Israel lacks a nation-state, democracy, or secularity
When we talk about the government of Israel, which government are we talking about? It is commonly said that we are dealing with a secular government, and this secular government has little to do with the ancient Jewish teachings. However, if we look at it through the perspective of the political theology, we might actually be dealing with a theocratic government where all elements of Jewish theology can be observed in the foundations of Israel’s structure.
By Mahdi Fadaei Mehrabani
University professor at UT
In general, a fundamental feature of Jewish theology is a theological principle known as exclusivism or “chosenness,” which is not seen to the same extent in any other religion as it is in Judaism. In contrast to this approach, there is inclusivism, which encompasses other religions and beliefs and forms the main basis of faith. However, in this approach, there is a kind of sectarianism that seems to indicate a special privilege for being Jewish, and this is very pronounced in Judaism. From this perspective, Judaism faces a crisis that is also observed in Israel.
When we talk about a Jewish person, what are we referring to? This is an important theological question, and many Jewish philosophers discuss it. The difference Judaism has with Islam and other religions is that Judaism is based on a culture, while it is also based on blood. In other words, until recently, there was a debate among Jewish scholars about whether it is possible for someone to convert to Judaism. Judaism is not a matter of faith; it is a blood-related and exclusive relationship with God. These debates are very contemporary in Israel.
One of the researchers who have worked on Jewish theology is Israel Shahak. He says that being Israeli in the contemporary era has replaced being Jewish in theological texts. When we talk about an Israeli, it is as if we are talking about a Jewish person in a theological context, and the same exclusivity is imposed on the Israeli person, and the country Israel replaces the people of Israel.
This is the same theme that we are looking for in political theology. In political theology, we are interested in how modern political concepts in the new era have transformed traditional theological concepts. This is an important point that we pay less attention to.
Shahak even says that the term “Jewish government” indicates that we are facing a situation in Israel that is distinct from all other places in the world. The idea of a Jewish government becomes prominent from Herzl to the present day. Shahak says that when we talk about the Jewish government, it seems that we are not dealing with a national government; rather, we are dealing with a government whose identity is distinct from all other governments in the world. Therefore, Israel always has problems with the concept of “citizenship” in its domestic politics. A Palestinian is never a first-class citizen in Israeli society and is always considered secondary because the theological foundation of Judaism is based on exclusivity.
I have a book titled ‘Political Theology of Jews’ that will be published, but this is not the time to discuss its topics at length. However, where we smell violence in theological texts is exactly where the superiority of the Jewish race is discussed. Despite the claim that the government of Israel is secular, this exclusivity is precisely transferred to the citizens of Israel in these texts. The term used for non-Jewish humans, other than the children of Israel, is “goyim,” translated as “trash.”
In other words, in the view of a radical Jewish believer, essentially, a non-Israeli human is not entitled to citizenship rights. This issue is also observed internationally. For example, Israel does not want any country to be closer to the United States than itself. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, in an interview with the Iranian TV show, Shokaran, posited that [in retrospect] during the reign of Iran’s former Shah, it was not feasible for Iran and Israel to get along. Israel never wanted another lover for the United States. It was as if there was a marital relationship between Israel and the US that no other country could enter. I want to say that this issue is also very pronounced in the theology of Judaism.
One of the chapters of a book I wrote is about the theology of sex, which is a very important issue. But apart from the discussions that Jews have in this regard, they believe that the people of Israel are like the spouse of God, and even if they betray, God must return to them. You know that the history of the Jewish people is full of disobedience and return. Therefore, according to their theology, if a Jew betrays, God returns to them because if He does not return and has no jealousy for this rebellious wife, He is without honor. These interpretations are somehow transferred to the contemporary period; that is, the government of Israel is endowed with the same sanctity that the people of Israel had.
“Another factor is geography. Geography also has a theological interpretation. Israel’s geography, according to their theology, is the geography of the Promised Land. French philosopher Roger Garaudy says that the God of Israel has transformed into the government, and the Promised Land has become the land of Israel. Even the Exodus from Egypt and the events of the journey from Exodus to migration to Israel become sacred and find a holy aspect. Let’s ignore that in Zionist and evangelical interpretations of Christianity, the story becomes entangled in Armageddon, and this matter is crucial for them.
So, Israel is the only earthly government that adheres to a kind of sacred history, sacred geography, special people, and a sacred government. These four pillars are exactly in conflict with the principles of the nation-state; that is, the four pillars of people, land, government, and sovereignty. When we talk about the concept of the state in the modern era, these four pillars, except for the people’s aspect, are among the most obvious principles. These four principles do not exist in Israel, so it cannot be a nation-state because when it comes to the people, there is no inclusivity. In a nation-state, people can be Jewish or have another religion, but Israel is in crisis over shaping a contemporary national identity and looks entirely ideological. So, Israel is neither secular nor a nation-state; Israel has an ideological political system.
But how has Israel formed a theological system? Part of it goes back to how Israel’s politics is. There is a text known as the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’, famous among Zionist scholars, which they call a hoax; that is, a lie attributed to them. Inside these protocols, they have planned everything; the economy, cinema, and so on, and its basis is that Zionism must take over the world. But unfortunately, the policies that Israel implements are based on this hoax.
Two books can help clarify this discussion. One is a book by French theorist Jacques Attali called ‘The Economic History of the Jewish People’. This book explains what Jews have done throughout history. The issue goes back to several hundred years, from the Middle-Ages to this day. They somehow shape economic and banking systems in the medieval period, and from a certain point on, all kings have been indebted to Jews. Another book is ‘An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood’ by Neal Gabler.
In conclusion, I think it is very wrong to say that Israel is a secular government or has created democracy. At least based on political theology, this cannot be accepted. Hegel said history repeats itself. Marx said, “He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.” Žižek also addressed this issue in a book called ‘First as Tragedy, Then as Farce’. This proposition is worth discussing.
In the second time when history repeats itself as a farce, it is actually more terrible than the first tragedy. The irony of history is right here; the first time its name is tragedy, but it is not as terrible as its comedy state. My assumption is that the government of Israel has launched a farcical and horrifying show by repeating history and exclusivity. The level of violence is also much higher than what is claimed. Horrific accounts are recorded, such as tearing the stomach of a pregnant woman or taking the head of a fetus. Susan Sontag says only a dogmatic religious foundation can do such things.
Israeli terrorist groups like Haganah, Irgun, and Etzel are all made up of radical extremist individuals. “We do the same thing with Palestinians that David did with Nabal,” they say to those who lie in front of bulldozers and say you mustn’t destroy Palestinian homes and those who fight against the government of Israel, asking why are you using live ammunition against Palestinians. That story is a twisted and erotic one that is not expressible here. These groups come from a dogmatic theology known as the Iron Fist, which is why talking about the existing secular order is
laughable.