Religion, Nationalism, and Terror

Daniel Ben Simon, The return of the settlers, Haaretz, October 2, 2007

I have seen them at Homesh and on other hills, and there seems to be a new breed of fanaticism capable of deeds the previous generation of settlers regarded with awe and fear. Among the thousands of new fanatical youngsters there is no sense of national propriety or fear of the state’s authority.

I have seen them cursing security personnel and spitting at them and flinging racist epithets at Druze and immigrants from Russia and Ethiopia. They did this without the slightest hesitation or fear. This is the generation that follows the generation that achieved the revolution of faith in the territories after the Six-Day War. That same messianic faith that has changed the face of the country, never mind the face of the Middle East, for many years. The latest wildcat settlement attempts - even though they look like youthful actions - are a real challenge to the decision makers, a warning lest they dare follow in the despicable footsteps of their predecessors. The attempts are also aimed at making it clear that what happened in Gush Katif will not happen again.

The big mystery remains the settlers’ Yesha Council. Will it line up with the extremist voices? Will it try to moderate and lower the flames as it did at Kfar Maimon, for which it has paid a high price? After all, these young people have rebelled against its authority and have accused it of collaborating with a government that uproots settlements.

The international meeting in November, where Israel will play a crucial role, will apparently determine whether the Yesha Council will be swept up by the romantic vision of redemption in the style of settler activist Daniella Weiss, or try to reach an understanding with the government.

Former chief rabbi dies after illness - Haaretz, September 28, 2007

Former chief rabbi Abraham Shapira, 96, died yesterday after an illness.

Shapira will be remembered as one of Israel’s most political chief rabbis. During the Oslo Accords, Rabbi Shapira ruled that handing over territories, even as part of a peace agreement, was against Jewish law.

He also called on soldiers to refuse orders, an instruction he reiterated many times over the years, including during the disengagement from Gaza in 2005.

He was considered the unofficial spiritual leader of the National Religious Party.

“CNN Comes Under Unprecedented Attack - Forward.com, September 6, 2007

The three-episode special, “God’s Warriors,” by CNN’s chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, is being characterized by Jewish groups as equating Jewish extremists in West Bank settlements with Muslim jihadists.

The police, security services and army are under the constant threat of active resistance on the settlers’ part, and they submit to that threat. The necessary monopoly over this power no longer exists. There are two states; one committed to a Western democratic government, and the other committed to extremist, messianic religious rule.