The Israeli identity and the Canaanite option

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter examines the cultural-political movement of the “Young Hebrews” created by Yonatan Ratosh in the twentieth century. It looks at the case of Jews called “Canaanites” by their adversaries, who then retained the name as a self-designation. They considered themselves “Hebrews” rather than Jews, connected first and foremost with the land of Canaan/Israel, not with Judaism; and they wanted to go back to the original relationship between the ancient people of Israel, the land of Canaan, and the Hebrew language. As part of the revival of the Hebrew nation, “Canaanism” also aimed at the Hebraization of the entire Middle East.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Gift of the Land and the Fate of the Canaanites in Jewish Thought
EditorsKatell Berthelot, Joseph E. David, Marc Hirshman
Place of PublicationOxford
PublisherOxford University Press
Pages311-351
Number of pages41
ISBN (Electronic)9780199366408
ISBN (Print)9780199959808
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2014

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