The Israelite State
The kings of Judah and their subjects could call themselves Israelites just as Darius and Xerxes could call themselves both Persian and Iranian ("Aryan"). In sum, descent from the eponymous ancestor established the "common blood" of the Israelite nation. - David M. Goodblatt, Elements of Ancient Jewish Nationalism Bemoaning the increasingly theocratic character of the state of Israel, Uri Avnery argues : The source of all this evil is, of course, the original sin of the State of Israel: the non-separation between state and religion, based on the non-separation between nation and religion. Nothing but a complete separation between the two will save Israel from total domination by the religious mutation. Is it possible for Israel to separate nation and religion? Is it possible to be an Israelite, but not a Jew; a Jew, but not an Israelite? The example of the Samaritans proves it is indeed possible. Sean Ireton notes : Samaritans comprise the Cohanim from the priestly ...