Page 8 - C.A.L.L. #39 - Spring 2015
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prime minister and Likud party leader. As Pauker notes, “even in the renewed
In a now-famous 1981 campaign speech, kibbutzim, there is far more
Begin referred to the “millionaire” egalitarianism that in other Israeli
kibbutzniks lounging around their communities and a far more intensive
swimming pools. communal experience.”
Due in part to poor economic Considering how close-knit and united
management, in the mid-1980s the these communities are, he adds, it is
kibbutzim found themselves on the quite natural that they would be among
brink of bankruptcy, with their political the first to take on the cause of helping
opponents gloating. others during the war. Eitan Broshi,
secretary-general of the United
It was this financial crisis that forced Kibbutz Movement, the umbrella
many of these communities to embrace organization for all nonreligious
new economic models to survive and kibbutzim, says he’s not surprised that
paved the way to their large-scale these communities have been
privatization. To many observers on the rediscovered.
outside, it signaled the demise of the
traditional model of the kibbutz “The past few weeks have taught us yet
movement. again that a united movement, with
strength and solidarity, is not only
According to Palgi, following a steady powerful during ordinary days, but
drop, the number of Israelis living on critical to its members and Israeli
kibbutzim affiliated with various society as a whole during days of crisis
movements today has risen in the past and battle,” he says.
15 years. Of the 274 kibbutzim today,
60 are still communities resembling the What might be surprising to some is
old-fashioned, socialist-oriented that the kibbutzim, traditionally aligned
kibbutzim, 17 are religiously oriented, with the left and the Israeli peace
and the remainder are “renewed” movement, have been among the
kibbutzim based on a less collective staunchest supporters of the current
model. operation in Gaza, urging the
government not to bow to pressure for
The increase in new members in recent a pullout.
years has come both from former
kibbutzniks moving back home and city- But as Pauker notes, although
dwellers seeking greener pastures. kibbutzniks may be prominent members
of the peace camp, that doesn’t make
“Many have come for the quality of life, them pacifists. “Almost all the members
but not only,” Palgi explains. “The appeal of the kibbutzim down south will tell you
of the kibbutz for many newcomers is they support a political solution to the
that they can have a greater influence conflict,” he notes, “but they also
on decision-making in their believe that this is not a war of choice
communities.” because they see themselves under an
existential threat today. And I say that
as a card-carrying member of Meretz.”
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