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"