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[Stinkles]

Kind of, but it's not that simple. The crazy thing about the arab palestinian conflict is of course that they are basically the same peoples, it's more of an internecine war when looked at from a genetic perspective. So of course what sets them apart is their self identification as complete groups, in this case religion plays a large part in the national identity of course, but it is not simply an innate function of religion.

Either reason is stupid, but it's not accurate to say that modern Israel is genetically the same as modern Palestine. Israel has imported a lot of northern and eastern whitey - and not just Ashkenazi.

 

[AlphaSnake]

As mentioned previously the rabbis are state-appointed.

Most of them aren't, because anybody can be a rabbi of a synagogue and most synagogues in Israel are independently owned, not funded or run by the government at all. You become a rabbi in Israel by graduating a college with a major in rabbinical studies, no different than earning a degree in any other profession out of college.

This Lehava organization isn't even associated with the Israeli government. It's roots tie in with another extremist right-wing Zionist organization formerly known as Kach and Kahane Chai, which Israel (and even the US) labeled a terrorist organization and dismantled them. Yes, Israel dismantled an overly aggressive movement and labeled them terrorists. Not exactly Nazi Germany, now is it?

Some of Kach's former representatives, primarily Baruch Marzel, formed the offshoot Jewish National Front party, in addition to Lehava. Both of which the Israeli government distances from, but news outlets love for the fodder they provide. These are the same guys who sent out a press release for Israeli people to not date Arabs. Remember that thread? Fun times.

So if you think Lehava, or its participating rabbis, are in any way employed by the Israeli government, you are wrong.