Jewish Underground

The Jewish Underground (Hebrew: המחתרת היהודית HaMakhteret HaYehudit),^[1] or in abbreviated form, simply makhteret,^[2] was a radical right-wing fundamentalist organization^[3] considered terrorist by Israel,^[4][5] formed by prominent members of the Israeli political movement Gush Emunim that existed from 1979 to 1984.^[6] Two issues catalyzed the establishment of the underground: One was the signing of the Camp David Accords, which led to the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in 1979, and which the movement, opposed to the peace process, wished to block, viewing it as the first step in the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank. A second element was the settlement project, which, in bringing two distinct ethnic communities into closer proximity, led to an uptick in hostilities that brought about a growing emphasis on the existential threat in both communities.^[7] The Jewish Underground developed two operational objectives: One consisted of a plot to blow up the Dome of the Rock, while the other branch concentrated on both avenging acts of Palestinian violence against settlers and of establishing a punitive deterrence.^[7] Some understood the terrorist acts as a means of inducing Palestinians to flee their homeland, based on the 1948 and 1967 experience,^[1] and parallels are drawn to the Terror Against Terror movement, which had a similar aim.^[1] Robert Friedman stated that the Makhteret was "the most violent anti-Arab terrorist organization since the birth of Israel".^[2]

Members of the Jewish Underground were eventually rounded up and brought to trial on charges that included violating the 1948 Prevention of Terrorism Decree. The charge of membership in a terrorist organization was dropped against 10 out of the 27 in a plea bargain.^[8] Most served short terms, and the ringleaders were pardoned and released in 1990.