Israeli-American Joseph Dana, residing in Jerusalem, asks a profound question about modern-day Israel: does violence pay and are religious, Jewish fundamentalists the acceptable face of mainstream Zionism?
The settler movement routinely uses violence against the authorities of the state with little or no ramifications. I am not referring to acts of violence against Palestinians, which is a routine aspect of settler life. Rather, I am talking about settlers using force against the IDF, the Israel Police and the Israel Border Guard. I have seen settlers punch police officers at various outposts and experience no consequences for their actions.
On the other hand, non-violent leftist Israelis are often attacked with grave force by the state authorities.