nationalism

A view of the Dohány Street Synagogue, also known as The Great Synagogue, in Budapest, Hungary. (Yossi Zeliger/Flash90)

Tapping the ‘hidden spring’ of anti-Semitism in Orban’s Hungary

In today's Hungary, overt anti-Semitism has been supplanted by dog-whistle politics, Holocaust revisionism, and an us-versus-them mentality that has created a rupture between Jewish institutions. And then there is Aurora, the leftist, Jewish activist community defying it all.

By Joshua Leifer October 12, 2018

Supporters of French president-elect Emmanuel Macron celebrate outside the Louvre in Paris, May 7, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

We’ll always have Paris

While the French gave the world a lesson in hope, democracy and standing up to fascism, the Israeli government advanced a childish, nationalistic law that declares: we are Jews, they are Arabs, we’re good, they’re bad. By Alon Mizrahi Europe and the world expect us to defend the spirit of the Enlightenment, under threat in…

By +972 Magazine May 8, 2017

Jewish nationalist activists from anti-miscegenation group Lehava protest in Rishon Lezion, August 17, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Anti-Semitism in the U.S. doesn’t make me want to move to Israel

Why would American Jews be any less repulsed by the ultra-nationalist tendencies rampant in Israel than they are by those taking hold in America? By Sarah Stern The Jewish day school in Rockville, MD where I spent six years as a student received a bomb threat this week. There have been over 100 threats like…

By +972 Magazine March 1, 2017

Latest

Tzipi Livni speaking at the Herzliya Conference. March 12, 2013 (Photo: Herzliya Conference PR)

Tzipi Livni throws cold water on prospects for peace

With Israel and Palestine no closer to a peaceful two-state resolution 20 years after the start of Oslo, the burden of proof is on its believers, not its detractors, settler leader Dany Dayan says. Even the woman set to be in charge of any future peace process, Tzipi Livni, is speaking about the need to…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man March 13, 2013

Jewish nationalism lost in the election, Jewish humanism won

Jewish nationalism, in its belligerence and paranoia, is watching the world pass it by – and the overwhelming majority of Jews in America, Israel and elsewhere do not want that to happen to them. The split between humanistic Judaism and nationalistic Judaism goes back a very long time, but in recent years, the complete takeover…

By Larry Derfner November 9, 2012

Racism as self-harm: Man carves “death to Arabs” into his arm

Well, that’s a painful visual metaphor if there ever was one. A young Israeli man by the name of Yisrael Yehudai (lit: Israel Judean) has decided to express his hatred for Arabs not by a sticker, and not by actually attacking anyone (to my knowledge), but by carving the words “Death to Arabs” into his…

By Dimi Reider December 16, 2011

Tsvia Greenfeld, candidate for liberal Zionist Meretz party in 2006 elections (photo: Lisa Goldman)

How is Zionism different from other forms of nationalism?

Nationalism is inherently illiberal in its distinction between citizens and non-citizens. But are all nationalisms equally illiberal? And should we hold Israel to different standards than other countries that claim to be liberal democracies? By Sean Lee Two of my colleagues make the point that it is not only Zionism, or Jewish nationalism, that is…

By +972 Magazine December 2, 2011

When Israeli nationalism gets into your food

Everyone knows that Israel has become a much more racist and nationalist society over the past decade, and particularly since Bibi Netanyahu came to power and formed the most right wing coalition to ever rule the land. So, I can’t say – taking into consideration the persons involved – that the boycott law or loyalty…

By Ami Kaufman September 13, 2011

Jewish kindergartens to start each week with national anthem

The recent spike in ultra-nationalist legislation is by no means confined to MKs and grand issues like separation of powers and freedom of speech: The Education Ministry has released new regulations stipulating that beginning next year, all kindergarten teachers in the Jewish sector will start each new week with raising the flag and singing the…

By Dimi Reider July 13, 2011

IDF replaces “People of Israel” with “God” in memorial prayer

The shift in terminology in the prayer reflects more than just a victory in the tug-of-war between secular and religious factions within the IDF, but rather deeper changes underway in society as a whole. Haaretz reports this morning that Chief of Staff Benny Gantz has issued an order altering the phrasing of the official military…

By Dimi Reider June 13, 2011

What happened to ‘Don’t worry, be happy?’ The Holocaust.

The following gem has been circulating the web in the past few days. The author, music critic and blogger Guy Hajaj, says he took the pic at a synagogue in Akko. I’d spin some yarn about how it exemplifies Israel going from trying to move on from the Holocaust to being perpetually consumed by it.…

By Dimi Reider June 10, 2011

Palestinians suffer from tear gas in Nabi Saleh Photo: Joseph Dana

The weight of nationalism in Nabi Saleh

Getting to Nabi Saleh is not easy. The army closes all entrances very early on a Friday, the day which has seen demonstrations taking place for the past two years. This forces Israeli and international activists that wish to join the unarmed and largely nonviolent demonstrations to park kilometres away and hike through valleys and…

By Joseph Dana May 7, 2011

Where LGBT rights and nationalism meet

“I was struck by the similarity between the role gay rights play in Israeli national politics and the role it plays in some European countries, specifically Netherlands, where the conference was held. In both contexts the self-perception of the state as being committed to sexual equality is used to justify exclusionary politics that are especially…

By +972 Magazine April 20, 2011