ABSTRACT
On the memorial to Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in Tel Aviv the inscription states that “a religious Jew” assassinated him. The insertion of this phrase reflects the widespread sense in Israel that religion was to blame for this tragic crime. Indeed, many claim the assassin had rabbinical sanction for his act. Religious politicians sought to have the phrase “religious Jew” removed from the memorial. They argued that religion per se was not to blame. After all, the overwhelming majority of the religious public opposed such extremism, while some important rabbis endorsed the principle of “land for peace.” Clearly, the relationship between religion and the peace process in Israel is far from simple. This article analyzes the relationship between religion and Israeli approaches to the conflict with the Palestinians. In particular, it seeks to explain why religion has become closely correlated with hawkishness since 1967.
