Introduction

Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people. It is a safe haven and the crown jewel. It is a manifest miracle: within a few short decades, it has transformed from a small, peripheral country into a regional and global power in technology, medicine, defense, agriculture, and innovation in the broadest sense. Yet the events of 2023 and the war that began on October 7 have sharpened the realization that, alongside Israel’s strength, the Jewish people also need a complementary model.

Why Is Another State with a Jewish Identity Needed?

The horrific massacre of October 7, 2023, brought into sharp focus the fact that the enemy makes no distinction among different kinds of Jews, and that we must pursue multiple paths to secure the future of the Jewish people.

Looking to the wider world, the dark day of October 7 and the war that followed brought a violent global wave of antisemitism to the surface. This wave has been particularly intense in countries with large Muslim immigrant populations, foremost among them Australia, Canada, the United States, and countries across Western, Central, and Northern Europe.

The demographic and social changes underway in these countries raise questions about the future character of their relations with Israel over the next 10, 20, and 30 years, and about the consequences of a possible deterioration in economic, security, and diplomatic ties.

The period since the October 7 massacre has also been marked by the normalization of antisemitism across the West. Antisemitic currents that had remained largely underground since 1945 have become overt and socially legitimate. These trends directly affect Jews living in those countries, intensify the dangers they face, and raise questions about whether future generations will be able to live there safely, lead openly Jewish lives, and thrive.

Unless the situation improves, some Jews in those countries are likely to seek alternatives. Aliyah to Israel is the first and most natural option, but experience shows that not all will choose it.

For Jews who choose not to make Aliyah, and for Israelis who choose to live elsewhere, the possibility of establishing a new Jewish state takes on greater importance—one that would address three central needs:

1. A Jewish identity for Jews who wish to live in a state founded on a system of government and socioeconomic principles different from those of the State of Israel, and situated in another part of the world.
2. A Hebrew-speaking state that would open its gates to Jews seeking to leave their countries but who, for their own reasons, do not choose Israel.
3. In the event of an emergency in Israel, an additional state with the capacity, resources, and sense of historical and Jewish mission needed to rally to Israel’s aid.