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Former Knesset speaker and former head of the Jewish Agency Avraham Burg. (Archives)
Last update - 06:41 07/06/2007
Burg: Defining Israel as a Jewish state is the key to its end
By Ari Shavit, Haaretz Correspondent

Avraham Burg, former Knesset speaker and former head of the Jewish Agency says "to define the State of Israel as a Jewish state is the key to its end. A Jewish state is explosive. It's dynamite." In an interview in Haaretz Weekend Magazine, he said that he is in favor of abrogating the Law of Return and calls on everyone who can to obtain a foreign passport.

Burg, who was interviewed on the occasion of the publication of his book "Defeating Hitler" said "the strategic mistake of Zionism was to annul the alternatives. Israeliness has only body; it doesn't have soul."

"Judaism always prepared alternatives," says Burg, who three years after leaving Israeli politics is now a citizen of France and a successful businessman.
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"Just as there was something astonishing about German Jewry, in America, too, they created the potential for something astonishing. They created a situation in which the goy can be my father and my mother and my son and my partner," Burg says.

His book ruminates about Israel and Zionism, compares Israel and Germany, harshly criticizes Eichmann's hanging, reflects on Judaism in the age of globalization and remembers his father's house.

Burg said he started his book in mourning for the loss of Israel. "During most of the writing the book's title was 'Hitler Won.' But slowly I discovered the layer of not everything being lost. And I discovered my father as a representative of German Jewry that was ahead of its time. These two themes nourished the book from beginning to end."
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  1.   ...and this guy was head of the JA? 06:28  |  Truthmonger 07/06/07
  2.   What did he do as an MK.. 06:30  |  More truthmongering 07/06/07
  3.   Calling a spade a spade 06:35  |  Sam 07/06/07
  4.   Burg a Jewish Traitor - 07:01  |  Miriam 07/06/07
  5.   from here,burg can only go up...or how low can you go 07:07  |  shraga 07/06/07
  6.   This guy was in charge of the Jewish Agency? protesting Aichman`s 07:08  |  Tom 07/06/07
  7.   runs away to France? 07:12  |  Danny 07/06/07
  8.   HIS FATHER YOSEF BURG OF NRP WAS GUILTY OF THE "WHO IS A JEW" LAW 07:16  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 07/06/07
  9.   Rebbe Curse 07:18  |  David 07/06/07
  10.   Thank you 07:19  |  Arab 07/06/07
  11.   Burg without a soal 07:24  |  Marker 07/06/07
  12.   Burg, Stay in France - It is a Great Spot for You 07:32  |  Tod Zuckerman 07/06/07
  13.   To - 1 07:32  |  Ham Israel Hai 07/06/07
  14.   I Have To Give Credit To The Labor Party.... 07:33  |  Ben Israel 07/06/07
  15.   Nuetrei Karta Wannabe 07:34  |  Yoav 07/06/07
  16.   Sam 07:35  |  Brad 07/06/07
  17.   Burg: a loser in politics; a loser in life 07:36  |  dennis gelpe 07/06/07
  18.   Brilliant! Just Dawned On Me 07:37  |  Brad 07/06/07
  19.   Burg must be ignored and forgotten. 07:42  |  Uzi 07/06/07
  20.   Burg`s definition 07:44  |  shriber 07/06/07
  21.   Good for him 07:47  |  SJ 07/06/07
  22.   #10Thank You 07:51  |  Medi 07/06/07
  23.   ANOTHER LEFTIST FALLS OFF THE TABLE. GOOD RIDDANCE. 07:54  |  Ben Avraham 07/06/07
  24.   Burg 07:56  |  Steve 07/06/07
  25.   Avoid Defeat By Giving Up? 07:56  |  Efox 07/06/07
  26.   Jews always had guys like that 07:59  |  Shmuel Feigelson 07/06/07
  27.   The astonishing Mr. Burg 08:00  |  Apter 07/06/07
  28.   Photo of Burg 08:02  |  robbins 07/06/07
  29.   Did Iran pay Burg to write this book? 08:04  |  Alicia 07/06/07
  30.   Burg Shmurg 08:06  |  jacob Gang 07/06/07
  31.   Avrohom The new Germany loves Jews, a passport is ready for you 08:08  |  PETER SM 07/06/07
  32.   I am glad he is in France 08:10  |  Ron 07/06/07
  33.   Avraham Burg 08:11  |  sandra chitayat 07/06/07
  34.   Wow, what a clown! Disgusting! 08:12  |  Realist 07/06/07
  35.   Who is Burg 08:14  |  Israel Israeli 07/06/07
  36.   Mr. Burg - what a great disappointment 08:24  |  Daniel 07/06/07
  37.   The end of Israel 08:26  |  Zev 07/06/07
  38.   avrum burg 08:26  |  ruti 07/06/07
  39.   Who does this guy speak for?? 08:27  |  Yair Giladi 07/06/07
  40.   Bizarre 08:31  |  Raoul Schur 07/06/07
  41.   Well The Truth Is... 08:32  |  Yosemite 07/06/07
  42.   It must be a slow news day... 08:36  |  Michael 07/06/07
  43.   Burg 08:38  |  Leon B. 07/06/07
  44.   The Astonishing Mr. Burg 08:39  |  Motti 07/06/07
  45.   The Burg that disappeared 08:42  |  Esther 07/06/07
  46.   a true frenchmen, coward!! 08:44  |  izzy d 07/06/07
  47.   So Oslo architechts start fleeing 08:51  |  Shlomo from Tel Aviv 07/06/07
  48.   in re El pensero profondo 08:53  |  meir 07/06/07
  49.   A FINAL DESTINATION OF ISRAEL 08:54  |  indrajaya 07/06/07
  50.   Burg: Defining Israel as a Jewish state is the key to its end 08:54  |  simon rabinovich 07/06/07
  51.   burg 08:57  |  joseph 07/06/07
  52.   Product of Israeli suicidal pseudo left!!!!! 08:57  |  Ben Uziel 07/06/07
  53.   Pathetic Disgraceful & SELF HATING 09:04  |  Jeremy 07/06/07
  54.   OK, we need a list of countries willing to accept 09:04  |  Judith, Haifa 07/06/07
  55.   HIS FATHER MUST BE TURNING IN HIS 09:11  |  Robert 07/06/07
  56.   MY THEORY THAT MYOPIA CREATES IDIOTS IS BORNE OUT AGAIN 09:15  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  57.   Purim 09:16  |  Ethan 07/06/07
  58.   Burg=Golden Calf 09:18  |  Bob 07/06/07
  59.   It`s news that Jews are ethnically diverse? 09:20  |  sg 07/06/07
  60.   A much needed self-examination of post-zionism 09:21  |  Joe 07/06/07
  61.   Burg as a symbol for Israeli confusion 09:23  |  Yoram 07/06/07
  62.   Ahmedinejad doesn`t even have to push the button... 09:24  |  Frank Brandse 07/06/07
  63.   Sam, French vs Jewish? 09:29  |  Bernie 07/06/07
  64.   Troubled soul 09:29  |  Uri 07/06/07
  65.   Medi 09:33  |  Bernie 07/06/07
  66.   Are "nice"Jews automatically "bad" Jews today in Israel ??? 09:33  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/06/07
  67.   AND HE WAS A PEACE NOW LEADER 09:50  |  Meir Weinstein 07/06/07
  68.   # 66, SWISS (DINO) 09:51  |  indrajaya 07/06/07
  69.   Nipping "Islamic-fascism" in the bud 09:52  |  Moussa Issa Estephan 07/06/07
  70.   Burg: Defining Israel as a Jewish state is the key to its end 09:54  |  Truthmonger2 07/06/07
  71.   With Jews like this... 09:54  |  Bill 07/06/07
  72.   The goy can be my father and my mother... 09:59  |  Bill 07/06/07
  73.   Most Israelis already have a foreign passport 09:59  |  EyeWitness 07/06/07