Sochnuth a.s.o. to be considered while voting ...

THE Labor party, which, through its control of the Histadruth, the general association of Jewish workers in Palestine, also directed its extensive business operations: this economic effort was funded largely by the Jewish Agency/Sochnuth. These moneys were funneled to their destinations
through the channels of the political parties. After the establishment of the state, many regarded this system as distorting the structure of the economy. But it continued, with the government as a primary source of funding. Enterprise, public and private, became increasingly dependent in this respect upon government. Political pressures could be brought to bear upon governmental departments to come to aid of firms which were not economically viable. Appropriations which should have gone toward development of infrastructure were doled out directly to various private and cooperative entrepreneurs, who lost any sense for genuine profitability of their operations. YL & members of the group in question were convinced that this must lead to political corruption & foster an economy which was unable tobstand on it's own legs & feet. Instead of utilizing the contri-butions of world Jewry & the aid of foreign governments for developing it's productive resources on a firm economic basis, Israel was squandering them on maintaining a standard of living which was beyond it's own capacity. Much of the agitation of thisngroup was conducted on the pages of the periodical Beterem, which published many of YL's articles on a variety of subjects. The group was successful in disclosing & ending some particular cases of corruption. It did not succeed in putting across its message & eventually disbanded. Its prognoses thus were often only too well confirmed by recent developments of the Israeli economy. Pressure of political parties for support of favored projects has made a travesty of budgetary policy. The Kibiyeh incident of 1953 directed YL's Ttentio to a question which to hi seemed ever more pressing. The Zionist armed forces in the early years had always avoided killing outside the direct context of warfare or self-defense. What change of attitude made possible the wanton killing of civilians in Kibiyeh? The motive was clear, retaliation for a series of murders by Palestinian terrorists. But what was it that removed the inhibitions to the murder of innocent civilians? YL's answer was that secular motifs & institutions had been endowed with a sanctity which is valid only within a religious context: he finds no fault with secular Zionism as such. In fact he considers Zionism, including his own variety, as being essentially secular, with the clear limitations of secularity.

Imputation of holiness to the secular, however, is religiously a form of idolatry & morally pernicious. The nation & it's state acquire supreme value, & their interests are considered capable of justifying any action which promotes them ...

Here, again, we touch one of the main problems we are struggling with all over the world: what about human rights, peace, hope, love & under-standing?