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| ] Meir Kahane.]] | ] Meir Kahane.]] | ||
| '''Meir David Kahane''' (]: מאיר דוד כהנא, ''Kahane'' being a variation on ] or "priest") (], ]–], ]), was an ] ] ], author, political activist, and eventually a member of the ]i ]. On both sides of the ] |
'''Meir David Kahane''' (]: מאיר דוד כהנא, ''Kahane'' being a variation on ] or "priest") (], ]–], ]), was an ] ] ], author, political activist, and eventually a member of the ]i ]. On both sides of the ] Kahane was known for his strong political and nationalist views of a theocratic and ethnically pure "Greater Israel". Kahane founded two controversial movements: the ] (JDL) in the United States and the ] ]. The latter was eventually declared a ] party by the Israeli government and removed from the ] in ], and of being a terrorist organization by the ]. | ||
| ==Ideology== | ==Ideology== | ||
| Kahane's overall views have been called ]. Kahane believed that |
Kahane's overall views have been called ]. Kahane believed that there is no such thing as a ] people; that in fact the people who call themselves Palestinian are a mixture of disparate and unrelated Arab clans with no claim to ethnic identity, and that all native Palestinian Arabs seek the ] of the Israelis. Thus Kahane proposed the forcible deportation of all Arabs from all lands controlled by the Israeli government. His plans clearly advocated the ] of all Arab Palestinians from their native lands, although not outright ]. In his view, evicting all Palestinians (even ]s), from their native lands in ] and the ] was the only acceptable solution to the ] and to the ]. | ||
| Kahane also believed that Israel should become a ] governed purely by orthodox Jewish law known as the ]. He hoped that the Israeli government would pass laws, including a ban on all sexual relations between Jews and non-Jews. Critics have compared this measure to Nazi Germany's ]; however, supporters say Kahane was protecting ] values and the integrity of the Jewish nation |
Kahane also believed that Israel should become a ] governed purely by orthodox Jewish law known as the ]. He hoped that the Israeli government would pass laws, including ] ideas such as a ban on all sexual relations between Jews and non-Jews. Critics have compared this measure to Nazi Germany's ] and ] program; however, supporters say Kahane was protecting ] values and the integrity of the Jewish nation. See: ]. | ||
| ==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
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| Kahane was born in ], in ]. He came from a family that adhered to ]. His father, Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Kahane, was born in ], ] in ] and studied in ] in ] and ]. Later he emigrated to America, where he served as rabbi of two congregations. Meir Kahane received ] from the ] in Brooklyn. He was fully conversant with the ] and ], and worked as a pulpit rabbi and teacher in the 1960s. Subsequently, he earned a degree in ] from ]. | Kahane was born in ], in ]. He came from a family that adhered to ]. His father, Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Kahane, was born in ], ] in ] and studied in ] in ] and ]. Later he emigrated to America, where he served as rabbi of two congregations. Meir Kahane received ] from the ] in Brooklyn. He was fully conversant with the ] and ], and worked as a pulpit rabbi and teacher in the 1960s. Subsequently, he earned a degree in ] from ]. | ||
| As a teenager he became an admirer of ], who was a frequent guest in his parents' home, and joined the youth wing of ] called '']''. He personally led protests against ] the British ] who |
As a teenager he became an admirer of ], who was a frequent guest in his parents' home, and joined the youth wing of ] called '']''. He personally led protests against ] the British ] who opposed the foundation of Israel on the grounds that Britain should not appease Zionist terrorism at the expense of the Palestinian people and their aspirations for an independent State. Kahane also organized and launched public demonstrations in the US against the ]'s policy of persecuting Zionist activists and curbing Jewish immigration to Israel. He was a central activist in the "Free Soviet (Russian) Jewry" movement and is widely credited with the release and subsequent return of the Russian ]s to Israel. | ||
| During the ], Kahane joined the ] and worked undercover in ] against anti-] movements. He presented himself as Michael King, a ] journalist . | During the ], Kahane joined the ] and worked undercover in ] against anti-] movements. He presented himself as Michael King, a ] journalist . | ||
| Kahane founded the ] (JDL) in ] in response to threats of violence against Jews by the ] and members of the ] movement of the 1960s. The JDL is widely viewed as |
Kahane founded the ] (JDL) in ] in response to threats of violence against Jews by the ] and members of the ] movement of the 1960s. The JDL is widely viewed as a terrorist organization, and in September, 2005, one of its leaders was convicted of masterminding a bomb plot against a prominent U.S. mosque. | ||
| Kahane was also in contact with |
Kahane was also in contact with ], head of the Colombo ] family, and was with him in ] when Colombo was shot dead by the Gallo family. Kahane confirmed his connections in an interview he gave to ] in ]. | ||
| Kahane was an editor of the largest Anglo-Jewish weekly, Brooklyn's ''] |
In the 1960s Kahane was an editor of the largest Anglo-Jewish weekly, Brooklyn's '']'' and was a regular correspondent for that paper until his death. He appeared often on American radio and television. | ||
| ==Israel== | ==Israel== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| In ] he emigrated from the United States |
In ] he emigrated from the United States to Israel (known as "making ]" in Judaism). He quickly moved to establish the ]. In ] Kahane stood unsuccessfully for election to the ], after which he was sentenced to six months in prison for plotting to attack the ] mosque. Upon his release, in ] Kahane stood again for election to the Knesset, and was finally successful. The Central Elections Committee banned him from being a candidate on charges of racism, but the Israeli High Court found that the Committee did not have the legal power to do so. | ||
| It is notable that at his trial Kahane refused to accept the standard ] for the Knesset, insisting on adding ] quotations to it. In a later session, the Knesset Chairman demanded that Kahane repeat his oath. | |||
| Throughout his term as Knesset member, Kahane and his followers made several public visits to Arab communities, and cities such as ] with co-Arab and Jewish populations. During his visit to Um-El-Fahm, he intended to publicly invite the Arabs to leave the country; 30,000 Arabs turned up for a counter demonstration, and 1,000 policemen were called to secure the event, which was followed by a violent confrontation with dozens of Arabs injured, and the arrest of Kahane. Kahane said that the ] legitimizes non-Jews being transfered out of the land of Israel. | Throughout his term as Knesset member, Kahane and his followers made several public visits to Arab communities, and cities such as ] with co-Arab and Jewish populations. During his visit to Um-El-Fahm, he intended to publicly invite the Arabs to leave the country; 30,000 Arabs turned up for a counter demonstration, and 1,000 policemen were called to secure the event, which was followed by a violent confrontation with dozens of Arabs injured, and the arrest of Kahane. Kahane said that the ] legitimizes non-Jews being transfered out of the land of Israel. | ||
| Kahane's legislation proposals centered on revoking Israeli citizenship from non-Jews, and banning Jewish-Gentile marriages or sexual relations. These proposals were dubbed "]" by his |
Kahane's legislation proposals centered on revoking Israeli citizenship from non-Jews, and banning Jewish-Gentile marriages or sexual relations. These proposals were dubbed "]" by his opponents. He defended his positions citing Jewish religious doctrine regarding the ]. | ||
| Kahane was shunned in the Knesset. His speeches were boycotted by Knesset members and were made to an empty parliament, except for the duty chairman. Kahane's legislation proposals (and motions of no-confidence in the Government) were all rejected by vote, until the Knesset modified its charter to outlaw legislation proposals, not requiring rejection by vote. Kahane himself called the other Knesset members "Hellenists" (in ] |
Kahane was shunned in the Knesset. His speeches were boycotted by Knesset members and were made to an empty parliament, except for the duty chairman. Kahane's legislation proposals (and motions of no-confidence in the Government) were all rejected by vote, until the Knesset modified its charter to outlaw legislation proposals, not requiring rejection by vote. Kahane himself called the other Knesset members "Hellenists" (in ]; this is a historical term glommed from Jewish religious texts for ancient Jews who assimilated into ] after ]s occupation by ]. Jewish religious books assert that "Hellenists" were responsible for weakening the Jewish relationship to God. | ||
| In ] the Knesset passed an |
In ] the Knesset passed an amendment to Israel's ]: The Knesset banned "racist" candidates from standing for election. The Committee applied it to Kahane, who appealed against the decision to the Israeli High Court. This time the Court found in favour of the Committee, declaring Kahane to be unsuitable for election. Kahane asserted that the reason for the Kach party ban was that polls showed it about to become the third largest party in Israel. | ||
| ==Assassination== | ==Assassination== | ||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
| ==Political legacy continued== | ==Political legacy continued== | ||
| For a while ''Kach'' and ''Kahanism'' seemed to have disappeared, but several small fractions reemerged, one under the name of ''Kach'' and the other ''Kahane chai'' (Hebrew: כהנא חי, literally "Kahane lives "). In ] following the ], Israeli government declared both to be ] organizations. Details can be found at and . | For a while ''Kach'' and ''Kahanism'' seemed to have disappeared, but several small fractions reemerged, one under the name of ''Kach'' and the other ''Kahane chai'' (Hebrew: כהנא חי, literally "Kahane lives "). In ] following the ], the Israeli government declared both to be ] organizations. Details can be found at and . | ||
| ==Son killed== | ==Son killed== | ||
Revision as of 05:44, 24 September 2005
Meir David Kahane (Hebrew: מאיר דוד כהנא, Kahane being a variation on Cohen or "priest") (August 1, 1932–November 5, 1990), was an American Orthodox rabbi, author, political activist, and eventually a member of the Israeli Knesset. On both sides of the Atlantic Kahane was known for his strong political and nationalist views of a theocratic and ethnically pure "Greater Israel". Kahane founded two controversial movements: the Jewish Defense League (JDL) in the United States and the Kach political party in Israel. The latter was eventually declared a racist party by the Israeli government and removed from the Knesset in 1988, and of being a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
Ideology
Kahane's overall views have been called Kahanism. Kahane believed that there is no such thing as a Palestinian people; that in fact the people who call themselves Palestinian are a mixture of disparate and unrelated Arab clans with no claim to ethnic identity, and that all native Palestinian Arabs seek the genocide of the Israelis. Thus Kahane proposed the forcible deportation of all Arabs from all lands controlled by the Israeli government. His plans clearly advocated the ethnic cleansing of all Arab Palestinians from their native lands, although not outright genocide. In his view, evicting all Palestinians (even Israeli Arabs), from their native lands in Israel and the West Bank was the only acceptable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Kahane also believed that Israel should become a theocracy governed purely by orthodox Jewish law known as the Halakha. He hoped that the Israeli government would pass laws, including eugenicist ideas such as a ban on all sexual relations between Jews and non-Jews. Critics have compared this measure to Nazi Germany's Nuremberg Laws and eugenics program; however, supporters say Kahane was protecting Torah values and the integrity of the Jewish nation. See: Jewish view of marriage.
Early life
Kahane was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1932. He came from a family that adhered to Orthodox Judaism. His father, Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Kahane, was born in Safed, Israel in 1905 and studied in yeshivot in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Later he emigrated to America, where he served as rabbi of two congregations. Meir Kahane received rabbinical ordination from the Mir yeshiva in Brooklyn. He was fully conversant with the Talmud and Tanakh, and worked as a pulpit rabbi and teacher in the 1960s. Subsequently, he earned a degree in international law from New York University.
As a teenager he became an admirer of Zeev Jabotinsky, who was a frequent guest in his parents' home, and joined the youth wing of Revisionist Zionism called Betar. He personally led protests against Ernest Bevin the British Foreign Secretary who opposed the foundation of Israel on the grounds that Britain should not appease Zionist terrorism at the expense of the Palestinian people and their aspirations for an independent State. Kahane also organized and launched public demonstrations in the US against the Soviet Union's policy of persecuting Zionist activists and curbing Jewish immigration to Israel. He was a central activist in the "Free Soviet (Russian) Jewry" movement and is widely credited with the release and subsequent return of the Russian refuseniks to Israel.
During the 1960s, Kahane joined the FBI and worked undercover in COINTELPRO against anti-Vietnam war movements. He presented himself as Michael King, a Presbyterian journalist .
Kahane founded the Jewish Defense League (JDL) in 1968 in response to threats of violence against Jews by the Black Panthers and members of the Black Power movement of the 1960s. The JDL is widely viewed as a terrorist organization, and in September, 2005, one of its leaders was convicted of masterminding a bomb plot against a prominent U.S. mosque.
Kahane was also in contact with Joe Colombo, head of the Colombo mafia family, and was with him in 1971 when Colombo was shot dead by the Gallo family. Kahane confirmed his connections in an interview he gave to Playboy magazine in 1972.
In the 1960s Kahane was an editor of the largest Anglo-Jewish weekly, Brooklyn's The Jewish Press and was a regular correspondent for that paper until his death. He appeared often on American radio and television.
Israel
In 1971 he emigrated from the United States to Israel (known as "making aliyah" in Judaism). He quickly moved to establish the Kach Party. In 1980 Kahane stood unsuccessfully for election to the Knesset, after which he was sentenced to six months in prison for plotting to attack the Al Aqsa mosque. Upon his release, in 1984 Kahane stood again for election to the Knesset, and was finally successful. The Central Elections Committee banned him from being a candidate on charges of racism, but the Israeli High Court found that the Committee did not have the legal power to do so.
It is notable that at his trial Kahane refused to accept the standard oath of office for the Knesset, insisting on adding Biblical quotations to it. In a later session, the Knesset Chairman demanded that Kahane repeat his oath.
Throughout his term as Knesset member, Kahane and his followers made several public visits to Arab communities, and cities such as Hebron with co-Arab and Jewish populations. During his visit to Um-El-Fahm, he intended to publicly invite the Arabs to leave the country; 30,000 Arabs turned up for a counter demonstration, and 1,000 policemen were called to secure the event, which was followed by a violent confrontation with dozens of Arabs injured, and the arrest of Kahane. Kahane said that the Torah legitimizes non-Jews being transfered out of the land of Israel.
Kahane's legislation proposals centered on revoking Israeli citizenship from non-Jews, and banning Jewish-Gentile marriages or sexual relations. These proposals were dubbed "Nuremberg Laws" by his opponents. He defended his positions citing Jewish religious doctrine regarding the Jewish marriage.
Kahane was shunned in the Knesset. His speeches were boycotted by Knesset members and were made to an empty parliament, except for the duty chairman. Kahane's legislation proposals (and motions of no-confidence in the Government) were all rejected by vote, until the Knesset modified its charter to outlaw legislation proposals, not requiring rejection by vote. Kahane himself called the other Knesset members "Hellenists" (in Hebrew; this is a historical term glommed from Jewish religious texts for ancient Jews who assimilated into Greek culture after Judeas occupation by Alexander the Great. Jewish religious books assert that "Hellenists" were responsible for weakening the Jewish relationship to God.
In 1985 the Knesset passed an amendment to Israel's Basic Law: The Knesset banned "racist" candidates from standing for election. The Committee applied it to Kahane, who appealed against the decision to the Israeli High Court. This time the Court found in favour of the Committee, declaring Kahane to be unsuitable for election. Kahane asserted that the reason for the Kach party ban was that polls showed it about to become the third largest party in Israel.
Assassination
While concluding a speech in Manhattan New York, Kahane was murdered by El Sayyid Nosair, a member of an Arab terrorist cell operating in New York in 1990. According to prosecutors, a man named Wadih el Hage purchased the .38 caliber revolver used by Nosair. El-Hage was told by a man named Mahmud Abouhalima to buy the gun. Nosair was acquitted of murder because no witness actually saw him pull the trigger, but he was convicted of gun charges.
Nosair was later convicted as part of the trial of the blind sheik Omar Abdel Rahman. Both of them received life sentences for the World Trade Center bombing and an overall conspiracy to blow up the World Trade Center, several Brooklyn bridges, and to assassinate several politicians. Nosair actually received life plus 15 years of imprisonment.. Since it was ruled that Kahane's death was part of the total "seditious conspiracy," Nosair was finally convicted of killing Kahane.
Political legacy continued
For a while Kach and Kahanism seemed to have disappeared, but several small fractions reemerged, one under the name of Kach and the other Kahane chai (Hebrew: כהנא חי, literally "Kahane lives "). In 1994 following the massacre in the Cave of the Patriarchs, the Israeli government declared both to be terrorist organizations. Details can be found at and .
Son killed
Meir Kahane's son, Kahane Chai leader Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane, along with his wife Talya were murdered in a Palestinian machine gun attack on December 31, 2000, as they were driving with their children from Jerusalem to their home in Kfar Tapuach, Samaria (northern West Bank). It is unknown if the attackers knew that they were in fact attacking Binyamin Kahane (making him the victim of a political assassination like his father) or if the younger Kahanes happened to be victims of an ambush perpetrated by ongoing Palestinian terrorism at the time.
External links
- Kahane and the Jewish Defense League by the Anti-Defamation League
- Official Kahane Home Page
- Biography of Rabbi Meir Kahane, by followers of Rabbi Kahane
- Jewish Defense League Home Page.
- "Terrorist Group" Profiles of Kach and Kahane Chai
- International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism: Kach and Kahane Chai
- Crime Library article on Kahane: His killing starts Islamic violence
- Jewish Task Force, a Kahanist organization
- Rabbi Kahane's book Uncomfortable Questions for Comfortable Jews, complete edition
- Kahane, Israel: Revolution or Referendum?,