Yakov M. Rabkin Asks ‘What Is Modern Israel?’
By Huffington Post, 21 July 2016.
This is an interview I conducted
with Professor Yakov M. Rabkin of the Université de Montréal, author of the
recently published What Is Modern Israel.
with Professor Yakov M. Rabkin of the Université de Montréal, author of the
recently published What Is Modern Israel.
Professor Rabkin’s earlier book
on the subject of Israel, entitled A Threat from Within: A Century of
Jewish Opposition to Zionism, was nominated for the Governor
General’s Literary Award and for the Hecht Prize for Studies of Zionism.
on the subject of Israel, entitled A Threat from Within: A Century of
Jewish Opposition to Zionism, was nominated for the Governor
General’s Literary Award and for the Hecht Prize for Studies of Zionism.
Given all of the books that have
been published over the years regarding Israel, what compelled you to write What
Is Modern Israel?
been published over the years regarding Israel, what compelled you to write What
Is Modern Israel?
My Tokyo publisher. Impressed by
the success of the Japanese version of my earlier book, A Threat from
Within: A Century of Jewish Opposition to Zionism, in his country (it was
listed as the best non-fiction book by the prestigious daily Asahi Shimbun),
he asked me to write about modern Israel. It was to be a shorter and more
accessible book, aimed at young readers.
the success of the Japanese version of my earlier book, A Threat from
Within: A Century of Jewish Opposition to Zionism, in his country (it was
listed as the best non-fiction book by the prestigious daily Asahi Shimbun),
he asked me to write about modern Israel. It was to be a shorter and more
accessible book, aimed at young readers.
In A Threat from Within, I
had examined the reasons why Zionism was initially rejected not only by rabbis
but also by the vast majority of Jews. In the present book I had to go further.
I had to spell out the origins of Zionism, including religious ones, to look at
the evolution of Israeli society and its relations with world Jewry, as well as
at the roles played by Jews from Russia. The Russian dimension explains many
aspects of contemporary Israel that remain otherwise puzzling.
What exactly do you mean by “the Russian dimension”?
had examined the reasons why Zionism was initially rejected not only by rabbis
but also by the vast majority of Jews. In the present book I had to go further.
I had to spell out the origins of Zionism, including religious ones, to look at
the evolution of Israeli society and its relations with world Jewry, as well as
at the roles played by Jews from Russia. The Russian dimension explains many
aspects of contemporary Israel that remain otherwise puzzling.
What exactly do you mean by “the Russian dimension”?
While Theodor Herzl, the founder
of political Zionism, was meeting kings and ministers, Jews from the shtetls
in the Russian Empire formed the backbone of Zionist settlement in Palestine at
the turn of the 20th century. Subsequently they entrenched themselves in
positions of leadership. Even though the Soviet Union did not allow emigration
from the 1920s on, over 60 per cent of the members of Israeli parliament in the
1960s were of Russian origin. There has never been a prime minister in Israel
who was either not born in the Russian Empire, or whose parents were.
of political Zionism, was meeting kings and ministers, Jews from the shtetls
in the Russian Empire formed the backbone of Zionist settlement in Palestine at
the turn of the 20th century. Subsequently they entrenched themselves in
positions of leadership. Even though the Soviet Union did not allow emigration
from the 1920s on, over 60 per cent of the members of Israeli parliament in the
1960s were of Russian origin. There has never been a prime minister in Israel
who was either not born in the Russian Empire, or whose parents were.
Moreover, a million
Russian-speaking Jews settled in Israel in the late 20th century. They are
mostly estranged from Judaism; they consider themselves of “the Jewish
nationality” and are therefore quite unabashed about ethnic nationalism
and the use of force to impose it. Most of them vote for the right and the
extreme right parties. Their success in penetrating the highest echelons of power
and moving Israeli politics to the nationalist right has been impressive. The
recent appointment of Moldova-born Avigdor Lieberman as minister of defence
illustrates this accomplishment quite convincingly.
Russian-speaking Jews settled in Israel in the late 20th century. They are
mostly estranged from Judaism; they consider themselves of “the Jewish
nationality” and are therefore quite unabashed about ethnic nationalism
and the use of force to impose it. Most of them vote for the right and the
extreme right parties. Their success in penetrating the highest echelons of power
and moving Israeli politics to the nationalist right has been impressive. The
recent appointment of Moldova-born Avigdor Lieberman as minister of defence
illustrates this accomplishment quite convincingly.
In your book, you delve into the
impact of Christian Zionism on the birth of the Israeli state. Is that impact
limited only to the early stages of the Zionist project?
impact of Christian Zionism on the birth of the Israeli state. Is that impact
limited only to the early stages of the Zionist project?
No, the role of Christian Zionism
did not end with the Balfour Declaration in 1917 or the unilateral proclamation
of independence by David Ben-Gurion in 1948. True, certain interpretations of
Paul’s Epistle to the Romans argued for the “ingathering [of] the
Hebrews” into Palestine as early as the 17th century. This affected the
public imagination in the English-speaking countries, particularly those with
anti-Semitic prejudices who wanted to get rid of local Jews. This mind-set is
clearly reflected in the Balfour Declaration.
did not end with the Balfour Declaration in 1917 or the unilateral proclamation
of independence by David Ben-Gurion in 1948. True, certain interpretations of
Paul’s Epistle to the Romans argued for the “ingathering [of] the
Hebrews” into Palestine as early as the 17th century. This affected the
public imagination in the English-speaking countries, particularly those with
anti-Semitic prejudices who wanted to get rid of local Jews. This mind-set is
clearly reflected in the Balfour Declaration.
This Christian motivation for the
Restoration of the Jews in the Promised Land lent a powerful practical impulse
to a group of assimilated Jews in Central and Eastern Europe in search of a
collective “solution of the Jewish question.” The Judaic hope of
Return had been traditionally characterized by an entirely different
sensibility and ultimate goal. Jewish tradition holds that this return must be
a part of a messianic project rather than a political and a military
enterprise. In fact, there was little room for Jewish tradition in the Zionist
scheme, which not only originated among Protestants, but was sustained by
individuals of Jewish origin who were mostly atheists or agnostics.
Restoration of the Jews in the Promised Land lent a powerful practical impulse
to a group of assimilated Jews in Central and Eastern Europe in search of a
collective “solution of the Jewish question.” The Judaic hope of
Return had been traditionally characterized by an entirely different
sensibility and ultimate goal. Jewish tradition holds that this return must be
a part of a messianic project rather than a political and a military
enterprise. In fact, there was little room for Jewish tradition in the Zionist
scheme, which not only originated among Protestants, but was sustained by
individuals of Jewish origin who were mostly atheists or agnostics.
A recent Pew poll shows that 82 per cent of white Protestants
in the United States believe that “Israel was given to the Jewish people
by God.” Only 40 per cent of Jews do. This is why Christian Zionists
constitute a much more reliable source of political and financial support for
Israel than Jews. Recent Israeli governments and settlers in the territories,
which Israel conquered in 1967, have developed close ties with major
organizations such as Christians United for Israel. Its leader, Pastor John
Hagee, claims that his organization represents 50 million people. This is
nearly four times more than the entire Jewish population of the world, which is
estimated at 14 million. And one should also take into account the millions of
Christian Zionists in Latin America, South Korea, Canada, Australia and New
Zealand.
in the United States believe that “Israel was given to the Jewish people
by God.” Only 40 per cent of Jews do. This is why Christian Zionists
constitute a much more reliable source of political and financial support for
Israel than Jews. Recent Israeli governments and settlers in the territories,
which Israel conquered in 1967, have developed close ties with major
organizations such as Christians United for Israel. Its leader, Pastor John
Hagee, claims that his organization represents 50 million people. This is
nearly four times more than the entire Jewish population of the world, which is
estimated at 14 million. And one should also take into account the millions of
Christian Zionists in Latin America, South Korea, Canada, Australia and New
Zealand.
What do you make of Israel’s
claim that it represents all of the world’s Jews? Can you elaborate on the
distinctions between Judaism and Zionism?
claim that it represents all of the world’s Jews? Can you elaborate on the
distinctions between Judaism and Zionism?
The Jews of Israel constitute
about one half of the world’s Jewish population. But Israeli leaders have
consistently claimed that they speak on behalf of all Jews since, in their
view, the Zionist state somehow belongs to Jews around the world, even though
these Jews exhibit no desire to move to Israel and are citizens of their
respective countries. The claim to represent all Jews is politically empty, but
is an effective tool to blur fundamental differences between Judaism and
Zionism, and between Jews and the state of Israel. This claim therefore holds
Jews hostage to Israel’s political and military behaviour.
about one half of the world’s Jewish population. But Israeli leaders have
consistently claimed that they speak on behalf of all Jews since, in their
view, the Zionist state somehow belongs to Jews around the world, even though
these Jews exhibit no desire to move to Israel and are citizens of their
respective countries. The claim to represent all Jews is politically empty, but
is an effective tool to blur fundamental differences between Judaism and
Zionism, and between Jews and the state of Israel. This claim therefore holds
Jews hostage to Israel’s political and military behaviour.
It is quite clear that
anti-Jewish violence in Europe and elsewhere is fuelled by the conflict in
Israel/Palestine. For the Zionists, this is a win-win situation because this
violence breeds insecurity and destabilizes Jewish communities. This, in turn,
results in emigration, some of it in the direction of Israel, a country that
needs Jews in order to ensure a non-Palestinian majority there. Currently,
Palestinians constitute a majority on the land controlled by Israel between the
Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.
anti-Jewish violence in Europe and elsewhere is fuelled by the conflict in
Israel/Palestine. For the Zionists, this is a win-win situation because this
violence breeds insecurity and destabilizes Jewish communities. This, in turn,
results in emigration, some of it in the direction of Israel, a country that
needs Jews in order to ensure a non-Palestinian majority there. Currently,
Palestinians constitute a majority on the land controlled by Israel between the
Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.
What can bring about a just peace
in Israel/Palestine, given the steady rightward trend of the Israeli
electorate?
in Israel/Palestine, given the steady rightward trend of the Israeli
electorate?
Outside pressure. This is the
consensus of Israeli peace activists. The Israeli government also understands
this and is behind unprecedented legislation in several Western countries
forbidding boycotts of Israel and its exports. Western governments permit
Israel to act with impunity, but this policy suffers from a serious democratic
deficit: citizens of most countries in Europe and North America view Israel
very critically and consider it a threat to world peace. It is this grassroots
pressure that may help Israel decide to embrace decency and peace.
consensus of Israeli peace activists. The Israeli government also understands
this and is behind unprecedented legislation in several Western countries
forbidding boycotts of Israel and its exports. Western governments permit
Israel to act with impunity, but this policy suffers from a serious democratic
deficit: citizens of most countries in Europe and North America view Israel
very critically and consider it a threat to world peace. It is this grassroots
pressure that may help Israel decide to embrace decency and peace.
These viewpoints are not widely
known here. Who published and who distributes your book?
known here. Who published and who distributes your book?
The publisher, Pluto Press of
London, takes care of Europe; the University of Chicago Press distributes my
book in the United States; and in Canada it is Brunswick
Books. Whereas my previous book– A Threat from Within: A Century
of Jewish Opposition to Zionism–has been translated into over a dozen
languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, the new one has so far appeared in
Japanese, French, Russian, and, finally, in English.
London, takes care of Europe; the University of Chicago Press distributes my
book in the United States; and in Canada it is Brunswick
Books. Whereas my previous book– A Threat from Within: A Century
of Jewish Opposition to Zionism–has been translated into over a dozen
languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, the new one has so far appeared in
Japanese, French, Russian, and, finally, in English.
