Trends in the Political Psychology of Israeli Jews 1967–86

Abstract

Although some tension prevailed on Israel's northern border with Syria during the early weeks of spring 1967, it had subsided by early May. The first news of the dramatic march of Egyptian troops into the Sinai reached Mr. Eshkol, who was serving at the time as prime minister and minister of defense, on 15 May (Israel's Independence Day) as he was reviewing a military parade held at the sport stadium of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. On that day, if one had asked Israelis, military or civilian, whether they would live to see an Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem or, for that matter, of the West Bank, the response would probably have been negative. Over the previous nineteen years the partition of Palestine into two separate political entities had become an unequivocal reality. Nevertheless, a curious cultural event was held on that same day. According to tradition, a folksong festival was held in Jerusalem. Many young musicians and lyric writers competed for the Best Song of the Year. Naomi Shemer, Israel's premier songwriter, was too prominent to participate in the competition, so the organizers requested from her a special composition for the occasion. At this event the as yet unknown young singer Shuli Nathan performed for the first time the song which made