Meir Kahane

Politician

Meir Kahane was a Jewish political activist and founder of the Jewish Defense League, known for his controversial views on nationalism and identity.

Born
August 1, 1932
Died
February 26, 2015
Quotes
25
Rank
#1340

About Meir Kahane

Meir Kahane — Life and Legacy

Meir Kahane was a prominent Jewish political figure and the founder of the Jewish Defense League, known for his radical views on Jewish nationalism. His work, particularly 'Never Again,' articulates a philosophy centered on the necessity of Jewish self-defense and the preservation of Jewish identity in a world fraught with anti-Semitism. Kahane's quotes often reflect his belief that Jewish people must assert their rights and sovereignty, as seen in his assertion that 'Jews have the right to defend themselves.' This perspective challenges the prevailing norms of coexistence and dialogue, advocating instead for a more confrontational stance. Kahane's ideas resonate with those who feel marginalized or threatened, as he argued that freedom cannot exist without a strong national identity. His controversial stance on the relationship between Jews and Arabs in Israel further illustrates his belief that security and identity are intertwined. By insisting on the primacy of Jewish sovereignty, Kahane's quotes continue to provoke thought and debate about the complexities of identity and freedom in contemporary society. His legacy remains a point of contention, reflecting the ongoing struggles within Jewish communities regarding nationalism and self-determination.

Quote collection

Meir Kahane quotes (page 1 of 2)

25 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Meir Kahane Politician
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"The banding together by the nations of the world against Israel is the guarantee that their time of destruction is near and the final redemption of the Jew at hand."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"Let us not suffer from a national amnesia that causes us to forget who and what we are."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"For so long as the Jew has even one ally, he will be convinced - in his smallness of mind - that his salvation came from that ally. It is only when he is alone - against all of his own efforts and frantic attempts - that he will, through no choice, be compelled to turn to G-d."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"I prefer a powerful and proud Jewish State that is hated by the entire world than an Auschwitz that is loved by one and all"

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"The Jew does not wish to be isolated. He fears being alone, without allies."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"Surely it is time for Jews, worried over the huge growth of Arabs in Israel, to consider finishing the exchange of populations that began 35 years ago."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"Never, ever deal with terrorists. Hunt them down and, more important, mercilessly punish those states and groups that fund, arm, support, or simply allow their territories to be used by the terrorists with impunity."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"One of the great problems with Americans is that - being a decent people - they assume that everyone else is equally decent."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"If we ever hope to rid the world of the political AIDS of our time, terrorism, the rule must be clear: One does not deal with terrorists; one does not bargain with terrorists; one kills terrorists."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"Love has its place, as does hate. Peace has its place, as does war. Mercy has its place, as do cruelty and revenge."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"I know that elections must be limited only to those who understand that the Arabs are the deadly enemy of the Jewish state, who would bring on us a slow Auschwitz - not with gas, but with knives and hatchets."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"There is no greater anti-Semite that the Jewish one, and none hates the Jewish people more than the Jewish traitor and apostate."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"The difference is that if we turn from the Gentile first, we will have the Almighty as the immediate staff and our comfort. If not, we will have neither the Gentile nor, for a terrible stage, the Almighty."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"The fact is, that with the creation of the Jewish state in 1948, hundreds of thousands of Jews fled Arab countries, almost all of whom left behind all their property for which compensation was never paid."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"The observant Jew has his own sense of values. Torah Judaism is his blueprint for this life, his target for existence."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"The poor Palestinians who today kill Jews with explosives and firebombs and stones are part of the same people who when they had all the territories they now demand be given to them for their state -attempted to drive the Jewish state into the sea."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"The Jewish nation is indeed, the heart of the world and there is no reason for the existence of empires, kings, rulers, masses or systems aside from their reaction to the Jewish people."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"It is incumbent upon us to understand our greatness and believe in it so that we do not cheapen and profane ourselves."

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Meir Kahane Politician
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"I see all this and know that if we are to save the Jewish state and its three-and-a-half million Jews from terrible horrors, we must rise up and demand a fundamental change in the very system of government."

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