Kahanism – the operational ideology of Israel’s governing coalition

JVL Introduction

Joshua Leifer, writing in The Guardian, explains the evolution of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane’s shocking mix of “violent, exterminationist ethnonationalism and apocalyptic religious fundamentalism” into an ultranationalist vision of an Israel “purged of a non-Jewish presence”, epitomised by current national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Leifer describes Kahane’s  “bizarre trajectory” through America’s far right and New York City’s underworld in the 1960s, then the growth and influence of his Kach movement in Israel in the following decades, feeding off increasing radicalism among a new generation of religious Zionist settlers.

“Since 7 October 2023” Leifer writes, “Kahanism has become mainstream. It is the political style that relishes the dehumanisation of Palestinians.” It has become “the operational ideology” of Israel’s governing coalition.

NWI

This article was originally published by The Guardian on Thu 20 Mar 2025. Read the original here.