Meir Kahane Quotes

A collection of quotes by Meir Kahane.

Meir Kahane (1932-1990) was an American-Israeli rabbi, writer, and political activist known for his ultranationalist and controversial views. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Kahane grew up in a Jewish orthodox household and studied at Yeshiva University. He later became a prominent figure in the Jewish Defense League (JDL), an organization he founded in 1968 to combat what he perceived as rising antisemitism.

Kahane advocated for the establishment of a Jewish theocratic state encompassing all of historic Israel and the occupied territories, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He rejected the two-state solution and believed in the transfer or expulsion of Arabs from Israel, asserting that coexistence between Jews and Arabs was impossible.

Due to his extremist views, Kahane faced widespread criticism, even being labeled a terrorist by some. In 1984, he founded the Kach political party in Israel, which called for the deportation of all non-Jews from the country. However, in 1988, the Israeli government banned Kach for incitement to racism and declared it a terrorist organization. Kahane was assassinated in New York City in 1990 by an Egyptian-American extremist.

While Kahane's ideology and actions remain highly contentious, his influence on Israeli politics and public discourse cannot be ignored. His legacy continues to shape discussions on Israeli nationalism, Jewish-Arab relations, and extremism in the region.