Kahanism

Not to be confused with Jewish-Nazism.

"I say the Arabs must leave Israel, precisely because I believe if the Arabs stay, they'll become the 'good Arabs' as I understand the term."

Meir Kahane

Kahanism is an ethnonationalist, religious, highly authoritarian, irredentist, and culturally and economically far-right ideology based on the views and thoughts of Rabbi Meir Kahane;

• Aliyah: All Jews should live in Israel.
• Anti-Semitism: Anti-Semitism should be fought immediately and by all means necessary.
• Democracy: Kahane wrote that a theocracy should exist in Israel where voting is for Jews only.
• Violence: Believes that hate and violence were terrible but terribly necessary at the right time and place.
• Religion: Kahane wrote that every Jew should have enough Torah knowledge to be a qualified rabbi.
• State: Israel should invade all of the land of greater Israel.

History

Meir Kahane

Meir Kahane (1932–1990) was an American-Israeli rabbi, far-right political activist, and founder of the militant Jewish Defense League (JDL) in 1968, which aimed to combat antisemitism through aggressive means. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he became known for his strong nationalist views and belief in Jewish self-defense. In the 1970s, Kahane moved to Israel, where he founded the extremist Kach party, advocating for the expulsion of Arabs from Israel and the establishment of a theocratic Jewish state governed by Jewish law (halakha). He was elected to the Israeli Knesset in 1984 but was banned from politics in 1988 for inciting racism. Kahane's ideology, known as Kahanism, was widely condemned as extremist. He was assassinated in 1990 in New York City by an Egyptian gunman, but his ideas continue to influence radical factions in Israeli and Jewish politics.

Kach Party

Early Founding and Electoral Success

The Kach Party was founded by Meir Kahane in 1971, promoting an extreme form of Jewish nationalism called Kahanism. Initially, Kach operated at the political fringes of Israeli society, but its influence grew amid rising tensions during the 1970s and 1980s. Kahane gained notoriety for incendiary speeches and provocative acts, which resonated with some Israeli voters frustrated by the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. In 1984, Kach won its first and only Knesset seat, with Kahane himself entering parliament. However, his tenure was marked by controversy; Kahane openly promoted racist policies, such as segregating Arabs from Jews and stripping non-Jews of Israeli citizenship.

Banning

In 1988, Israel’s Central Elections Committee disqualified Kach from participating in elections, citing laws against incitement to racism. The Israeli Supreme Court upheld this decision, effectively banning the party. After Kahane’s assassination in 1990 in New York City, the party splintered into factions, with Kahane Chai (Kahane Lives) emerging as a successor.

Cave of Patriarch Massacre

Following the 1994 Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, in which Kach supporter Baruch Goldstein murdered 29 Palestinian worshippers in Hebron, both Kach and Kahane Chai were designated terrorist organizations by Israel, the United States, Canada, and the European Union. Despite their outlawed status, remnants of Kahanist ideology persist among fringe groups and extremist settlers in Israel, continuing to influence radical elements of Israeli politics and society.

Modern Day

Today, while Kahanist organizations remain banned in their original form, the ideology survives through political rebranding, settler activism, and individuals like Ben-Gvir who have successfully entered the Israeli Knesset.

Variants

Jewish Defense League

The Jewish Defense League (JDL) is a far-right Jewish nationalist organization founded in 1968 by Rabbi Meir Kahane in New York. It was initially created to address antisemitic attacks on Jewish communities but later became known for its controversial and often violent tactics. The JDL's slogan, "Never Again," reflected its justification for using militant actions to protect Jewish interests, particularly against perceived threats like antisemitism and Soviet oppression of Jews.

Over the years, JDL leaders have been implicated in numerous criminal activities. Notable incidents include the assassination of Meir Kahane in 1990 and the 2002 arrest of JDL leader Irv Rubin for plotting to bomb a California mosque and the office of a congressman of Arab descent. Rubin's subsequent death in jail and internal conflicts further weakened the group's influence. Today, while its presence in the U.S. has diminished, the JDL remains active in other countries like Canada and parts of Europe.

Otzma Yehudit

Otzma Yehudit is based on Jewish ultranationalist views, usually based on the views of Ben-Gvir, Aryeh Eldad and Michael Ben-Ari (the latter being more radical);

• Aryeh Eldad - Aryeh Eldad is an Israeli physician and later politician, later a member of the Knesset for the Otzma Yehudit party and the National Union and founder of Hatikva. His political views are also present in Hatikva, based on the formation of a great Israel and that the creation of a Palestinian state would lead to a reign of terror and would be strongly an ultranationalist, anti-Arab and revisionist Zionism, even believing in secularism as We Will . He is also anti-Nazi, pro-marijuana legalization and pro-economic liberalism.
• Michael Ben-Ari - Michael Ben-Ari is an Israeli archaeologist and politician, also a former member of the Knesset, known for his radical views as well as being a strong follower of Kahane and co-founder of Otzma Yehudit. His views are based on Kahane's core beliefs (so much so that he was a former member of Kach), mixing them with anti-Christianity, anti-Arabism, ultranationalism, and anti-Black racism.
  • Anti-Christianity: It is strongly anti-Christian, in which it tore up the New Testament and referred to it as a despicable and rubbish book of history, as well as criticizing the visit of Pope Benedict XVI as an offense to the victims of the holocaust.
  • Ultranationalism and anti-Arabism: He is extremely ultranationalist, in which he positioned himself in favor of Israel's attacks against Palestine, in addition to having stated that "Those who pity their enemies end up being cruel with their own people. Those who are cruel to their enemies really love their own people."
  • Black Anti-Racism: He blamed the increase in violence against illegal South Danes refugees, being against illegal immigrants.

He was also arrested in 2009 after getting on an army truck and refusing to get off in a political act.

Ben-Gvirism'

Itamar Ben-Gvir is an Israeli far-right politician, lawyer, and leader of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party as well as being the Israeli National Minsiter of Security under Netanyahu's government. Born in 1976 in Jerusalem, Ben-Gvir is a prominent disciple of the late extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane and his ideology of Kahanism, which advocates for a Jewish-dominated state and the expulsion of Arabs deemed "disloyal" to Israel.

Ben-Gvir gained notoriety as a lawyer representing radical Jewish activists, including individuals accused of violence and hate crimes. His political career has been marked by controversy due to his inflammatory rhetoric and actions. Once marginalized, Ben-Gvir successfully mainstreamed his political movement, capitalizing on Israel's rightward political shift over the last few decades. His party Otzma Yehudit aligns with Religious Zionism and holds significant influence in Israel's current political landscape.

Despite once displaying pictures of Baruch Goldstein (the perpetrator of the 1994 Hebron massacre), Ben-Gvir has attempted to moderate his image to appeal to a broader electorate. Nevertheless, he continues to promote policies that target Arab citizens and Palestinians, contributing to his controversial status both domestically and internationally. His rise reflects a significant transformation in Israeli politics, where far-right ideologies have gained wider acceptance in mainstream discourse.

Neo-Zionism

Neo-Zionism is a political and ideological movement that emerged in Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War, blending traditional Zionism with more religious, nationalist, and expansionist elements. It emphasizes Jewish sovereignty over the entire Land of Israel, including the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, territories captured during the war. Neo-Zionism often rejects the idea of a two-state solution and promotes Jewish settlement in these areas, viewing them as a fulfillment of biblical and historical claims. The movement is closely associated with religious Zionists, right-wing politics, and settler groups who see Jewish presence in these lands as a divine mandate.

• Daniella Weiss - Daniella Weiss is a prominent Israeli activist and political figure known for her leadership in the Israeli settler movement. She has been a vocal advocate for expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank, aligning with the ideology of Greater Israel, which emphasizes Israel's biblical borders. Weiss served as the mayor of Kedumim, one of the earliest settlements established in the West Bank, and has played a key role in encouraging further settlement activity, even in areas considered illegal under Israeli law. She also has been involved with organizations like the Gush Emunim movement, which emerged in the 1970s to promote Jewish settlement in the territories captured during the Six-Day War.

Goldstein Kahanism

Goldstein Kahanism was the ideology of Baruch Goldstein, the perpetrator of the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre. Israeli extremists commonly idolize and worship Goldstein, praising him as a hero. Many copycat attacks occured.

• Baruch Goldstein - Baruch Goldstein was an extremist murderous terrorist following Meir Kahane, responsible for the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, in which 30 people died (including him). He was also a strong opponent of democracy, comparing it to Nazism.

The Cave of the Patriarchs massacre took place in 1994 on Purim Day at the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs), in which he donned a military uniform and opened fire, killing 29 people, including children. It generated immediate protests and riots in the massacre, in which Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin even called the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, calling Goldstein a "disgusting and criminal act of murder" and decreed a curfew of 120,000 Palestinians to prevent further deaths, being disowned by both Muslims and most Jews.

After the massacre, there were several inspired incidents, which took place in the USA and Israel. Kach was classified as a terrorist organization and its members form prisoners, in addition to being repudiated by Israeli politicians and public, so much so that Netanyahu stated that "This was a despicable crime. I express my unequivocal condemnation". Hamas also began targeting innocent civilians in Israel because of the massacre, fueling extremism. Even though he was widely repudiated by Jews, there were some more extremists who began to venerate and worship the figure of Goldstein, calling him the "hero of Israel", in addition to having created a shrine in his tomb, which was later removed for fear of extremism.

Beliefs

Meir Kahane belived that;

• Aliyah: All Jews should live in Israel.
• Anti-Semitism: Anti-Semitism should be fought immediately and by all means necessary.
• Democracy: Kahane wrote that a theocracy should exist in Israel where voting is for Jews only.
• Violence: Believes that hate and violence were terrible but terribly necessary at the right time and place.
• Religion: Kahane wrote that every Jew should have enough Torah knowledge to be a qualified rabbi.
• State: Israel should invade all of the land of greater Israel.

Religion

Kahane was a religious Zionist, as he called for the creation of a Jewish theocratic state in Israel. In this state, Jewish religious law, also known as Halakha, would be enforced by the government. Also in this society, non-Jews would have limited rights, as they would be given a status of "resident strangers". If they refused this status, they would be required to leave the country. Kahane and the Kach believed that Jewish national identity would be promoted in schools, and opposed interreligious marriage between Jews and Gentiles.

Democracy and State

Kahane opposed Western-stye democracy, as he viewed it as incompatible with Judaism and Zionism. In a interview, Kahane stated: "One absolutely cannot confuse them. The objective of a democratic state is to allow a person to do exactly as he wishes. The objective of Judaism is to serve God and to make people better. These are two totally opposite conceptions of life."

Kahane supported an authoritarian state, with press freedom being restricted.

Nationalism and ethnic views

Kahane believed in a extreme form of Jewish nationalism. Kahane believed in ethnic nationalism, as he held xenophobic views towards Arabs. Kahane advocated for the segregation of Jewish and Arabs neighborhoods, and the ending of cultural meetings between Jews and Arabs. Kahane infamously called for Arabs to depart from Israel, proposing a compensation plan for Arabs that would leave voluntarily, and for the expulsion of Arabs who refused to leave.

He also called for all Jews, especially if religious, to migrate to Israel in order to help establish a much more powerful Jewish state.

Irredentism and Foreign Policy

Kahanism is a irredentist ideology. Kahanism advocates for Israel adopt an expansionist foreign policy in order to establish "Greater Israel", a biblical territory that would encompass parts of several Middle Eastern countries, such as Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon. Similar to other irredentist ideologies, Kahanism is jingoistic in nature, as it calls for Israel to use military force in order to supposedly insure protection of Jews from terrorism and to establish power over other countries in the Middle East.

Kahanists advocate for Israel to withdraw from the UN, hostility to Muslim and Arab states, a special 'Aliyah' department set up to help Jews immigrate to Israel, as well as forcing Germany and Austria to pay reparations.

Violence

Kahane, and Kahanists in general, believe that while violence is terrible, they were also terribly necessary at the right place and time, especially regarding antisemetism. As a result, many terrorist attacks carried out by Kahanists took place, including by Baruch Goldstein, the perpetrator of 1994 Caves of Patriarchs massacre which killed 29 people, as well as several other terrorist attacks.

Many Israeli settlers also invoke violence, mostly against palestinian villages and civilians.

Economics

Meir Kahane and the Kach party generally supported economically-liberal economics, with very limited regulation and market intervention, alongside an authoritarian state. They also wanted for their to be an implementation of Jewish orthodox religion in the economy. Meir Kahane and the Kach Party also were staunchly anti-communist, viewing it as destroying Jewish culture and religion. Taxes will be cut, and capital investment welcome.

Despite this, the Kach Party supported economic nationalism, although many foreign companies and investments would be allowed.. Minimum wages will be raised to high levels, and underemployment compensation limited only to those who are incapable of working or can prove that they have not been able to find work. Jewish labor would also be advocated.

Personality

Kahanism is very angry at Anti-Semitism. He thinks about it a lot and is a big gun nut. He's been pretty sad that he was banned in Israel for being islamophobic (especially when the Islamists are at the edge of the Knesset) and doesn't like how secular and compromising Israel is. He remembers hating on Soviets in the '60s happily.

He also says "oy vey" a lot and is extremely conservative. Studies Daf Yomi every day.

How to Draw

The flag of Kahanism is based on the flag of Kach, a now-defunct ultranationalist Israeli political party of which Meir Kahane was leader and founder.

Flag of Kahanism

1. Draw a cube
2. Paint the cube with yellow
3. In the middle of the cube, draw the star of David in black with a yellow fist inside it.
4. Draw the eyes
5. (optional) Draw a big black kippah on him.

Color Name		HEX	RGB
	Yellow	#FFE100	rgb(255, 225, 0)
	Black	#202020	rgb(32, 32, 32)

Relationships

ידידי ישראל רבתי (Friends of Greater Isreal)

• Jewish Theocracy - Our religion is one and only truth! Why are you giving me that look?
• Religious Zionism - Father! The Halakha should be the voice of all laws!
• Authoritarian Capitalism - The only viable economic system for Israel!
• Ethnocracy - Jews and gentiles must live separate.
• Irredentism - Long live Greater Israel!
• Ultranationalism - The Israeli motherland is the strongest, greatest country in the world!
• Stratocracy - Israel must have unbeatable strength!
• Authoritarian Conservatism and Reactionaryism - Restore our Jewish values.
• Trumpism - Perhaps my only other friend, I endorsed him for president.
• Anti-Germanism - The only good commies and k*auts! DESTROY NAZI FILTH!
• Pinochetism - Very smart goy he got rid of all the stupid Marxist collectivist criminals and supported Israel.
• Bolsonarism - Another great friend.
• Mileism - Based libertarian philosemite who wants to get rid of those impoverisher commies. Ignore we're settling Patagonia, don't search Plan Andinia
• Reactionary Liberalism - Based social and economic views. Bolsonaro, Ventura are fellow friends of Israel.
• Revisionist Maximalism - While we share the same characteristics, he is an actual fascist and third positionist.
• Zehutism - My libertarian self. Why won’t you be authoritarian?!
• Bibism - Based, but you can do more.
• Hindutva - My Hindu fundamentalist friend and equivalent. I love you. WAIT, WHY THE FUCK DID YOU SUPPORT HITLER!

פציפיסטים נסבלים (Tolerable Pacifists)

• Zionism - Israel should be the most powerful country! Still, you are too liberal and secular, especially in regards to the sandn***rs. And why did you ban me after the Hebron shooting?
• Alt-Right, and White Nationalism - These 2 have based views on m*zzies and sandni***rs, but still, the 2 of you are still close to him. But this is based and I'm basically you that is Jewish without the antisemitism.
• National Capitalism - Take away the Anti-Semitism and this is perfection.
• Fascism - I like your authoritarianism, nationalism, militarism and others, but unlike you economically, I am much more economically capitalist, and a lot of you hate Jews. But why do many people say I am you???
• Hungarism - Antisemetic gentile, but at least you supported the idea of a Jewish nation. Also, good ideas on inferiors.
• Neoconservatism - Your support for Israel and economically liberal policies are based. However, democracy is overrated and you condemned the Cave of Patriarchs massacre.
• Shapiroism - A good man, but supports peace with THEM, and said he likes democracy being for everyone.
• Revisionist Zionism - Fellow Zionist, but you celebrated his win (even if you did eventually renounce him)! Plus, you're way too social in your economics, and believe Jordan shouldn't be part of greater Israel!
• Fourth Theory - A nazbol who supports ASSad and hates Israel but Eskin is literally me though.
• Christian Zionism - I love Bolsonaro and Trump but a Christian cannot be a Zionist. Convert to the truth.
• Sternism - You may be a stupid commie, but I will always appreciate how you helped found our homeland.
• Shas - Another fellow Religious Zionist, but just like them you're way to social in your economics, and not to mention that you really don't approve of my actions.

אויבי ישראל (Enemies of Israel)

• Nazism - Never again! The Haavara Agreement is based tho.
• Liberalism - You are the reason why there are sandni***rs in our great Jewish state today! You are the biggest threat to our Jewish identity, security, and culture!
• Democracy - Incompatible with the Torah!
• Secularism - Judaism is the only true religion! We will not allow other inferior religions to exist in Israel!
• Multiculturalism - There shall only be one culture, the Jewish culture! Arabs have no culture!
• Progressivism - Islamophile leftists, your ideology is pure degeneration, you filthy liberal antisemites!
• Revolutionary Progressivism - You're even worse than the above!
• Labour Zionism - Socialist s*cular jew which believes that sandni***rs have a place in Israeli society. Fake Zionist!
• Bundism - S*cular self-hating nationless commie, literally the above except even worse! Fake Jew!
• Islamic Theocracy - An Arab can never be a friend of Israel. PREPARE TO DIE!!!!!
• Jihadism - I was right.
• Libertarianism - No! We need a strong, centralized government to enforce Jewish religious laws and identify, we have no civil liberties for non-Jews! Milei is based
• Corbynism - You think sandni***rs should have basic human rights? Antisemitic if you ask me.
• Arab Socialism and Ba'athism - Both s*cular, s*cialist, and antisemetic sandni***rs who hate Israel. Greater Israel will destroy you! NASSer is already dead, and ASSad is next!
• Khomeinism - Filthly m*slim antisemite who is the biggest threat to Israel! I'm basically your Jewish equivalent, except I'm a capitalist and only your Reform wings are.
• Marxism - Stupid fools, we need our own state! One world government sucks!
• Spartacism - Goddamn anti-religion, feminist, Marxist, traitor of a Jew!
• Marxism–Leninism -Atheistic anti-Zionist commie who supported sandni***r.
• National Bolshevism -Same as above, but an outright anti-Semite.
• Strasserism - Moar anti-Semitic commies! Yes, I’m a Jewish capitalist, problem?
• Jewish-Nazism - "There is no greater anti-Semite than the Jewish one, and none hates the Jewish people more than the Jewish traitor and apostate." Just don't be an Anti-Zionist and all will be right between us.
• Neo-Nazism and Nazi Accelerationism - The only way to deal with neo-Nazis is killing them. The JDL will not show mercy upon you. Killing m*zzies is based though
• Habashism, - Another sandni***r, but this one is a s*cular antisemitic commie!
• Christian Theocracy - GET OUT OF ISRAEL!!! HAWK TUAH!!!

Bibliography

Literature

Primary Literature

Meir Kahane

• They Must Go
• The Ideology of Kach
• Never Again! A Program for Survival

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Insert intellectual 2

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Collection of Literature

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Secondary Literature

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Periodicals

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News

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Mainstream News

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Interviews

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Quotes

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Further Reading

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Misc Texts

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Further Information

(here would be a list of similar movements with pcb articles check out CyberFeminism as a good example)

Websites

(here go websites related to the movement)

Wikipedia

• Kahanism
• Meir Kahane
• Neo-Zionism
• Far-right politics in Israel
• Jewish supremacy
• Zionist political violence
• Jewish terrorism

Online Communities

(here go online communities of the movement)

Subreddits

(here goes subreddits of the movement)

Videos

• Who Was Meir Kahane? By TheIMEU

Alternative History

• Change In Israel By Alternativehistorypt

People

• Itamar Ben-Gvir

Organizations

Political Parties

• Kach (political party)
• Jewish National Front
• Otzma Yehudit
• Sicarii (1989)
• Lehava

Groups

• Jewish Defense League
• Jewish Defense Organization

Ideas

• Greater Israel
• Terror Against Terror

Terrorist Attacks

• 1980s Jewish Underground plots
• 1994 Hebron massacre
• 2005 Shfaram attack

Gallery

Portraits and Artwork

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  Credit: TheLegend2T, Source
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  "Theocracies compass" By Spade
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