Zionism and Israeli Political Culture

1. Nations have a political culture - a set of core assumptions about the purposes and nature of their society - a common ideology



2. Zionism has been that central symbol for Israeli Jews and the "official" ideology of Israel



1. Core assumptions that motivated founders



1. Return to the land of ancient Israel (Palestine) from exile - ingathering of the exiles, negation of the Diaspora



2. Revival of Jewish institutions, language and society (culture)



3. Establishment of a sovereign state



2. Source of Zionism



1. Immediate source was Theodore Herzl and World Zionist Conference of 1897



2. Long-term source was growth of nationalism in 19th century Europe



3. Middle-term sources grew out of the situation of Jews in Eastern Europe/Russia in late 19th century - three perceived dangers in Pale of Settlement
1. Anti-semitism - pogroms/impact of the Dreyfuss affair
2. Assimilation - Enlightenment had opened up opportunities in Germany



4. Was one of three alternatives for Jews
1. Immigration to the United States - by far the most common or popular option
2. Radical socialist politics - deny all religious particularism
3. Religious mysticism - Hasidism



5. Zionism claimed to be the best solution
1. Jews would never be secure until they had their own country
2. As a "normal" people, would be respected
1. anti-Semitism came from powerlessness
2. Jews would cease to be alienated from the land and physical labor
3. Religious mysticism was a retreat and false solution
4. Radical politics was limited by Russian reality
5. Immigration meant assimilation and loss of identity
6. Could draw on Jewish tradition and symbols



3. Three major varieties (plus non-Zionism)



1. Zionism is a family name rather than a proper name - have always been conflicts and differences of understanding - differ over the nature of the society to be built and the tactics to be used in building it



2. Four major streams



1. non or anti-Zionism
1. Among the orthodox communities, was seen as blasphemous because
1. Judaism is a religion devoid of nationalism - Jews exist for Torah
2. it hastened redemption by human affairs
3. it did not insist on a halachic state -
1. would prefer to live under gentile rule than non-religious Jews
2. Holocaust was God's punishment for this heresy of Zionism
4. manifested in Agudat Israel - extreme manifestation in Neturei Carta



2. Labor/Socialist Zionism - also known as practical and statist



1. Was the dominant force in the Yishuv and in Israel until 1967
1. Implicit in Herzl - Altaneueland
2. Attractive to Russian/East European young activists who dominated immigration - Hapoel Hatza'ir (Young Worker)
3. key leader was David Ben Gurion and his "Mapai" Party (Eretz Israel Workers Party - dominated all institutions



2. Fusion of Zionism and socialism
1. Central belief was Judaism, social justice, and democracy - Israel was to be "a light unto the nations" -
2. emphasized the universalist aspects



3. Key values were pioneering ("halutz"), labor ("avodah"), and land ("ha'aretz") - encouraged settlement (aliyah), agriculture, no Arab labor, use of Hebrew



4. Had to build a society and then a state - "creating facts" through illegalism

1. Willing to work through diplomatic channels and with the British



2. Key institutions were the Histradrut and the kibbutz



1. Histadrut a labor union, social welfare agency, and conglomerate - state within a state
2. Kibbutz the model of a socialist society



3. Was moderated into a strong commitment to state welfare and centralized institutions



1. Revisionist or General Zionism



1. Originated in "Betar" youth movement in Poland after World War I - Jabotinsky
1. modeled on the European radical right
2. core beliefs of Betar from this source
1. primacy of nationalism over class consciousness
2. all things can be willed into existence - overcome constraints
3. power can be achieved through elections or coups
4. dominant leader with paramilitary structure and youth groups



2. Central belief was that Jews were "a people that dwells alone" - stresses both external hostility of other nations and need for internal unity and cohesion



3. emphasized the particularistic aspects of Judaism; cites the Holocaust as the central fact (Yad Vashem) and Masada as the place of heroism



4. First priority was achievement of statehood on both sides of the Jordan - Palestine as a Jewish state - priority on colonizing and expelling the British
1. Created its own "shadow" organizations with emphasis on militarism - IZL ("Irgun") and "Lehi"
2. Led to severe conflicts with "Haganah," the army of Labor Zionism
3. Remained outside the pale of normal politics



5. In 1948, formed as the Herut Party under Menachem Begin which eventually merged into Likud



6. Major policy has become retention of the Territories captured in 1967 - settle the land



7. Classical liberalism: wanted to limit Histradrut and pursue more free-market economics with private capital



2. Religious Zionism



1. Relatively small movement - distinguished from religious authorities who rejected such activity



2. A form of religious nationalism -
1. There is a religious obligation to settle in Israel
2. Judaism and Hebrew can only thrive in the Holy Land with which it is inextricably linked
3. Rebirth and re-establishment of the ancient, religion-based communities in Palestine
4. Zionism is not the hastening of Redemption but appears as a sign that Redemption is iminent
5. Watchword was "Torah v Avodah"



3. Embodied in "Hapoel HaMizrachi" (Spiritual Center) - that cared about the "religious" character of the Jewish state;- generally cooperated with BG and Labor



4. Were galvanized by the 1967 War into belief that redemption was imminent - now the leading edge of the Settlement movement