Communist Israel

Israel was founded as a socialist republic. It very well could have been communist (non-Soviet comunist, but more of the equality and philopsical idea being implemented without a dictator government), if Ben-Gurion had moved his groups to join Communist ideals.

The WI is, essentially, if Israel was communist, but outside the sphere of influence of Moscow, how would that change the Cold War? Would it affect the Soviet's war plans in the mideast? Would they try to forge an alliance? Would they help the Arabs to go against the Jews in Israel?

Discuss.:)
 

Ibn Warraq

Banned
Israel was founded as a socialist republic. It very well could have been communist (non-Soviet comunist, but more of the equality and philopsical idea being implemented without a dictator government), if Ben-Gurion had moved his groups to join Communist ideals.

The WI is, essentially, if Israel was communist, but outside the sphere of influence of Moscow, how would that change the Cold War? Would it affect the Soviet's war plans in the mideast? Would they try to forge an alliance? Would they help the Arabs to go against the Jews in Israel?

Discuss.:)

For starters, you'd probably have alot more debates within Israel regarding the treatment of the Arabs. In theory at least, Communism is supposed to be against all nationalistic beliefs and Zionism is very much a form of nationalism. Now, was communism easily merged with a form of nationalism in Vietnam, China, and other parts of the world, but in a country dominated by European intellectuals things would have been dramatically different.

I think it's very possible that Nasser might wind up becoming a US ally and Israel would need to gain an alliance of some sort with the Soviet Union.
 
For starters, you'd probably have alot more debates within Israel regarding the treatment of the Arabs. In theory at least, Communism is supposed to be against all nationalistic beliefs and Zionism is very much a form of nationalism. Now, was communism easily merged with a form of nationalism in Vietnam, China, and other parts of the world, but in a country dominated by European intellectuals things would have been dramatically different.

I think it's very possible that Nasser might wind up becoming a US ally and Israel would need to gain an alliance of some sort with the Soviet Union.

As to your first point, at the World Conference of Poale Zion (Workers of Zion), in which Ben-Gurion was a major member in the year 1920 I believe...they voted on whether or not to join the World Zionest Organization or Communist International/(Commintern). It split the group. After some reading, I found that many if not all Zionest leaders from Palestine at the time were either socialistic or communist. So a Communist Israel aint that hard to come by.
 
The Left is very supportive of Israel ITL compared to OTL.

Quite possibly a more impoverished Israel.
 
Israel knew from the start i'd needed strong friends being as it is surrounded by enemies, the worlds super powers were the USA and the USSR (Russia) now if they go Communist they can kiss help from the USA bye-bye, and hope that Russia will help them, however given that Zionism was started because Russians were killing Jews it's not a risk i would take.
 
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