Magazine
Washington’s long-standing policy of pressing Israel to withdraw from the Golan was driven by the interests of US oil companies. But due to years of instability in Syria, those interests have shifted.
Scapegoating kahanists prevents us from dealing with some very real problems in Israeli society – namely how we as a collective relate to Palestinians.
In his effort to prove the loyalty of the American Jewish community, Rahm Emanuel went so far as to show that he has personally placed Washington’s interests above those of the Jewish people.
Withholding funds might punish the Palestinian Authority but it’s a mere slap on the wrist.
Under Gera’s leadership, Leḥi developed a political outlook that applied revolutionary principles to the Jewish people and its struggle for liberation.
As the population increases and becomes more integrated into Israeli society, it would make sense that ḥaredi representation increase in not only the IDF but also the state’s ruling institutions.
Selling weapons to war criminals carries a very real human cost and corrupts Israeli society on a far deeper level than a few hooligans shouting offensive slogans from the opposition.
What’s most problematic about Otzma is a feature it actually shares in common with both sides of Israel’s ideological and socio-cultural divide.
Netanyahu likely pushed for the inclusion of kahanists on the national-religious ticket in order to make it easier for him to leave the entire block in opposition when forming his new government.
Conscious of the connection between himself and the Amalekite Haman, Hitler stated in a January 30, 1944 speech that if the Nazis were defeated, the Jews would likely celebrate ‘a second Purim.’
The best strategy for resisting efforts to partition the country into two states would be to loudly protest the plan and make clear our opposition before the plan is officially announced.
Having a more willing Gantz heading Israel’s government could give Trump’s Middle East team a more compliant Israeli leadership to work with.