HaKibbutz Ha’Artzi and the Soviet Union during the First Decade of Israeli Independence
Keywords:
HaKibbutz Ha’Artzi, Soviet Union, Israel’s Early Years, Pro-Soviet OrientationAbstract
With the establishment of the State of Israel, the kibbutz lost the uniqueness and prestige that it had enjoyed during the previous period. Among other issues, it was expressed in social difficulties in kibbutz life and its political activities. In the HaKibbutz Ha’Artzi Movement, whose vision was broad-minded, left-wing, and revolutionary from the time of its establishment, the leadership decided to deal with the new situation by deepening its pro-Soviet orientation. They hoped that the connection with the growing communist camp would provide a smokescreen for the difficulties they were experiencing.
Reviewing the results of this policy points to restlessness in the sphere of ideology, politics, and social life of HaKibbutz Ha’Artzi during Israel’s first decade. Moreover, instead of assisting the movement to deal with its concrete problems, its pro-Soviet orientation worsened the situation.
The turning of HaKibbutz Ha’Artzi towards the Soviet Union was a decision fraught with problematic outcomes, not only in the short term, but also up to the crisis of the 1980s. It also influenced the whole kibbutz movement and had international contexts, which the article discusses.
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