Polish Historian: Israel is Transforming, Becoming More Middle Eastern and Religious
Professor Łukasz Tomasz Sroka, a Polish historian from Krakow's Pedagogical University, stated in a Radio Krakow interview that Israel is undergoing a profound transformation, moving away from its long-held European image. Sroka, who researches European Jewry, Israel, and Polish-Israeli relations, described this shift as a "Middle Easternization" of the Jewish state.
He explained that Israel, initially built by European Jews, is gradually becoming a more indigenous and Middle Eastern society, with increasing influence from Mizrahi communities and the religious public. This change is evident not only in demographics but also in political discourse, threat perception, and attitudes toward the Middle East. Sroka noted that some European elites and media find Israel's post-October 7th rhetoric alienating, but argued it's understandable within the context of Israel's cultural and demographic evolution and its regional realities.
Sroka addressed emigration, citing approximately 150,000 departures in the last three years, including secular professionals. However, he dismissed the notion of a "liberal elite exodus," pointing to ongoing immigration driven partly by global antisemitism. He emphasized that the critical question is not how many leave, but who remains and who arrives.
A significant factor in this transformation, according to Sroka, is the rapid growth of the Haredi and religious population. He reported that Haredim constitute over 14% of Israeli society, and with other Orthodox groups, the religious segment exceeds a quarter of the Jewish population. This demographic shift has direct implications for Israeli politics, the labor market, and military service, with high birth rates expected to further increase their influence.
Despite these changes, Sroka rejected the idea that Israel is a temporary project facing disappearance. "Israel was accepted as a state. It was, it exists, and it will be, whether someone likes it or not," he asserted, adding that regional states must acknowledge Israel as a permanent Middle Eastern entity.
Sroka also discussed Europe's attitude towards Israel, distinguishing legitimate criticism from what he termed "third-generation antisemitism." He suggested that in countries with diminished Jewish populations, animosity towards Jews can transfer to the Jewish state, while stressing that this does not preclude criticism of Israeli government policies, particularly concerning the war, civilian casualties, and Palestinian issues.
Regarding the Gaza conflict, Sroka acknowledged the criticism of Israel and the Palestinian tragedy, including difficult rhetoric and dehumanization post-October 7th. He contextualized this within the deep national trauma caused by the Hamas attack, linking it to Holocaust memory and existential threat, but stressed that this context does not justify dehumanizing language.
