Information AboutKahanism |
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Kahanism is a right-wing Religious Zionist movement which some consider to be an extremist fringe movement, named after one of its major proponents, Rabbi Meir Kahane . Following Kahane's assassination in 1990 , the movement was split in two. One splinter group is headed by Baruch Marzel , while the other by Rabbi Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane of Kfar Tapuach , who was assassinated in 2000 . PREMISES The central claim of Kahanism is that all Arabs are, and will continue to be, enemies of Jews and of Israel, and that a Jewish Fundamentalist state, absent of an Arab population and that includes Israel , the West Bank and Gaza Strip and also possibly areas of modern-day Jordan , should be created. The Kahanist movement proper also argues that such a state should be ruled according to Jew ish Theocratic law known as Halakha , but the term "Kahanist" is sometimes used loosely to describe any Zionist group which seeks a (often Arab-free) Greater Israel . OUTLAWED Since 1985 , State Of Israel has outlawed groups espousing Kahane's ideology as being Racist , and forbids their participating in the Israeli government. The Kach party was banned from running for the Knesset in 1988 , while the existence of the two Kahanist movements formed following Kahane's assassination were proclaimed illegal terrorist organizations in 1994 and the groups subsequently disbanded. The banning of Kahanist groups is highly controversial. The banning stemmed from the explicit mention of the Arab population as enemies of the Jews who should be removed from Israel. Kahanists however deny any inherent racism and explain that the call to remove Arabs is based on the reality of Arab-Israeli Conflict and not on any inherent racism towards Arabs. Critics of the banning note that parties who have called for and subsequently carried out the Forced Removal Of Jews have not been called racist let alone banned. ALLEGED KAHANIST ACTIONS IN ISRAEL AND THE WEST BANK sign says ''rofe'' (" Doctor") ] Dr. Baruch Goldstein See Also: Mosque of Abraham massacre The deadliest attack was when Baruch Goldstein , affiliated with Kach through the JDL , killed 29 Arabs at the Cave Of The Patriarchs in Hebron , in 1994 . After this attack, members of Kach praised Goldstein's actions, and in the insuing political turmoil, the Knesset banned Kach in Israel. Kahanists believe the attack prevented a repeat of the 1929 Arab Massacre of Hebron 's Jews. Suspected Kahanist violence Roadside shootings, stabbings and grenade attacks against Palestinians have been carried out in Jerusalem and the West Bank by individuals or groups suspected of having ties to the former Kach group. Aliases such as "The Committee for the Safety of the Roads" "The Sword of David" and "The Repression of Traitors" have been used. There is no evidence that real organizations with these names exist. The US government, claims that these are all aliases of " Kach ", [http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rpt/fto/2801.htm#kach . Eden Natan-Zada On August 4 , 2005 , Eden Natan-Zada , an AWOL Israel Defense Forces soldier, murdered four Israeli Arab citizens and wounded several others when he opened fire on a bus in the northern Israeli town of Shfaram . Natan-Zada then surrendered to police who turned him over to an angry Arab crowd. Natan-Zada was beaten and killed by the mob. He had originally become involved with Kahanist activists via the Internet , and hid from service in the religious West Bank settlement of Kfar Tapuach , home of deceased ''Kahane Chai'' leader Binyamin Kahane . No group has taken credit for Natan-Zada's attack or claimed that he was acting on their wishes, and members of the Kfar Tapuach community have condemned his attack against Arab civilians. KAHANISM IN THE USA The main Kahanist group in the United States is the Kahane Movement which was formed by former members of Kahane Chai after the latter disbanded. The Jewish Defense League is associated with Kahanism having been founded by Rabbi Kahane, however its focus is the protection of Jewish communities from attacks by street thugs and anti-semites. It is not directly involved in Kahanist politics and openly supports mainstream democracy in Israel. typically rejected by Kahanists. Another group in the United States with Kahanist leanings is the Jewish Task Force (JTF), which splits its political ideological focus between Israel and America. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
Kahanist and Kahane related websites
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