Nationalism, identity, and rebellion: An interpretation of the Wadi Salib events

This article puts forward an in-depth examination of the Wadi Salib events. The recently disclosed proceedings of the Wadi Salib Committee of National Inquiry are interpreted to show how the Oriental Jews (Mizrachim) explained their actions in Zionist terms centered on Jewish kinship. The Western Jews (Ashkenazim) in turn, rejected the Oriental Jews' sense of alliance and underlined the colonial element of Zionist identity. Identity threat theory is incorporated to explain how the two opposing views of Zionism may have been constructed and how these may have contributed to the outbreak of the Wadi Salib events. Some conclusions regarding the nature of Israeli national identity, Ashkenazim-Mizrachim relations, and Majority-Minority, Immigrants-Veterans relations emerge.