All entries for November 2006

Leiberman and Isreal

..[to push through] a strategic vision for the final solution of how Isreal will look in 20-25 years time

This is the policy of Avigdor Lieberman, the newly appointed Isreali deputy prime minister, in his own words. An ultra-rightwinger, and former protege of Bibi Netanyahu, the appointment shows us the depressing state of Isreali politics.

This is a man who gained his popularity through propagating race-hatred, and openly advocates the expulsion of Arabs from Isreal controlled lands and has made it clear his aim of creating a racially-pure state.

Jorg Haider and Marie Le Pen, of Austria and France respectively, are rightly shunned and ridiculed for their fascist views, but in Isreal, we have reached a state of affairs where politicians like Leiberman are rewarded with a top government position.

Perhaps more distressing is the reaction from the supposedly more “progressive” Labour wing of the government coalition. By reaction, I mean non-reaction. Only one minister has resigned over the appointment. Labour are now allied to members of the ultra-rightwing. As Zehava Galon, leader of the small leftwing Meretz party, says, “there is no leftwing…in Isreal now.” Policy will continue to be dictated by hawks, and the only result can be further oppression, further violence and further distance from a sustainable peace.

: 02 Nov 2006 14:47 |  Tags: Isreal |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem