Zionism is Over

From Arutz-7:

Manhigut Yehudit Leader: Zionism is Over
16:09 Mar 29, '05 / 18 Adar 5765

"The era of Zionism has ended, and the State of Israel will soon be built upon Judaism." So said Moti Karpel, a leader of the Likud's Manhigut Yehudit faction, at the Jerusalem Conference on Monday.


Karpel, a founder of the Manhigut movement and former editor of its bi-weekly publication, said that he notes the end of Zionism "not with joy, but rather with concern. If we don't find the way to deal with this, we are liable to deteriorate to destruction."

"Leaders are openly trampling on Zionism," he said. "They have no answers of substance... Zionism not only does not know how to deal with the problems, but it actually creates the problems. [For instance,] we don't have a real problem with the Arabs – the problem is caused only by the psychology of the Jews."

How does he view the future of the State of Israel? "In the future, the basis of the State will be Judaism. I am not referring to a religious state. I don't think that the entire nation can observe the Shulhan Arukh [the Code of Jewish Law], based on the current situation; it's not realistic. But most of the Jewish public recognizes its Jewish identity. There are certain mitzvoth [Torah commandments] that are considered 'mitzvot of identity' that obligate everyone to test the level of his Jewish identity."

To strengthen Israel's Jewish identity, Karpel said that the State of Israel must "imbue its youth with Jewish consciousness, and not to suffice merely with Zionist ideology. The basis of Zionist ideology has slipped away; it was relevant to specific conditions before and after the Holocaust."