Political Violence and Extremism in Israel

Q1

The Factors of Political Violence

Religion does not constitute a silver bullet explanation for political violence, as there are a multitude of factors that contribute to radical action. For example, there are economic, social, or geopolitical causes that can lead people to take up arms and engage in violent action (Collins, 2009). Religion may instill a sense of identity and purpose for certain groups, and these can be used to justify violent actions. However, it is important to consider the other factors that are at play when analyzing why people engage in politically violent actions.

Still, in addition to the economic, social, and geopolitical factors that can lead people to engage in political violence, religion can also play an important role. Religion can provide a sense of identity and purpose for certain groups, and this can be used to justify violent actions (Zaidise et al., 2007). In some cases, religious beliefs can be manipulated to create an us vs. them mentality, which is often associated with increased radicalization. Furthermore, religious leaders may use their positions to incite violence or be seen as supporting those who do so. Thus, while religion is not a silver bullet explanation for political violence, it can be an important factor that contributes to it.

For instance, in Israel, there is a growing tension between religious and political groups. For example, the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has increasingly embraced religious nationalism, which is at odds with the democratic values of the state of Israel. This has led to clashes between different religious and political groups, including protests against the governments policies on military service and other issues. Additionally, religious leaders have been accused of inciting violence by using their positions to encourage extremism. This has caused further tension in the country and has become a source of concern for many Israelis.

Relationship between Religion and Political Violence

The relationship between religion and political violence is complex and often contested. There are a number of forms of political violence such as terrorism, civil war, insurgency, and genocide, and religion can be a factor in each of these. For example, in the case of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, religious identity plays an important role in the ongoing tensions (Zaidise et al., 2007). Similarly, in the case of the Rwandan genocide, religious identity was a key factor in determining who was targeted. It is important to consider the diversity of religious traditions and the complexity of religious identity in order to understand how religion can be related to political violence.

In Israel, religious identity has been used as a factor in political violence. For instance, the ongoing conflict between Israeli and Palestinian groups has been deeply affected by religious identity. Religious leaders from both sides of the conflict have used their positions to incite violence and call for extreme action. Additionally, religious nationalism has been a source of tension, as the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has embraced religious values that are seen as a threat to the democratic values of the state by secular political leaders (Zaidise et al., 2007). Secular political leaders and groups in Israel who feel threatened by ultra-orthodox religious groups include the Labor Party, the Meretz Party, the Likud Party, the Yesh Atid Party, and the Blue and White Party. In addition, there are several non-governmental organizations such as Hiddush and the Israel Democracy Institute that are actively working to protect Israeli democracy from what they view as the growing power of religious extremists. Yet for the ultra-Orthodox, their religious views are not extreme but rather an important part of their Jewish identity that connects them to what they feel is their ancient and sacred history and heritage.

Still, because the region is claimed by so many different religious groups, from Jews to Christians to Muslims, religious symbols and sites have also been used as rallying points for political violence, such as when Palestinian demonstrators gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to protest Israeli policies. All of these examples demonstrate how religion can be a factor in political violence in Israel. But what is ultimately the motivation is the sense of identity, the sense of having a right to a place, the sense of power (or not having...…has tried to suppress the BDS movement through legal measures, such as passing laws to limit boycotts of Israeli companies and organizations, and engaging in a public relations campaign to discredit the movement (Zanotti et al., 2017). Both sides in the BDS clash view the other as acting from a standpoint of political violence.

Still other specific examples of political violence in Israel include armed clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Religious-based political violence includes incidents of settler attacks on Palestinians and their property, as well as clashes between Israeli police and ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting the enforcement of public health regulations. On the economic side, sanctions and embargoes have been imposed on businesses and organizations deemed to be hostile to Israel, while religious divisions have been used to perpetuate discriminatory practices such as gender segregation and unequal access to resources.

How Forms of Political Violence Have Changed

In one sense, forms of political violence have changed in the contemporary Israeli case study. For example, in the past, political violence was mainly expressed through armed struggle, and through terroristic bombings, i.e., the King David Hotel in Jerusalem was bombed during the British Mandate in 1946. The bombing was carried out by the Irgun, a Zionist paramilitary organization, in protest of British policy in Palestine. The bombing resulted in 91 people being killed and 46 people being injured.

In more recent times, there has been an increase in targeted attacks on individuals, such as the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist opposed to the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. The assassin, Yigal Amir, believed that the agreements would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the recognition of Palestinian claims to land in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He viewed Rabin's actions as treasonous and acted in order to prevent the implementation of the accords. This latter event it could be argued marked a shift away from more conventional forms of political violence such as bombings and riots, towards a more targeted…