Religious Zionism and Netanyahu’s Strategy in Gaza

 

The idea of Zionism has changed significantly since it was first proposed in the late 1800s. Zionism, which began as a political movement that called for the creation of a Jewish state in ancient Israel, has developed into a complex ideology that combines political, cultural, and religious aspects. Religious Zionism, one of the major subsets of Zionism, has been instrumental in forming the Israeli state and its non-Jewish policies.

Theodor Herzl's groundbreaking article in the pamphlet, “Der Judenstaat” or in English "The Jewish State," provided the foundation for the contemporary Zionist movement," Der Judenstaat" was written by Herzl in 1896. Though the precise location is unknown, it's thought he wrote much of it in Vienna, Austria, where he was residing at the time.

The fundamental thesis of "The Jewish State" was that the rise in antisemitism in Europe may be stopped by a Jewish nation-state with sovereign rights.  Herzl advocated that  Jews must have a politically recognized homeland where they can dwell without facing prejudice or persecution. Because of Palestine's historical relevance to Judaism, he suggests it as a possible location.

Many Jews who were going through social and political unrest in Europe were inspired by it. A burgeoning nationalist fervor among Jewish communities found resonance in Herzl's succinct and straightforward proposal for a Jewish state. The Zionist movement was strengthened by this activity, which also sparked additional debates and initiatives to create a Jewish homeland.
          The goal of Herzl's vision was to provide a safe refuge for Jews escaping persecution in Europe. The early proponents of Zionism sought to create an independent Jewish state and recapture the territory they saw as their historic homeland, Israel. Herzl's idea was secular but a second current known as religious Zionism also developed alongside secular Zionism.

    Religious Zionists consider the land of Israel to be a divine gift to the Jewish people and see the creation of Israel as the accomplishment of biblical prophecy. For them, Zionism is a religious obligation entwined with Jewish identity and faith, not just a political movement.
            Religious Zionism has had a significant influence on the Israeli government's non-Jewish policies. Jewish colonies have grown in biblical lands because religious Zionists support preserving Jewish sovereignty over these regions, which includes parts of the West Bank. Conflict and disagreement have arisen as a result of this growth, particularly among the Palestinian residents of these areas.
              Furthermore, Israeli policy toward non-Jews, especially Palestinians and Arab Israeli citizens, has been shaped by religious Zionism. There have been discussions and conflicts about rights to citizenship, religious freedom, and property ownership. Religious Zionists' tight ties to conservative political parties have also influenced legislation, which affects minority rights and interethnic and interreligious relations in Israel.
              The impact of religious Zionism on Israeli society's cultural standards and educational system is one of its most noticeable features. Religious organizations and schools propagate Zionist narratives that are based on religious convictions, influencing the viewpoints of upcoming generations and strengthening a feeling of national identity that is closely linked to religious legacy.
             It's important to remember, though, that there are a variety of viewpoints and methods within the religious Zionist movement, and that the ideology is not one cohesive whole. While some want a more diverse and inclusive society, others have more rigid ideas about property ownership, security, and religious exclusivity.
              The evolution of Zionism, especially the rise of religious Zionism, has left a lasting impression on the state of Israel and its treatment of non-Jews. It has strengthened Jewish Israelis' sense of solidarity and national identity but has also brought up difficult issues with minority rights, territorial disputes, and inter-communal interactions. Comprehending these dynamics is crucial to appreciate the intricacies of Israeli society and the larger Middle East region.

Israeli politics have been greatly influenced by Benjamin Netanyahu's views, especially about religious Zionism and the right. Concerns concerning Netanyahu's adoption of extreme ideas have been aroused by his affiliation with far-right organizations like Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionism coalition.

His administration enacted the contentious nation-state law, which reduced the rights of minorities and defined Israel as an exclusive ethno-national state. Furthermore, Netanyahu has undermined the chances of a two-state solution with his quiet but steadfast approach to settlement development and annexation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All things considered, Netanyahu's legacy is one of right-wing agenda promotion, democratic norm challenges, and a more conservative and nationalist direction for Israel's political scene.

The respected Senior Rabbi called  Netanyahu the representative of the Jewish Messiah, the chosen one because he adhered to religious Zionist principles and the far-right.

 There are worries among secular Jews about Netanyahu's endorsement of radical parties like Otzma Yehudit. Israel could only be a Jewish state or a democratic one, according to Kahane, underscoring the conflict in Zionist ideology between Jewish identity and democracy. Despite criticism of the extremist agenda of the Religious Zionism coalition, which is led by individuals such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu's affiliation with the group mirrors his electoral strategy. Discussions over Israel's political future and its consequences for democracy and minority rights have been spurred by Netanyahu's political maneuvers and connections with far-right organizations.

          Israel's military operation which started last October in Gaza has resulted in around 31490 Palestinian deaths and 73,439 injuries. The concept and strategy of this Israeli operation mirrors Netanyahu's motives and plans influenced by religious ideology.

         Due to intentional Israeli bombardment and massacres, 90% of Palestinians have been forced from their homes and are facing severe access issues to food, water, and other necessities, resulting in a terrible humanitarian crisis. Concerns regarding the increasing violence and the international community's inability to stop what experts view as an impending genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza have been brought up by the UN.

The situation in Gaza has exacerbated the already terrible living circumstances in the area by causing extensive damage to civilian facilities, including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques. Nearly 2 million people have been displaced by the conflict, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. The residents of Gaza are also facing extreme housing congestion and shortages of basic supplies like food and water. The present situation emphasizes how urgently the international community must step in to address the humanitarian disaster and stop more deaths in Gaza.

    It's apparent Israel doesn’t prioritize human rights when it comes to Palestinians. The pogrom of Gaza has instigated the same high-handed approach in the West Bank and Netanyahu's policy appears to kill as many Palestinians as he can to create deterrence and force Palestinians to escape the territories so it becomes easy to annex.

West is allegedly also siding with Israel and no concrete pressure is being exerted on the Zionist state to stop Palestinian pogrom. Some commentators think the West is fighting the war for dominance of its civilization and hegemony in the Middle East as China and Russia are supporting Palestinians and the two-state solution. West thinks if Israel loses it will translate into its downfall. it is important to keep in mind the anti-western revolutions in Africa in the past few months, the Chinese and Russian successes in Africa, the policy of neutrality by gulf countries, and the development and strengthening of platforms like BRICS which is bringing the global south together and seen as a threat by the West.

Benjamin Netanyahu's post-conflict strategy for Gaza calls for retaining security control over all Palestinian territory, including Gaza and the West Bank, and demilitarizing the area to facilitate reconstruction. The proposal highlights Israel's opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state and suggests that local leaders unaffiliated with resistance forces take over Hamas's leadership.

The plan also calls for the closure of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza as well as the demilitarization and deradicalization of institutions.

Netanyahu's plan also calls for cooperation with Egypt, a presence on the Gaza-Egypt border, and rehabilitation headed by nations that Israel can tolerate. There are questions regarding the future governance of the territory because the text is vague and favors Israeli interpretation.   The war in Gaza has spread to Lebanon and Houthis of Yemen are targeting ships belonging to countries that they think are helping Israel.    

Netanyahu’s polices are driving the whole Middle East towards a big regional war which may become a global war. UN has failed so has the West, there is a dilemma for the West and an opportunity to gain politically and strategically for China and Russia.

 

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