Troubled by Bibi Netanyahu's dismissal of Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Thomas Friedman concludes his latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel-Palestine" by observing:
"So Netanyahu, who only acts the way the wind blows, purged Yaalon. With that move, said the Hebrew University religious philosopher Moshe Halbertal, we are witnessing 'Israel’s ruling party being transformed from a hawkish nationalist party that used to have a humanitarian and democratic base, into an ultranationalist party that is now defined by turning against the ‘enemies’ from within — the courts, the NGOs, the education system, the Arab minority and now, the army — anyone who stands in the way of their project of permanent occupation of the West Bank. Having failed to deliver a solution for the enemies on the outside, so now Likud is focused on the enemies inside. This is a major transformation in Israel and should be looked upon with great concern.' The army’s leadership, added Halbertal, 'is trying to transcend this war of all against all and impose moral order on chaos rather than inflame it for narrow political gains.'
Netanyahu does just the opposite. For those of us who care about Israel’s future, this is a dark hour."
Yesterday, I voiced my dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's decision. On the other hand, it need be noted that Israel is not Turkey. There will be elections, and I will be very surprised if Netanyahu, currently embroiled in a scandal, will remain Israel's prime minister.
Heck, Tom, a "dark hour"? Spare me! I am more concerned by the American electorate having to choose between Hillary and Donald.
Perhaps TomF is laying the narrative to make the 2016DemPartyPlatform position on Israel sound "even-handed" to voters.
ReplyDeleteCoincidental timing same week after news broke on platform committee names, e.g., James Zogby and Cornel West?
Good riddance to Ya'alon. Best is to present the words of Meir Ettinger, the grandson of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who is soon to be released from administrative detention where he has been for 7 months with no charges leveled against him, and no evidence to bring any case against him:
ReplyDelete"The Nationalist Crimes Unit [of the Shin Bet] was created three years ago by Tzipi…to eradicate nationalist crimes, i.e. actions of what are known as Jewish ‘rebels’ who, for their part, feel that they are acting to prevent the further deterioration of the state of Israel.
The officials in this unit harass those they suspect and try to put as many as possible behind bars….
When a Jew’s blood is spilled in a terror attack, they go from yeshiva to yeshiva, town to town, to insure that there will be no response, other than an op-ed column by a family member…..
The fact is that the security services have been acting for a long time now as if the main enemy of the State of Israel is Jewish children who move to the hills of Judea and Samaria (‘Hilltop Youth’) and that helping these youngsters is akin to treason….
The Unit has declared us the enemy."
It is less a "dark day" now, but one where a chink of light shines, albeit timidly. Netanyahu's "project" is to permanently occupy the "West Bank"? We can only hope. It is what G-d would wish.
This NY Times goon is correct in saying that Likud has been focused on the "enemy inside"---a focus that, now without that traitorous wretch, Ya'alon, may finally be done away with.