Understanding Israel’s Political Landscape: Rabin vs. Kahane
Since the late 20th century, Israel’s political arena has featured starkly different visions for the nation’s future. On one end stands Yitzhak Rabin (1922–1995), a native of the land before statehood, a decorated Israeli general, and twice prime minister. Rabin was instrumental in securing victory in key wars—most notably the Six-Day War—and later pursued reconciliation with the Palestinians through the Oslo Accords. His legacy of seeking a negotiated peace was cut short by his assassination in 1995.
On the other end is Meir Kahane (1932–1990), an American-born rabbi who immigrated to Israel and founded the Kach party. Kahane argued that lasting security for the Jewish state demanded the uncompromising removal of hostile Arab populations. His radical platform and hardline rhetoric were widely condemned, yet they captured a segment of Israeli society concerned with existential threats. Kahane, too, was assassinated, in 1990.
Today, Benjamin Netanyahu—commonly called “Bibi”—has governed Israel for much of the past three decades. Yet many observers argue that the enduring philosophical divide still boils down to Rabin’s path of negotiated coexistence versus Kahane’s emphasis on Jewish sovereignty at any cost. Below (in comments) is a long-form dialogue imagining these two figures debating what Israel’s future should look like.