The Source of Jewish Unity

This week has been full of commemorations marking 10 years since the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin. It seems, at least in Israel, that everyone and their grandmother has to weigh in on the lessons to be learned from that event.

The latest to do so was Israel's Chief of Staff, Dan Halutz (as reported by the Jerusalem Post):

"We cannot forget for one minute that, whether supporting or opposing the way, we are all brothers, all Jews and share the same fate... Democracy is the basis of life we share as one people."

For the life of me, I can't understand what Halutz is talking about. Isn't what unites us as brothers, and the reason why it is that we share the same fate is because of our Jewishness and Judaism, and not because of democracy?!?

Why do so many people in Israel, particularly the ruling elite and the media feel the need to tie everything in to democracy, even when there is absolutely no connection - and almost always coming at the expense of focusing on our Jewishness???

Perhaps that is Rabin's legacy?

Israel
Zionism
Judaism