PAULA RAYMAN Jewish Rapproachement and Co-operation, Ha-Kibbutz ha-Artzi agreed to basic principles for Arab-Jewish unity including the 'nondomination of one people by the other, regardless of their numerical strength'. However, the same year the World Zionist Organisation adopted the Biltmore Programme which called for a 'Jewish Commonwealth' and virtually subverted a.11movement for bina.tiona.lism. Ha-Kibbutz ha-Artzi was among the Zionist rninority opijPsing this development, but post-1948 its oppositionary role greatly dirninished as the nationalistic viewpoint came to dominate over other issues. One should, however, assess the Ha-Kibbutz ha-Artzi history in context. Its advocacy of Arab-Jewish rapproachment did not preclude it from establishing its kibbutzim on lands taken from the Palestinian Arabs both before and after 1948 (*). Its affiliated party, Mapa.m, eventually joined the Israeli-Oovemment Coalition which has ruled since the State's creation. S. Eisenstadt provides an insfght into Mapam's current position: «Emphasis on organisational discipline as against ideological comrnitment grew. The political organiser gained importance over the movement type leader» 04). Regarding its interna! organisation, Kibbutz Artzi has more rigidly adhered to Zionist-Socialist 'kolektiviyut ra'ayontt' (collective ideology) and its institutional forrns - communal child care, central dining hall etc. - than other federations. Melford Spiro saw the sectarian ideology of the Artzi federation as 'a new transcendantal religion replacing the orthodox Judaism of the European past.' Whether one agrees wfth Spiro's analysis, it remains true that Kibbutz Artzi cannot in any rational way be considered part of a revolutionary socialist movement. Its many inner-directed debates add little to energizing socialist organisation within Israel and elsewhere. (It may be noted that though Artzi members deny they have hired labour, they practise subcontracting - the hiring of outside workers from an agent, and by this indirect method feel themselves nonexploiters of labour). The Role of Women THE SITUATION of women in the kibbutz has posed other serious problems for kibbutzim. The question of a women's place in the kibbutz was present during Deganyah's early days (15): (14) Ibid. (15) The Way ot Deganyah Alef, op. ctt . .,.... ·· · (*) The best known and most notorious case 1s that of Klbbutz Bar'am, established on the rutns of the maronite Arab village of Bir'tm. For further detalls see Dissent and Idoology ln 1'raol: Reelltance to the Dran ID Israel 1948-1973 and Documents from Israel 1967-1973: A Story Seldom Told, Ithaca Press, London, 1975- Eds. 132
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