The religious Zionist ideology that moved from banned terrorist group to parliamentary seats
Once a movement so controversial it was outlawed as racist, Kahanism has resurfaced in the highest levels of Israeli governance. Explore the turbulent history of an ideology that seeks a theocratic state and continues to spark intense international debate.
Kahanism is a religious Zionist ideology founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane, who advocated for a Jewish state governed by Halakha law. His vision included stripping non-Jews of national rights, relegating them to the status of 'resident strangers.' Kahane believed that most Arabs within Israel's borders were inherent enemies of the Jewish people, a stance that led to his party, Kach, being banned from Israeli elections in 1985.
The movement's history is marked by significant violence and legal prohibitions. Following Kahane's 1990 assassination by El-Sayyid A. Nosair, his followers splintered into groups like Kahane Chai and Kach. By 1994, the Israeli government declared these groups illegal terrorist organizations, particularly following the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, where Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Muslim worshippers. While the U.S. Department of State designated Kach a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2004, the group was removed from the U.S. terror blacklist in 2022 due to insufficient evidence of ongoing activity, though it remains a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity.
Despite these bans, Kahanist elements have regained political influence. The Otzma Yehudit party, a descendant of these movements, won six seats in the 2022 Israeli elections, contributing to what is considered the most right-wing government in the nation's history. The movement's presence remains a point of deep friction; while some scholars describe it as religious nationalism, others, including various news organizations, have characterized it as a form of fascism or white supremacy.
Source: Kahanism
