Abraham “Avrum” Burg is one of the most provocative and intellectually profound figures in contemporary Israeli politics. Born into a prestigious Jewish lineage as the son of Yosef Burg, a legendary leader of Religious Zionism, his life has been inextricably linked to the State of Israel. This background provides him with a unique vantage point to reflect on and critique nationalism from deep within the Jewish tradition.
Throughout his illustrious career, Burg ascended to the very heights of the Israeli power structure. He served as the Speaker of the Knesset and Chairman of the Jewish Agency, and even briefly functioned as the acting President of Israel. His professional achievements are marked not only by these high offices but also by his intellectual courage; through his influential writings, such as The Holocaust Is Over, he has urged Israeli society to move beyond historical trauma toward a more universal humanitarianism.
This evolution from an establishment insider to a “dissenter” is most vividly expressed in his fervent support for Palestinian rights. Burg has openly declared that he is no longer a Zionist in the traditional sense, denouncing the occupation as “immoral and self-destructive” while advocating for a democratic state based on total equality for all citizens. His support is manifested in both his global advocacy for Palestinian dignity and his active participation in movements aimed at dismantling ethnic barriers, seeking to replace exclusive nationalism with a more inclusive Jewish ethic.
He is also one of the initiators of the 2025 petition, “Global Jewish Call on the UN and World Leaders to Sanction Israel.”