Between Zion and Democracy:

Confessions of Past Zionism

Jerusalem 15/5/2010
Louis Frankenthaler

Tonight there is a demonstration in Jerusalem's Zion Square. When I first moved to

Israel, 15 years ago (two months before Rabin was murdered) I went down to Zion
Square and witnessed a very disturbing demonstration. The left was demonized,
peace was demonized and with that so too, was democracy. Many of Israel's current
‘leadership’ spoke out at that demonstration. Today we live with its aftermath. When
I first arrived I thought that Zionism, a progressive Zionism striving for peace, justice
and human rights was possible. I have since, painfully, come to believe differently.

This is not a Post/Anti-Zionist editorial. It belongs to no school of thought, nor to the

post, progressive, radical, reactionary or settlement entrenched Zionisms either.
Rather, this article begs to be extricated from the discursive trap in which we remain
entangled. It is a call for a new Past Zionist discourse. It seems that Zionism, as a
word, ideology, theology or movement has emerged as the new battlefield between
those who would claim to be better Zionists: the settlers and their supporters and
those who say that a "Zionist is not a settler" and that "we" need to end the
Occupation to save ourselves (of course any call by Jews to end the Occupation is
welcomed if not demanded). In the meantime ultra-right wing nationalism thrives in
Israel’s political system, the domestic human rights movement is under attack,
settlement and occupation are ever more engrained as Israel’s civil religion, and
Palestinian families are cleared out of East Jerusalem to make way for traditionally
privileged "Zionists,” the settlers.

This is not a criticism of those who would anchor their worldview or politics in
Zionism. Rather it questions the wisdom and efficacy of such an investment, when
what we really need is to focus on democracy, human rights and social justice.
Perhaps, at a later point, Zionism can find its place in the discussion, and Judaism can
work its way back into democracy. But for now, democracy must be the first priority
because that is what is being molested at this time.

When I hear discussions of Zionism on the left, I remain very concerned with the
tendency to focus on Jewish self-interest in Israel, on the ongoing danger of
nationalism. Yet, as a pragmatist, a progressive, (social) democracy, anti-racist and
anti-Occupation-oriented Zionism is certainly welcomed. This kind of Zionism seems
to be the voice of J Street and J Call, two movements that may very well help bring
the Occupation to a halt. At the very least, advocates of the Occupation seek to
discredit even these relatively progressive Jewish initiatives, thus indicating their
concern over a growing global Jewish call to end the Occupation, and the end of
Diaspora Jewry's uncritical faith in everything the Israeli government says and does.

What these new initiatives are saying is that there ought to be a limit to demonization
of the left by the radical right, especially of the Israeli government’s critics, be they in
the university, politics or civil society. Too many Israelis are glad to tell us what,
when and how to think. They often root their polemics in a version of Zionism that is
no more than a thin shield for their devout pro-Occupation political theology. For this
reason, it is even more important to get past using the figure of Zionism. Instead of
saying that the settlements are destroying Zionism (which it seems to have already
done,) it is more important to think about how to understand the manner in which the
settlements and their supporters are thrusting Israel into a dangerous process of de-
democratization.

Jewish public discourse over the past four decades has been too reactive, and not
sufficiently reflexive. Do we want democracy or the Occupation? Do we want a
vibrant civil society and public sphere in which the myriad of issues that ought to
preoccupy democratic society are discussed, or do we want to continue fostering a
public sphere that is being increasingly colonized by right-wing demands for political
conformity? Do we want to remain mired in a banal argument over who is a better
Zionist, the settler or the non-settler, or do we want to figure out how to create a safe
public sphere where Zionism is not the litmus test for communal legitimacy?

And now for my confession: I want to continue living in this space called Israel, with
my family. Although conservatives may think otherwise, progressives like me care
about and respect this society, more for what it can be than for what it has done for the
past four decades. I do not ‘love’ it. To paraphrase something Hannah Arendt once
said, love I reserve for people. For that reason I went to the demonstration near Zion
Square in Jerusalem. I listened to the many speakers, some of whom I greatly respect,
and others who consistently condemn people like me. I was not moved by their
message. Nothing that was said was particularly new. Rather I was moved by their
effort to break out of the stupor imposed upon us by the pro-Occupation forces
currently running amok in Israel.

The demonstration was an important first step to invigorate a dying movement of

progressive activism in Israel. The hope is that this initiative will be able to
effectively join forces with those in the United States and Europe in an effort to
redefine the nature of Israeli politics.

My outlook is decidedly sober. It sees Israeli society as almost beyond repair, and
views the abhorrent Israeli actions in Sheikh Jarrah and elsewhere as an omen of
worse things to come. Yet my outlook also welcomes the reawakening of Diaspora
Jews willing to take a stand, alongside their Israeli allies. It may be long overdue.
However, it’s the only hope we have for restoring Israeli democracy.