The Zionist debate

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The Zionist debate

Religious settlers’ version of Zionism jeopardizing Jewish State’s existence

Gadi Taub Published: 04.27.10, 18:19 / Israel Opinion

The main political dispute within Israeli society – regarding the future of Judea and Samaria – is not only a dispute over policy. It is in fact a debate on the meaning of Zionism. We can say that it’s a dispute over what exactly we celebrate on Independence Day.

However, in the heat of daily politics, this debate is being pursued in a way that blurs the meaning of the conflict. The rivaling factions present the views of their opponents in a simplistic and at times twisted manner.

The Right, and the religious settlers with in it, portrays everyone who endorses partition as a member of the “peace camp.” Yet in practice, many people back partition after despairing of the possibility of peace. They believe that partition is the only way to prevent the sinking of the Zionist enterprise into a bi-national state, after we lose the Jewish majority.

On the other hand, many partition supporters portray the settlers as a messianic movement. The settlers reject this portrayal. They believe that their enterprise can be justified on a realistic and secular basis. The messianic dimension of their movement is not an operative plan or decree, but rather, a general framework of faith that adds another dimension of depth and meaning to an enterprise that is needed based on wholly earthly considerations.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3881688,00.html