Divine Violence, Profane Peace: Walter Benjamin, Rabbis for Human Rights, and Peace in Israel–Palestine

Abstract

Introduction: Disaffection with Peace In this article I make a case for a Judaic conception of peace, derived from the work of Walter Benjamin, that might play a modest role in building Israeli–Palestinian peace. There is a need for Judaic notions of peace to counter significant disaffection with “peace” among Jewish Israelis.1 “Peace” is most often associated with a binding negotiated agreement, or the “peace process.” When the Camp David negotiations broke down in July 2000, most Jewish Israelis and even peace activists blamed the Palestinian side.2 The title of Tamar Hermann's book, The Israeli Peace Movement: A Shattered Dream,3…