Zionist Patriotism Revived

The recent Palestinian violence has produced at least one positive result: the reawakening of Jewish patriotism, namely, Zionism. Whereas until recently people gave voice here to post-Zionist and global village ideas and said that Zionism had become obsolete, the recent incidents in the territories and among the Israeli Arabs have revived Zionism, rendering it once again relevant to our day and age as well. Zionism has been taken out of the civics classroom and has returned to being a relevant political position. It is difficult not to discern this in our daily lives: the overwhelming support for the national unity government and of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a dramatic cooling of the religious, ethnic and social rifts, the impressive fortitude displayed in the face of the frequent suicide bombing attacks, the top TV ratings that the broadcasts of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Maccabiah games commanded, citizens demanding to perform reserve military duty, and even an attack by the pillars of the establishment, such as Professor Shlomo Avineri, against Ha’aretz for being post-Zionist

This is classic Zionism, a Zionism of tenacity, a long-term self-perception based on a sense of having no other choice and a willingness for self-sacrifice.

In light of the circumstances, Zionism has come once again to be a means of self-definition for Israelis and Jews who, until a year ago, considered themselves to be citizens of the world.

The attacks from without, particularly from the direction of Europe, have also contributed to the reawakening of Zionism. The intention to revive the equation of Zionism with racism and the nefarious attacks against Israel have produced the opposite effect from the one desired by Europe: pushed into the corner, an increased spirit of davka [“in your face,” despite everything – INT], and the bolstering of Jewish patriotism have arisen. Just as in the past the hatred of Jews was a major catalyst for Zionism, the same has happened now when Palestinian patriotism is legitimate in Europe while Jewish patriotism is perceived as colonialism, condescension and an absurdity.

Patriotism, as opposed to nationalism, is immensely important for strengthening the solidarity of any society. But in the last decade in Israel there has been the feeling that Jewish patriotism is something that had become obsolete, a dark and even embarrassing phenomenon. The result was the collapse of the solidarity of the collective in our society, and a prevailing sense of “what do I care.” Now, when Islamic suicide bombers reach everywhere and the threat is the same to everyone, the sense that we are all in the same boat is bolstered, hence the weakening of individualistic motifs in social discourse and a return to collective patterns.

This sociological process is deeper than we may think. Even a return to negotiations will not change it, since it is now clear to us that neither the return of territories nor any other magical solution will be sufficient to reach a peaceful arrangement.

This is an interesting paradox: Jewish patriotism is what created and fired Palestinian patriotism throughout the entire 20th century, it challenged it and forced it to respond. Now the picture is inverted: it is actually the Palestinian patriotism that is fueling and rebuilding Jewish patriotism. Ahmed Yassin and Yasser Arafat may not like it, but they have indirectly made a significant contribution to the fortitude of the State of Israel’s society in the future, which should be of more interest to us than security considerations.

An awakening of this sort is liable to bear with it some disadvantages, such as a single opinion and an aversion to the other, but it is reasonable to believe that the democratic Israeli consciousness will not allow that to happen. In any event, being aware of this sociological change taking place before our very eyes could help produce a new and original cohesive to heal the rifts that were created in our society in the last number of years. These bitter times may ultimately come to produce a positive result.

This article ran on Friday, August 10 in Yediot Aharonot