How the zealots are killing the dreams of the kibbutz movement

[dArKeR]

By Will Hutton
THE OBSERVER , LONDON
Wednesday, Jul 28, 2004,Page 9

It seems a long time ago now, but there was a time when Israel was not only the Middle East's only

democracy but a source of liberal inspiration. The kibbutz movement was a living example of how to build a new society based on genuine equality of opportunity and mutuality of respect in collective democratic communes that actually worked. I remember friends who had spent their gap year working on kibbutzim eulogizing about the experience.

That was then. Today, Israel's kibbutz movement is in crisis as a succession of right-wing governments has redirected subsidies to support settling the West Bank, where settlers now double those working on kibbutzim.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/07/28/2003180789

The is the first time I've ever read anything about the 'kibbutz'. But as one can see, for 3 years I posted about how nice, friendly, funny, liberal... all of my Jewish friends I grew up with in Chicago. That I never even knew they were Jewish until I met their mothers. It sort of makes me proud to have this feeling independently with never really knowing much about Israel. And I repeat, no Jewish person I've ever met would steal anything from anyone. They'd never kill anyone either.

[aquart]

1. Some of your best friends are Jews, huh?

I'm so pleased you couldn't tell they were Jewish. How'd you find out? Circumcision give it away? All those candles around Christmastime?

You're putting me on, right? You did not write that with a straight face.