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Troubling Israeli Religious Fundamentalism
Extremist Israelis advocate mass murdering Arabs.
by Stephen Lendman
Islamic fundamentalism is vilified in the West. Extremist Jews are largely ignored. In Israel they're dangerous. They influence government policy. They seek control of Israel's rabbinical system.
Last January, Haaretz reported that ultra-Orthodox Shas party members used "improper methods bordering on the criminal (to get) its people appointed to key offices."
Israeli Haredim are ultra-Orthodox extremists. They believe their way is the only way. Others are heretics. Israel Shahak's (1933 - 2001) "Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel" explained its pervasive, destructive influence on Israeli politics, the military and society.
He called all forms of bigotry morally reprehensible, saying:
"Any form of racism, discrimination and xenophobia becomes more potent and politically influential if it is taken for granted by the society which indulges in it."In Israel, he added:
"The support of democracy and human rights is....meaningless or even harmful and deceitful when it does not begin with self-critique and with support of human rights when they are violated by one's own group."
"Any support of human rights for non-Jews whose rights are being violated by the 'Jewish state' is as deceitful as the support of human rights by a Stalinist"."
Shahak was a holocaust survivor. He discussed Jewish fundamentalist history. He examined its variations and explained dangerous messianic ones. They espouse Jewish superiority. Gentiles are inferior.
Fundamentalist Rabbi Abraham Kook (1865 - 1935) was significant. He preached Jewish supremacy, saying:
"The difference between a Jewish soul and souls of non-Jews - all of them in all different levels - is greater and deeper than the difference between a human soul and the souls of cattle."
He helped create the settler movement. His son, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook, founded the extremist Gush Emunim. Its slogan is "The Land of Israel, for the people of Israel, according to the Torah of Israel."
