Distorted Zionism
Im Tirtzu will hand out 'Zionist' tags to those who think as they do, and will silence everyone else.
By Avirama GolanI almost began this opinion piece by ceremoniously declaring, "The undersigned is a Zionist," but then I realized that this is exactly the kind of self-justification that those in the ideological camp of Im Tirtzu and the Institute for Zionist Strategies are hoping for, and gave up on the idea. If Zionism means blind extreme nationalism that is disconnected from all historical, humanitarian and universal contexts, then the undersigned is not a Zionist.
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MK Moshe Ya'alon (Likud) speaking at a meeting with Im Tirzu at Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus. |
| Photo by: Tess Scheflan |
Both the institute and Im Tirtzu are the vanguard of a new orientation, one that carries out a brutal rape of the concept of Zionism. The concept has never before sounded so trite, shallow, frightened and aggressive. In effect, the "Zionism" of the "new patriots" consists of nothing besides the coarse division into "post-Zionists" (that is, deserters, draft-dodgers, Tel Avivans, those who are disloyal and "Arab-loving" leftists who are against the occupation ), and "Zionists" (that is, loyalists, patriots, preferably settlers, and anyone who is outraged by the slightest hint of criticism of the state and the army in particular, and Jews in general ).
What a tragicomic reversal this is. Precisely the two communities that battled against Zionism as conceived by Herzl and realized by Israel's founding generation (each in its own time and manner ) are now demanding to be recognized as the real Zionists, and anyone else is a traitor worthy of denunciation.
The first group is the Haredim. Many, albeit not all, of them have in recent years been showing clear signs of extreme nationalism: a burning hatred of Arabs, of course, but also adulation for the army (the Hasidic newspaper Hamodia covered the Gaza flotilla incident as if the finest sons of its readers served in Shayetet 13, the naval commando unit that boarded the Turkish ship ), and the use of the terms "enthusiastic Zionist" and "good Jew" as if they were synonymous.
To grasp the extent to which the Zionist idea has been distorted it's enough to simply scroll through readers' comments on the Opinions page of the Haaretz website: Among those who insult the commentators with remarks like "Go live in Gaza, you're not a Jew or a Zionist anyway," it seems to me that there are more than a few Jewish-American Haredim.
The second group is the settlers. After more than 40 years it may be difficult to explain just how ironic it is that Israel Harel, one of the leaders of Gush Emunim, has become the oracle of the "Zionist strategy." He and the institute he heads dictate the standards for who is a Zionist. If there is anything that is antithetical to the spirit of Zionism, the settlements are its embodiment. Zionism is a secular national movement that sought to sever the Jewish people from the ahistorical messianic religious elements, to create a normal national home that would join the family of nations as an equal member.
It's no coincidence that the most virulent opponents of the state (the non-Zionist national religious, as Rabbi Chaim Navon dubbed them ) grow on the hills of Judea and Samaria. That is what gave rise to the deadly marriage between messianic Judaism and racist extreme nationalism. An extreme example of this is the abomination known as the book "Torat Hamelekh" (The King's Torah" ), many of whose Haredi-religious Zionist fans define themselves as good "Jews and Zionists" and claim that the "leftists" are neither of these.
The purpose of nationalist movements is to liberate peoples from subjugation and to give them independence and a national identity. When this mission is completed, the movements are supposed to silently disappear into the pages of history and clear the stage for the vital phase of creating a normal society, for which the state is merely a tool. But Israel, which for 62 years has been mired in a struggle for self-definition (democratic, Jewish - where's the democracy, where's the Judaism? ), also mired Zionism.
The secular and the sane traditional religious public (the "silent majority" ) have long since been ready for the next stage, but the abovementioned two groups, and especially their leaders (and above all politicians from and to the right of Likud who know which way the bad winds are blowing ) won't let them. They will hand out "Zionist" tags to those who think as they do, and will silence everyone else.
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Aside from degrading women who really get raped, recall that Avira Golam is a master of exaggeration and trickery. She doesn't realize that her views are an extreme minority, represented by just 3 seats out of 120 in the Knesset, and rightly so. Israelis have rejected her sick arguments and false analogies, and know right from wrong, Zionist from anti-Zionist.
Present day religious people have the right to evolve and introduce changes into Zionism as fits their religious beliefs. Their view and your view are equally legitimate, even though your views are more similar to the Founders' views. You need not worry about this multiplicity of definitions, because their is a judge, and the time of the Final Judgment is near. The judge's name is Darwin, or History, or Reality. A wi,ilar situation to today's was during Second Temple time. There were a few definitions of Judaism, by Pharisees, Saducees, Essenes, and others. Then the Temple was destroyed and one group won over, the Pharisees. They were more suitable for the time, even though they were relative newcomers. (The Saducees - Priestly group, were the traditional leaders, but became irrelevant without the Temple. We are now facing another "crisis event" - Peace. Suddenly, the settlers will become irrelevant and your definition of secular and humane Zionism will be left to survive and evolve until the next "coming" of Darwin.
am I right or not?
I'm an ardent zionist and I look forward to the day when Israelis and Palestinians will live side by side in peace in 2 states with borders more or less following the green line. After I got out of army, I went overseas for a few years for university. This was during the height of Oslo and the rightwing incitment against Rabin z'l. I'm Orthodox so I often heard the right wing religous jews of the galut tell me how the left, Rabin, Peres, Labor and Meretz supporters, etc.... were all self hating Jews and anti-zionists (the term "post-zionists" wasn't in fashion yet, but if it was that's what they'd have said). It was almost surreal, here are these Jews who wear their Zionism on their sleaves, proclaim their love for Israel at every opportunity but don't live here, don't pay taxes here, don't serve in the army or send their kids to the army lecturing me about Zionism???? I was only a few years after my Army service (paratrooper) and still doing active reserve duty but they knew it all and thought they were better Jews and Zionists because I support partition in exchange for peace. Im Tirtzu's a bit better or at least less hypocritcal, they do live here, but the bottom line's the same, supporters of the Zionist left (from Meretz to some elements of Kadim) don't owe anyone an appology. Our Zionism is as valid and meaningful as anyone elses in addition to being more moral and realistic. I love the State of Israel, Torah of Israel, Land of Israel and People of Israel and I pray for peace with our Palestinian neighbors. No appologies.
Your analysis of today's reality is correct but what are the reasons forthis development? It was not born in thin air. What we see today as "zionism" was always there, at times more an underrcurrent and at other times more visible. It has now in ascendency and taken over and the "moderate" voices,calling for the resurrection of "true zionist values" have not been heard in the public square for a very long time. The last hurraywas the massive demonstration in Tel Aviv, protesting Israel's complicity in the massacre of Sabra/Shatila. From the early days, when revisionism was still not mainstream, you already had the sidelining of thinkers like Buber and Judah Magnes. They could be called humanist zionists but they were delegitimised out of neccesity with the absorption of the remnant who survived the jaws of the nazi beast. Two other things: 1. zionism has never found a common solution, or a consensus on how Israel is expected to be both Jewish and democratic. Neither the Labour zionists nor the revisionists. Today's "zionists" do not speak of "democratic values" or if they do they apply only amonst Jews. Jewish the what remains of those two founding terms. I think history will show that political zionism has been an extremly negative force on Judaism. It has only aided in making it more regressive and particularistic. Second, the ideology of zionism shifted in a fundamental way with the messianic fervour and zealotry that followed in the aftermath of the Six-Day War. Moshe Levinger will go down in zionist history as one of its most pivotal and transforming characters. Since his move into the Park Hotel in Hebron, Peasch 1968, zionism has never been the same. Today it is what we see it is and it has nothng to do with liberation or secular values or even Judaism's universalistic values. Rather, it has everything to do with tribalistic excess and scorn for democratic values and contempt of the non-Jew.
The best I read in a long time. The analysis is both real and accurate. As a Zionist I do not need the orthodox or settlers ,as they bring shame to Israel . Because of them and the occupation Israel is treating the symptoms of the disease and not its causes. The right's doctrine costs lives and billions of dollars , for over 40 years the occupation did not bring us security as we were lied again and again. The right's doctrine was born in sin, arrogance, messianism, militarism and nationalism. A civil war –yes, that will happen too, the writing is on the wall : Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin warns at cabinet meeting: "The scope of the conflict will be much larger than it is today and then it was during the disengagement," Diskin warned (03/11/2008) "Our investigation found a very high willingness among this public to use violence - not just stones, but live weapons - in order to prevent or halt a diplomatic process." Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer in 2008 , warning of another political assassination: "They [the settlers] don't think like us. Their thought is messianic, mystic, satanic and irrational," "They [the settlers] are harassing GOC Central Command Gadi Shamni," said. But Edmund Burke (Irish) said it well: “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one... as For evil to flourish, all that is needed is for good people to do nothing." Arie Raif
The main Zionist idea was to establish for Jews the place on earth where they could live in safety and security (do you see this word: "security"?) and that this security would depend only on them and not on a good will or promises of somebody else (like a promise of the ruthless dictator who signs the piece of paper) . You betrayed this idea.
You know, accusing someone of a vicious crime like rape is a crime in itself if it isn't true. Sounds like it just might be you that's the criminal.
C'mon; enough with the drama, Ms. Golan. You have a reasonable OP here, why degrade the public debate on this subject with hysteria?
Unfortunately where there is conflict Nationalism never dies. I know this because here in Northern Ireland, despite all the progress there are still those who wish to drag us all back to violence under the pretext of national liberation. Hopefully however, most of us are moving beyond narrow nationalism but this has probably only been possible because of both the UK and Ireland's links with the supranationalist EU and the development of internal governmental structures that are effectively bi-national, that is you can be as Irish or British as you want to be. There is still much to do but at least the crazy flag waving nationalism of the bigots is slowly dying.
...being the non-violent (not pacifist, mind you) national liberation movement of the Jewish people. Having set out to ingather Jews from the Diaspora and having them join their brothers and sisters in Eretz Israel (Land of Israel), to re-establish Jewish sovereignty in the Land, and to revitalize Jewish civilization there, the Zionism movement concluded to do the above in consent with the powers that be and collaboration with the Arabs of the Land. Im Trirtzu represents just that: It is a non-partisan mostly student movement promoting the love to the People of Israel, to the Land of Israel, and to the Teachings of Israel (Jewish civilization). Some, sadly, can't live with this liberal democratic approach to the liberation of the Jewish people, including the author of this article.
they want a modern religious one thats based on jewish morals. And who says they are wrong?!? Jewish ways have brought us this far, modern secular ways will ultimatley bring us to ruin. And yes nationalism is a part of judiasm.
Aviram Golan blasts the institute for Zionist Strategies by conjuring up an image of what it must represent. He should at least read a little about the organization, what it does and what it stands for instead of just spouting forth in ignorance (izs.org.il). Haaretz has now published three editorials and carried about 8 or 9 articles attacking IZS with only one published in its defense. This says much about the sincerity of its advocacy for open debate and a free market place of ideas.
By using such bombastic language. I think you're morally confused. You probably also call the brutal terrorsits on the Mavi Marmara "humanitarian aid workers." This is why nobody has faith in the media any more. Because they scream the most obscene things to try to get attention with no relevance as to its real meaning.
I read the title as 'the concept of Zionism is brutal rape.' Works better that way. And look at 1948. The people you decry do indeed just want to follow in the founding fathers' footsteps. Don't kid yourself. They are Zionism.
So profound and so stupidly wrong! I've looked at 1948. I see the same "Palestinians"/Arabs that exist today. They do indeed just want to follow in their founding fathers' footsteps and only wish to destroy Israel.
Let's keep fighting these attempts to deligitimize our right to a modern, decent, and democratic state in the face of attacks meant to equalize the State with the Land. I have no problem visiting my Jewish brothers who will live in the Land of Israel in a State of Palestine. I'd be proud to help them, as I would be proud to help Jews living in Syria, Iraq, or Iran. But, I will not help them in their "entitlement"-based takeover of the Land and, from with out, the State. This might be the battle ground for the civil war they'd force upon us; the separation of church and state. Orthodoxy = Land and free thinkers = State. I choose State!
Im Tirtzu is an extra-parliamentary movement that engages in on and off campus Zionist advocacy, in an effort to strengthen the values of Zionism in Israel, with the aim of securing the future of the Jewish people and the State of Israel and advancing Israeli society in its struggle to overcome the challenges it is currently facing. Regrettably, in recent years, anti-Zionist trends have been proliferating in Israeli universities, which have gradually displaced, marginalized and excluded the Zionist discourse, preventing the Zionist majority from making its voice heard. For the past two years, Im Tirtzu has been the only entity that has provided a response to the spread of post-Zionist and anti-Zionist currents among the faculty and student body in Israeli universities. Im Tirtzu believes in the capacity of every person to influence his environment. We believe that a return to Zionism and an ethical Zionist renewal is the solution to the problems and crises Israeli society is currently facing. Once we regain our belief in the validity and justice of the Zionist cause and in our ability to make a difference in steering our reality we shall be able to deal successfully with the challenges that confront us. In the words of Herzl: "If you will it is no dream … and if you do not will then everything I have told you is only a dream and will continue to remain a dream". If we only dare to do so, we can transform the dream that is the State of Israel into a more just, more modern, more democratic and more Jewish place (read less) Im Tirtzu is an extra-parliamentary movement that engages in on and off campus Zionist advocacy, in an effort to strengthen the values of Zionism in Israel, with the aim of securing the future of the Jewish people and the State of Israel and advancing Israeli society in its struggle to overcome the challenges it is currently facing. Regrettably, in recent years, anti-Zionist trends have been proliferating in Israeli universities, which have gradually displaced, marginalized and excluded the... (read more)Privacy Type:Open: All content is public.
Zvuv, what you express is not in line with the distortion of Zionism that's been happening since '67 and gaining intensity since an awareness of the evils of being the occupier have reached the masses. What you portray sounds fine, but it's not what's happening on the streets (or in the territory, as translated from Hebrew). I've had a smoke grenade thrown at my feet as I protested an action of my government with thousands of others. I have no intention of becoming the next Emil G. We are all entitled to our beliefs and goals. But it's always the Right that wants the rest of us to join a "Unity" Government that would identify with THEIR way. When we refuse, we're branded as traitors. The Left doesn't make such attempts, knowing that we cannot all be unified in thought. So, we come out whimps. We lack the passion to fight for what we believe in because it's not part of "our religion." That's 1 side of why the Left remains weak. The other side is that, due to our nature, "Liberal" is willing to accept others, while "Conservative" is to conserve what exists, without change. We, the Left, must step up and be willing to struggle for our beliefs. I'm afraid we can't wait any longer.
You use the term "Zionism" in vain!! What you call strenghtening Zionist values and securing the future of the State is a matter of debate. Your extraparliamentary interventions are no more, and certainly no less, than a pseudo-Zionistic fanatic effort to strangle this debate, and to deprive Israel and Judaism of its humanistic content.
Perhaps they have a right to speak and you are trying to silence anyone who doesn't agree with you.
Exactly correct--
Ever since the election of Likud in 1977, those who support territorial compromise with the Arabs always have to justify themselves as if they were less patriotic than the right and the extreme-right. Those who call their opponents traitors do not come from the zionist left, they always come from the right. Moshe Ya'alon compared Shalom Archav to a cancer and look at the demonstrations against the Oslo agreement in 1995. Rabin was portrayed with a nazi uniform. There was a civil war atmosphere back then and it was not nurtured by the left.
C. Bendavid, you are right on! And like Avirama, I'm disgusted that I have to justify it to anyone. I consider myself no less a Jew than any rabbi living in the diaspora. I consider myself no less a Zionist than anyone living BEYOND the interantionally recognized borders of the state. I served my country in uniform for 22 years. I've sent 1 son to the army and the 2nd is about to go in. It is my country and my Zionism. I don't have to defend either from Ultra-Zionists on the right, or anti-Zionists on the left. This COUNTRY (not Land) belongs to all its citizens. If the Im Tirtzu people want to influence the country, let them rejoin it; physically and spiritually. Until we annex, and we hopefully won't-unless by agreement such as in the Geneva Initiative, the Occupied Territories, I live in the country and they don't.
Nothing in this article speaks about silencing. Why are you distorting what people say? But maybe the answer is that that is what ET is doing all the time.
the nazi uniforms and much of that crazy anti-Rabin protesting was the work of agent-provocateurs funded by the government...