching center which was developed with the help of the KKL-JNF. Jerusalem Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is the biggest city in Israel. The city is located centrally at the heart of the Judean Mountains, on the national watershed ridge between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and contains sites which are hallowed by the three religions. Throughout history the city went Beer-Sheva through much turmoil and many Beer-Sheva, the Capital of the Negev, wars and it passed through the is the second largest city in size in Israel hands of many rulers who seized and seventh in its population.
    [Show full text]
  • S New Mccarthyism
    Israel’s New McCarthyism Peter Dreier published the following article in The American Prospect. Dreier teaches politics and chairs the Urban & Environmental Policy Department at Occidental College. His latest book is The 100 Greatest Americans of the 20th Century: A Social Justice Hall of Fame (Nation Books, 2012). The article examines the growing attacks on Israel’s progressive civil rights and human rights movement (such as Breaking the Silence) and on the New Israel Fund by the Netanyahu’s government and extremist groups like Im Tirtzu: Israel’s New McCarthyism Inside the well-organized campaign against Israel’s progressive community. As international discontent with Israel’s occupation policy continues to rise, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and Israel’s ultra-right-wing movement have escalated their attacks on the country’s progressive community, which opposes the 49-year-old Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the ever-expanding government-subsidized settlements. This week, the Knesset is expected to take up a bill backed by Netanyahu and his allies that will require Israeli nongovernmental organizations that expose and challenge the government’s human rights abuses against Palestinians to register, in effect, as foreign agents. Some Israeli activists call the legislation their country’s version of McCarthyism. Others liken what’s happening in Israel as similar to the current attack on Planned Parenthood by Republicans and their more successful campaign several years ago to dismantle the community organizing group ACORN. The attack includes the recent publication of a report and the release of a video, both sponsored by the ultra-nationalist group Im Tirtzu (literally, “if you will it”).
    [Show full text]
  • BBYO, NFTY, Camp Livingston and Beber Camp Sent Groups to Israel
    www.jewishlouisville.org August 23, 2013 17 ELUL 5773 Community B1 Communit■ ■ y FRIDAY VOL. 38, NO. 12 17 ELUL 5773 AUGUST 23, 2013 SECTION B About this Section This year, many Louisvillians trav- BBYO, NFTY, Camp Livingston and eled to Israel. There were teens who traveled with their camp or youth group friends, young adults who went Beber Camp sent groups to Israel on Taglit-Birthright Israel trips or to spend time studying, an adult who made a trip to Belarus and Israel for BBYO trip adds leadership training to Israel trip professional development and fam- ilies who enjoyed the Israel experi- by Holly Hinson rael,” the teen said. ence together. Each trip was unique Special to Community Indeed, Maggie has been and the experiences and stories the heavily involved in BBYO since participants brought back with them or Maggie Rosen, going to Israel her freshman year, serving on were different. this July was the culmination of the Regional Board KIO and In this special section, Community a long-held and much-anticipated holding the offices of both chap- brings you many different facets of Is- F dream. ter communications officer and rael as seen through the eyes of people The 17 year old, a senior at Kentucky chapter president in 2012. In who have been there recently, as well Country Day, had been hearing about addition to the Cantor Award, as some stories with strong Louisville the trip for years. As the recipient of the Maggie also received the BBYO’s and Kentucky connections from our Ellen and Milton Cantor Israel Schol- Ellen Faye Garmon Award and Partnership with Israel region, the arship Fund Award from the Jewish was one of seven teens from the Western Galilee and a company that Foundation of Louisville in May, Maggie KIO (Kentucky-Indiana-Ohio) manufactures lifesaving backbacks.
    [Show full text]
  • IDF Special Forces – Reservists – Conscientious Objectors – Peace Activists – State Protection
    Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: ISR35545 Country: Israel Date: 23 October 2009 Keywords: Israel – Netanya – Suicide bombings – IDF special forces – Reservists – Conscientious objectors – Peace activists – State protection This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein. Questions 1. Please provide information on suicide bombs in 2000 to January 2002 in Netanya. 2. Deleted. 3. Please provide any information on recruitment of individuals to special army units for “chasing terrorists in neighbouring countries”, how often they would be called up, and repercussions for wanting to withdraw? 4. What evidence is there of repercussions from Israeli Jewish fanatics and Arabs or the military towards someone showing some pro-Palestinian sentiment (attending rallies, expressing sentiment, and helping Arabs get jobs)? Is there evidence there would be no state protection in the event of being harmed because of political opinions held? RESPONSE 1. Please provide information on suicide bombs in 2000 to January 2002 in Netanya. According to a 2006 journal article published in GeoJournal there were no suicide attacks in Netanya during the period of 1994-2000. No reports of suicide bombings in 2000 in Netanya were found in a search of other available sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Rights Defenders in Palestine and Israel to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly to Take the Necessary Action
    2017 Geneva International Centre for Justice Postal address: P.O. Box: GICJ 598 CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva – Switzerland Email: [email protected] Tel: +41 22 788 19 71 Office: 150 Route de Ferney, CH 1211 Geneva 2 – Switzerland www.gicj.org P a g e | 1 Introduction Lisa-Marlen Gronemeier, Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ).-------------------------------- In his recent report (A/HRC/34/70) dated 16 March 2017, Michael Lynk – UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 – emphasized that Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights defenders “have experienced sophisticated interference with their vital work, and have faced toxic denunciations aimed at silencing them and discouraging their supporters”. In their tireless and intrepid work, they face attacks, arrests, detention, and threats to their lives and safety. This report sheds light on the deteriorating conditions under which human rights defenders (HRDs) in occupied Palestine and Israel carry out their indispensable and intrepid work. Israel employs repressive methods to restrict, discredit, and criminalize their work to document and counteract the severe human rights violations associated with the Israeli occupation and illegal policies and practices in the region. While the Israeli authorities have a long history of severely infringing on Palestinian HRDs’ freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and the right to participate in public and political life, Israeli HRDs also operate in an increasingly hostile environment: They endure an antagonistic public atmosphere, are discredited and attacked by the Government of Israel, the Israeli military, hostile Israeli organizations and unknown individuals or groups, and are subjected to discriminatory legislation by the Knesset.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel: Neither a Theocracy, Nor a Secular State on the Relation Between State and Religion in Israeli Society
    Israel: neither a theocracy, nor a secular state On the relation between state and religion in Israeli society Dr. Bart Wallet (1977) is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department for Media Studies at University of Amsterdam and a lecturer in the Department for Semitic Languages and Cultures at University of Amsterdam. He is also a lecturer in Jewish history at the Levisson Institute, Dutch progressive Judaism’s rabbinic seminary. From 2005 till 2010 he was as well lecturing Jewish history at Catholic University Leuven. His research concentrates on early modern and modern Jewish history, both in Europe and Israel. His current research project is titled ‘Memory and Reconstruction, A History of Dutch Jewry 1945-2010’. He published extensively on early modern Yiddish historiography, integration processes of Jews in Western Europe and postwar reconstruction policies of European Jewry. Recommended readings Simeon D. Baumel, ‘Weekly Torah Portions, Languages, and Culture among Israeli Haredim’, Jewish Social Studies 10.2 (2004) 153-178 Guy Ben-Porat and Bryan S. Turner eds., The Contradictions of Israeli Citizenship. Land, Religion, and State (Milton Park, Abingdon, 2011) David Hartman, Israelis and the Jewish Tradition. An Ancient People debating its Future (New Haven/London 2000) Yoram Hazony, The Jewish State. The Struggle for Israel’s Soul (New York 2000) Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Judaism, Human Values, and the Jewish State (Cambridge, Mass./London 1997) Menachem Mautner, Law and the Culture of Israel (Oxford 2011) Aviezer Ravitzky, Religion and State in Jewish Philosophy. Models of Unity, Division, Collision and Subordination (Jerusalem 2002) Tom Segev, 1949. The First Israelis (New York 1998) Yair Sheleg, The Jewish Renaissance in Israeli Society.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lieberman We Need to Worry About
    The Lieberman We Need To Worry About Israeli Minister of Minority Affairs Avishai Braverman (Labor) thinks Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman should be fired from his ministry for saying that an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “…is not achievable in the next year or in the next generation.” One understands Braverman’s point. Lieberman was, after all, not just offering an analysis. He himself is one of the main reasons that the pessimism he expresses exists. Lieberman is not merely a bystander offering a judgment, but an actor working against the sorts of resolutions that have, for more than 15 years, made up the foundation of a two-state solution. But Braverman’s solution wouldn’t really change much. Lieberman’s “role” as Foreign Minister has been thoroughly curtailed. Indeed, every now and then, Lieberman, who is well aware of his marginalization in the Netanyahu government, bristles and has a public spat with his boss, Benjamin Netanyahu. Bibi might toss Lieberman some kind of bone, but he has made it clear that Lieberman is not part of the inner circle. His opinion, in and of itself, carries no weight, and Bibi’s only concern (and it is a serious one) is what Lieberman can do domestically to rally people against the Likud leader. This was evidenced once again at the Washington launch of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians last week. Surely, any country’s foreign minister should be present at such a momentous event. But Lieberman couldn’t make it as he had a very important job in bringing his diplomatic powers to bear on the sensitive and crucial relationship between Israel and … Cyprus.
    [Show full text]