The Use and Abuse of Jewish Power

Key Findings:

This essay provides a detailed examination of the complexities surrounding the unique nature of Jewish power in Israel.

The concept itself of Jewish power is extremely atypical — unquestionably historically justified, yet riddled with Jewishly-natured moral dilemmas (particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) which other nations do not grapple with in their own abuses of power. In fact, measuring Israel's actions against those of other nations is generally pointless because of Israel's unique historical and contemporary contexts, which are marked by extreme vulnerability, limited natural resources, and hostile neighbors. A policy example of this is the Begin doctrine, which involves Israel taking preemptive action against Arab states' nuclear programs. Israel's motivation for such actions is rooted in ensuring its own existence, as it cannot rely on traditional deterrence strategies due to the existential threat it faces.

Moreover, just as there is nothing normal about Jewish power, there is nothing inherently immoral about it, either. In the shadow of the Holocaust, Jewish power is unquestionably justified, and the concept of "Jewish privilege” given the narratives of Mizrahi and Soviet Jews is utterly absurd.

Considering historical context, the author explores the present landscape of Jewish power in Israel in the following areas:

(1) Jewish Nuclear Power:

Israel, unsurprisingly, does not conform to the typical behavior of nuclear powers. Israel’s nuclear program was developed primarily as an insurance policy for its survival, rather than for aggressive purposes.

The former Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is described as a leader comfortable with wielding Jewish power via transparency about Israel’s nuclear capabilities. The author suggests that more Netanyahu-style nuclear transparency could both deter enemies more effectively, and at the same time be abused as a power more easily. 

(2) Israel’s Treatment of Palestinians:

The author describes Israel's treatment of Palestinians as an abuse of Jewish power. He specifically lays out four arenas of this phenomenon; (1) civil inequalities faced by Palestinian-Israeli citizens; (2) West Bank and East Jerusalem military occupation; (3) the Gaza blockade; and (4) the denial of Palestinian statehood.

Recommendations:

Despite historical persecution, Jews should hold their own power to a higher standard, emphasizing the need to avoid using power in ways that victimize others. Power can be abused, and Jews are not exempt from this potential.

The Israeli Left should focus on the character, constitution, ethics, and aspirations of Israel rather than relying on external pressure to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The moral challenges associated with wielding power and the importance of accountability for leaders are underscored.