by Baruch Kimmerling
Nations like to imagine themselves as unique, but one belief they
have in common is that it is noble to die in their name. Death and
redemption are the themes of almost every form of patriotism. In the
case of Israel, however, the connection between nationalism and death
is especially visceral. For the Jewish state is a nation that emerged
from the ashes of a project of extermination, and that sees itself as
the best defense against the renewal of violent persecution. Zionism,
the state's ruling ideology, is a triumphal creed shadowed by death.
(Rest of article at:
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050110&s=kimmerling)