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The myth of Israel's 'democracy' w/Ilan Pappé | The Chris Hedges Report

The Real News Network・31 minutes read

Yeshayahu Leibowitz warned that without separating church and state, Israel would face a corrupt rabbinate and become a secret police state, ultimately leading to the destruction of democracy. Ilan Pappe describes Israel's actions as incremental genocide, highlighting atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, with challenges in balancing population and land persisting.

Insights

  • Yeshayahu Leibowitz warned about the dangers of not separating church and state in Israel, predicting the emergence of a corrupt rabbinate and the transformation of Judaism into a fascistic cult, ultimately leading to the destruction of democracy and the establishment of a secret police state.
  • The tension within Zionism between secular and religious factions has given rise to a settler state in Israel, combining messianic Zionism and fundamentalist Judaism, which has shifted power dynamics and led to internal strife rather than addressing the occupation of Palestinians, resulting in a flawed approach to the conflict.

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  • What did Yeshayahu Leibowitz warn about?

    Leibowitz warned that without separating church and state, Israel would face a corrupt rabbinate turning Judaism into a fascistic cult.

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Summary

00:00

Israel's Struggle: From Zionism to Genocide

  • Yeshayahu Leibowitz, a scholar, warned that without separating church and state, Israel would face a corrupt rabbinate turning Judaism into a fascistic cult.
  • Leibowitz foresaw that the military veneration post-1967 war would lead to the destruction of democracy, with Israel becoming a secret police state ruling a hostile population.
  • He predicted that prolonged occupation of Palestinians would result in concentration camps and the ultimate demise of Israel.
  • Extremist Jewish factions, heirs of Meir Kahane, are orchestrating genocide in Gaza, with hundreds of Palestinians being killed daily.
  • Ilan Pappe, a history professor, describes Israel's actions as incremental genocide, detailing the atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank.
  • The Zionist project, starting in the 1920s, laid the foundation for its destruction by displacing indigenous populations and imposing itself through force.
  • The tension within Zionism between secular and religious factions led to the rise of a settler state, combining messianic Zionism and fundamentalist Judaism.
  • The struggle between the state of Israel and the state of Judea, representing secular and religious Zionism, has shifted power dynamics in Israel.
  • The conflict within Israel does not prioritize the Palestinian issue, leading to internal strife rather than addressing the occupation.
  • The settler colonial project in Israel, marked by violence and ethnic cleansing, aimed to establish a demographic state by removing unwanted populations.

16:58

Israeli leaders reject ethnic cleansing for democracy.

  • Politicians like Levy Eshkol, Abba Eban, and Teddy Kollek decided against massive ethnic cleansing to maintain Jewish democracy.
  • They chose to keep millions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip without political rights, rejecting Palestinian self-determination.
  • The strategy aimed to contain Palestinian ambitions within Israeli-controlled enclaves, posing as a two-state solution.
  • Historically, the challenge remains of having territory without people, evolving methods to balance population and land.
  • The failure of expulsion, denying citizenship rights, and imposing sieges indicates a flawed approach.
  • Leibowitz viewed the 1967 war as pivotal, warning against the occupation's impact on Israeli democracy.
  • The occupation post-1967 accelerated human rights violations against Palestinians, contrasting with pre-1967 efforts to improve their situation.
  • Leibowitz foresaw the impossibility of separating a liberal Israel from an occupied Palestine, predicting an apartheid system.
  • The crisis in Israeli society stems from the failure to reconcile universal values with colonialism and redefine Judaism as nationalism.
  • The occupation's tyranny is now directed towards Israeli citizens, leading to arrests for expressing alternative views and a rise of ideological settlers in key positions.

33:58

"Hezbollah, Hamas, and Global Solidarity with Palestine"

  • In 2000, Hezbollah successfully pushed the Israeli army out of Lebanon, showcasing the strength of an Arab paramilitary group against Israel.
  • In 2006, Hezbollah's leader Hasan Nasrallah expressed regret over ordering an operation that led to the destruction of Beirut, highlighting the responsibility of strategizing for one's people.
  • Palestinians have been able to garner public support despite Israeli retaliation, showcasing growing solidarity with their cause.
  • Israel faces challenges in defeating Hamas, potentially leading to prolonged occupation and regional conflict involving Hezbollah and the Arab world.
  • Civil society globally, particularly in the Global South, may pressure Israel through sanctions and advocacy to change its policies towards Palestine.
  • American civil society, including the younger generation and Jewish community, is increasingly critical of Israel's actions, potentially influencing US policy.
  • Two global coalitions, Global Israel and Global Palestine, are shaping the discourse on Palestine, with civil societies advocating for justice and rights.
  • The situation in Gaza is dire, with Israeli policymakers aiming for depopulation and annexation, leading to potential long-term conflict and consequences for Israel.
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