All
kinds of video clips - especially from the right wing have gone viral. These
clips are bordering on the humorous as well as attacking those on the left wing of the political spectrum. The problem is that the right wing, especially the
settler leadership in the occupied territories, are using Nazi tactics to
dehumanize the left wing, who do not hold right wing, religious, Zionist views
that oppose the occupation.
The
upcoming general election is the most aggressive, filthiest election campaign
in Israel ’s
history. While all election campaigns in Israel are lively and aggressive
electioneering is dominant, new lows have been reached in this campaign. The
use of character assassination tactics does not add to fair publicity and the
important issues that need to be addressed.
The
hedonistic lifestyle of PM Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu and his wife have been
well described in the State Comptroller’s Report, which was published a
month before the election date. This has created grist to the mill of those
opposing Netanyahu as being re-elected as Prime Minister. Whether it will
influence the outcome, remains to be seen. Bibi is surrounded by a group of
very loyal Likud Party hacks that seek every opportunity to “whitewash” Bibi on
TV, internet and in the press. They are in denial and claim that this Report is
part of an organized “smear campaign” against Bibi and the Likud. Naturally
they accuse the left of carrying out this smear campaign, whether it is their
extravagant living, Sarah Netanyahu pocketing bottle-deposit money as well as
exploiting the staff in the Prime Minister’s residence and private homes. Likud
will not win an absolute majority but they will win a mandate or two more than
the left of center Zionist Camp. The Israeli Electorate are moving towards the
right and they will support center to right of center political parties that
will be the natural coalition partners with the Likud.
While
the Comptroller’s Report is on the way to be the basis of a criminal
investigation into the misuse of state funds by the Netanyahu family and is an
embarrassment to Netanyahu, it will not affect the right wing outcome of the
elections. Islamophobia and racism against Arabs (which unfortunately is on the
increase in Israel )
is a strong factor in influencing the final election results.
The
Bayit Yehudi Party (Jewish Home Party) under Naftali Bennett’s leadership have
come out with shocking statements in their election campaign,
accusing the left of not having learn’t the lessons of Late PM Yitzhak
Rabin’s assassination on November 5th 1995. What Lessons? This is
the same as saying that the Zionists are responsible for ISIS! The
assassin, Yigal Amir, who shot Yitzhak Rabin on that fateful night (I was
present at that Peace Assembly when it occurred) came from the extreme right
wing camp. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. According to reports, Yigal Amir and his family are
supporters of Bennett and his Bayit Hayehudi Party. So which pot is
calling the kettle black? Naftali Bennett has also been accusing the left of
being traitors to Israel
and inciting his supporters against them. Such hypocrisy!!! The criticism that
I can make is the portrayal of Naftali Bennett as a Nazi. This is shocking and
to be condemned in the strongest terms no less. It is an example of another low
to which this election campaign has reached.
The
Zionist Camp, even it wins a mandate or two more than the Likud will have a
more difficult time than the Likud in forming a coalition government for the
reasons already mentioned. The balance of power remains in the hands of the
Joint Arab List that according to the latest polls will be the third largest
party. The raising of the electoral threshold of the political parties has
forced the Arab parties to unite creating a considerable political force that
cannot be ignored when it comes to coalition building, especially by the left
of center if the President approaches them to form the next government.
If
the Joint Arab List is considered a potential partner in a left of center
government coalition, they will have to agree to a common denominator that is
acceptable to the Zionist Camp, if not, they will have to share the
responsibility of the Likud being entrusted with forming the next coalition
that will leave them in the opposition. If the Joint Arab List and Meretz were
to form a common list, the chances of a change of government would have been
increased. This list would definitely be a very strong political force which
would influence a new original coalition deal that would be very interesting as
well as challenging old outdated ideologies and be more representative of all
Israel's citizens. This could also leave an option open for religious parties
to join if they so desire. Unfortunately the chance of this happening is very
remote if not impossible with the present mindset in the Israeli Electorate.
