Sticky

There are so many differeing opinions with regard to everythign that Israel is not different. In fact, I would guess that peoples opinions are much stronger on this subject and that you would be very surprised about certain people or groups opinions.

It is generally a Jewish belief that the land of Israel was promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob by God to be the place belonging to their children.
There are Jews who believe in this strongly and there are those who don't.

For simplicity I will make an assumption that is in general true - A practicing Jew, no matter what type of Judaism, will likely belive in the idea that God promised the land of Israel to the Jewish people.

However, this does not mean that those same people believe in the state of Israel in its current form.
Most probably do, but some view these two ideas as seperate

Regarding the current State of Israel, Once you understand the ideas above you can start to see how many differing opinions can arise.

- There are practacing Jews that believe in the State of Israel
- There are Unltra-Orthodox, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform Jews who belive in the state of Israel
- There are non-practicing Jews that believe in the state of Israel
- There are non-practicing Jews that don't believe in the state of Israel
- There are practacing Jews that don't belive in the state of Israel
- Believe it or not there are those from the most ultra-Orthodox groups who many would consider the most strict and even fanatic who don't belive in the state of Israel. In fact, there are even some of these groups that are anti-Israel and will rally against Israel and give money to Anti-Israel groups.

With this last group mentioned they belive that God promised the state of Israel to the Jews but they belive that it will happen when the Messiah comes and that the current state is a secular institution that Jews should have nothing to do with.

With all the other groups that believe in the state of Israel there are differing opinions as well. Just because one believes in the state of Israel does not mean that they have to belive in the policies of the state of Israel. So, you will ahve Jews that agree with Israeli policy and those who don't.
And then even the Israeli policy is much more fluid then we understand. Just like any other country there are different political parties that belive in different political ideals. So people who agree with Israeli policy sometimes may not agree all the time and vice versa.

It may or may not be well known but the Israeli policitcal system is very fragmented. If you are familiar with the parlimentary system and you come from (or know how it works in) Canada or the UK you will wonder how the Israeli government is able to accomplish anything at all. In Canada and in the UK there are very few major parties who are bale to win seats in parliament and there is, most of the time (although not recently in Canada) a party that wins the majority of seats in the parliament.
In Israel, becuase political ideas are so fragmented, there are so many parties that get a handfull of seats. Each time there is a goverment it is formmed by coalition with the largets party in the coalition usually leading the coalition goverment. In Israel there are political parties that:
- Are right wing
- Left wing
- Center
- Religious Right
- Religious center
- Secular right
- Secular center
- secular left
- Issue based
There are even Arab parties. Several seats in the Isralei parliament are held by Isralei Arabs some of whom are very anti Israel.

So dlish, as you can see, your questions are not that simple.

Israel is a Jewish state.
Israel is not a religious state even though it has laws based around some religious institutions.
Israel has a parliamentary system where the government is lead msot often by right and left wing parties that are closer to the center than we imagine.
Israel has an Army that is controlled by the state.
Israel has a very powerful Judiciary system that many would agree is more left leaning than right.
The rabinate, while very important and while very influential, has no political power at all.

So to get to the questions (and you can probably guess some of the answers alread) .

Do Jews see the middle east conflict as a religious altercation or a political one?
Some would say it is only religious, others would say it is only political. Most would proably say both.

Arabs vs. jews
Muslims vs. Jews
Israel vs. Arab neighboors

All of the above. In my opinion though I think that we are now stuck where we are becuase of the inability to trust and the inability to be trustworthy (or honest).

Does israel see it as a religious war or is politics and religions intertwined within judaism that it cannot be seperated?
In my opinion, I believe that most of Israle sees it as political but so intertwined with religion that it can't be seperated. The Jews can't just walk away and make a homeland in Uganda (as was proposed at one point). This is why relgions is so intertwined (from the Jewish side at least).

(I rambled a bit)

---------- Post added at 02:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:36 PM ----------

Agree with that. But another very important factor is kavanah (intent). You can act all you want but it is important that intent is there as well. even with negative comandments. Intent is often a factor in whether you have successfully carried out the mitzvah (commandment).

---------- Post added at 02:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:42 PM ----------

And if you are a woman and have children born to you, they are Jewish as well.

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Sticky The Stickman