The fundamentalist wing of the
Jewish religion, while certainly not representative of Judaism
as a whole, is influential in Israel, and is the ideological
basis of the settler movement in the West Bank and Gaza (except
for "Greater Jerusalem" where many secular Jews have
moved because of cheap, subsidized housing) The following quotes
show the racism inherent in this world-view and why its influence
should be opposed by all rational people.
Ideological basis of racism
in Israel
"The Talmud states that...two
contrary types of souls exist, a non-Jewish soul comes from
the Satanic spheres, while the Jewish soul stems from holiness...Rabbi
Kook, the Elder, the revered father of the messianic tendency
of Jewish fundamentalism said, "The difference between
a Jewish soul and the souls of non-Jews...is greater and deeper
than the difference between a human soul and the souls of cattle.' "Israel
Shahak and Norton Mezvinsky's "Jewish Fundamentalism in
Israel"
Racism - continued
"Gush Emunim rabbis have
continually reiterated that Jews who killed Arabs should not
be punished, [e.g.]...Relying on the Code of Maimonides and
the Halacha, Rabbi Ariel stated, 'A Jew who killed a non-Jew
is exempt from human judgement and has not violated the [religious]
prohibition of murder'...The significance here is most striking
when the broad support, both direct and indirect, for Gush
Emunim is considered. About one-half of Israel's Jewish population
supports Gush Emunim." "Israel Shahak and Norton
Mezvinsky's "Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel"
Jewish fundamentalist rationale
for seizing Arab land
"They argue that what appears
to be confiscation of Arab owned land for subsequent settlement
by Jews is in reality not an act of stealing but one of sanctification.
From their perspective the land is being redeemed by being
transferred from the satanic to the divine sphere...To further
this process, the use of force is permitted whenever necessary...Halacha
permits Jews to rob non-Jews in those locales wherein Jews
are stronger than non-Jews." "Israel Shahak and
Norton Mezvinsky's "Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel"
*Note:
The webmaster of cactus48.com received an e-mail challenging the quotations
in this section. We forwarded the challenge to the authors, and Israel
Sahak replied with a detailed response. In fairness to both positions,
we have posted the challenge and the response on another page, from which
you can easily return to this page. Read the comments by CLICKING
HERE
