Whither the Zionist Camp Party and in with Yisrael Beitenu

After the Israeli General Elections of 15th March 2015, Yitzhak Herzog - the Leader of the Zionist Camp and the Opposition, stated unequivocally that he has no intention of joining the Netanyahu Coalition Government. Many people voted for the Zionist Camp because they wanted change. Yitzchak Herzog lacks the charisma to be very convincing as a Leader of the Opposition. His popularity is slipping in the polls as he began crawling with a squeak or two into the arms of the most right wing coalition government in Israel’s history. He has gone back on his word and is on a path of self-destruction politically.

It is amazing that the Labor Party has always managed to survive, despite all its failures and

Yitzhak "Buji" Herzog Leader of Zionist Camp Party

sell outs to previous Likud-led coalitions in the past. The left of center opposition to the right wing government is on a downhill course and the stalwarts of the Labor movement were kicked in the butt, as in the past by groveling into a right wing coalition. This time there was a twist, after the wily Netanyahu had twisted Yitzchak Herzog round his little finger, offering him nothing - in comes Avigdor Lieberman, Leader of Yisrael Beitenu, and he gets offered the Defense Ministry on a plate, leaving Herzog out in the cold, spitting and screaming, blaming the “ultra-left “in his party, citing Zionist Camp MK, Shelli Yacimovich, as an example. Herzog justifies his failure by attacking his fellow members as attack is the best form of defense.

Avigdor Lieberman - incoming Defense Minister

Yitzchak Herzog has proved to be a weak opposition leader. He is now out in the cold, with egg yolk all over his face. Netanyahu has turned him into a laughing stock. Even members of the Zionist Camp are turning against him. Herzog has proved once again that he is no match for Netanyahu and he has no chance of gaining popularity to replace him as prime minister in the next elections. He should make the correct decision and resign. Instead of admitting his own folly he blamed everybody else and is trying to wipe the egg off his face threatening to lead a fighting opposition which he never did over the past 14 months. He was never consistent and did his best to move to the right by stating that his party is not an Arab-lover’s party.

Netanyahu has become paranoid with power. He has fired Defense Minister, Moshe Ya’alon

Moshe Ya'alon - outgoing Defense Minister

, who has knowledge of the IDF having been Chief-of-Staff and a career officer. Avigdor Lieberman is a right wing, racist - demagogue with no military experience or understanding even according to Netanyahu’s own description of him as “the man who isn’t qualified to be a military analyst,” as he put it a few weeks ago. Why has Netanyahu made such a bizarre choice? Lieberman is a super-hawk who will lead Israel to disaster and will do much damage to the IDF that will take years to repair. Lieberman has made irresponsible statements in the past such as his desire to blow up the Aswan Dam in Egypt.

This disastrous appointment could not come at a worse time, when General Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi, President of Egypt, was making overtures towards Israel about peace and becoming more involved in peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Now this stands to be scuttled because of the Lieberman appointment. Windows of opportunity for improving Israel’s relationships with its Arab neighbours do not often occur, but when it does, Netanyahu must share the blame of closing the doors by making disastrous cabinet appointments. Even veteran Likud Member of the Knesset, Benny Begin, stated that Netanyahu’s choice of Lieberman as Defense Minister is a bad alternative to Moshe Ya’alon as well as being bizarre. Moshe Ya’alon also encouraged senior officers to speak their minds over moral issues and educate their soldiers to act in a moral and ethical way even if it goes against the grain of accepted discourse. Ya’alon did not venture into politics in his statements as Netanyahu claimed. However had Ya’alon and the Deputy Chief-of-Staff spoken positively about the morality of the settlements in the West Bank this would have been viewed favorably by Netanyahu and Ya’alon would not have been axed. Democracy in Israel is on the road to being compromised by the self-righteous Netanyahu-Bennett-Shaked, and the latest addition, Lieberman Axis

Netanyahu was angry with his Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon because he supported the deputy Chief-of Staff, Yair Golan, who made a speech comparing developments in Israel with pre-Nazi Germany. Ya’alon also condemned the shooting of a dying Palestinian terrorist by the soldier, Elor Azaria, who had gone against IDF protocol in his actions and committed a crime of murder that had been softened to an indictment of culpable homicide. Most of the right wing, including Avigdor Liberman, the incoming Defense Minister, believed that the soldier should be freed. This was the sounding bell for the axing of Ya’alon from the Defense Portfolio. Netanyahu viewed the IDF leadership as a potential threat to his power. Nothing could be further from the truth! There are no grounds for Netanyahu’s assumption, apart from a hidden paranoia, and fear of losing his grip. The senior officers in the IDF just wished to maintain the reputation of the IDF as being clean and fair. If this is a threat to Netanyahu’s hold on power resulting in the appointment of Liberman as Defense Minister, despite the bad blood between the two of them, then there is a severe problem. This appointment of Avigdor Liberman was the rabbit out of the hat, well concealed from Herzog during the antics of negotiations to bring the Zionist Camp into the Netanyahu Coalition.

Moshe Ya’alon is an honest man; he is in the same league as MK Benny Begin and President Reuven Rivlin, who believe in the importance of ethics and fairness as well as making responsible decisions for the benefit of the country. PM Netanyahu is NOT in that league and the dismissal of Moshe Ya’alon from the defense portfolio is proof of Netanyahu’s political whims and fancies that is negative for Israel. Netanyahu is a scheming politician, who will do anything to placate his extremist right wing flank in power.  He stuck a knife in Moshe Ya’alon’s back and Ya’alon paid the price for his ethical stand and judgment. Talk about the Palestinians not being a partner for peace negotiations - is Netanyahu any different? Is he a potential partner for peace talks? If Netanyahu pulls out dirty tricks from the cupboard against his own cabinet ministers, can he be viewed as being trustworthy and honest?

Moshe Ya’alon has resigned his seat in the Knesset and has decided to leave politics to the wolves for the time being. Israel has lost an excellent Defense Minister and time will expose the folly of Netanyahu’s bad decision. His place in the Knesset will be replaced by Rabbi Yehuda Glick, a strong rabble rouser for the right to pray on the Temple Mount. Glick has had a number of confrontations with the law enforcement authorities on this issue as well as being a victim of an assassination attempt.

Where do all these developments leave the Zionist Camp? Nowhere! As mentioned earlier in this article, the Zionist Camp has taken a bashing as it usually does. Israel needs a strong opposition that can offer a realistic alternative to the present Netanyahu Government. A realignment of the left is essential for this to occur. Many Zionist Camp members feel a sense of betrayal by their leader, Yitzhak “Buji” Herzog. The opposition should be all encompassing of left wing political parties wishing to bring an end to the Netanyahu Coalition rule and sharing a common platform in this effort. No party should be ruled out in this effort, including the Joint List. In fact, Ayman Odeh, is the leader of the largest opposition party in the Knesset. He should be the future opposition leader replacing Herzog, whose Zionist Camp is losing support as a result of Herzog’s attempt to enter the right wing government with the lame excuse that Netanyahu will change direction. Netanyahu, during his eight years of being prime minister, has not changed and will not change in the future. He pays lip service to a two-state solution but he does not support it under any circumstances in reality.

Dilemma - Possible Human Rights Abuse or anti-Israel Activity?

Lately there have been a lot of emotional discussions as to whether the NGO - Breaking the Silence - is investigating soldiers’ testimonies on human rights abuses of the IDF on a defenseless, innocent Palestinian population and using these testimonies to bash Israel internationally. There are people, who define the activities of Breaking the Silence as treasonable or treacherous. Those who do so have no understanding of the word “treason”

This word has been used colloquially in Israel to label anybody who does not agree with the Netanyahu Coalition Government line. Netanyahu Coalition pundits are giving “treason” a very wide definition, encompassing those who oppose the government line. Labeling Breaking the Silence and weakening their activity by passing laws that are close to outlawing them is detrimental to Israel’s vibrant democracy.

Breaking the Silence does pose a problem as it can be viewed in two ways:

1. It can be viewed as a watchdog for upholding human rights of innocent Palestinians in a war situation where Israeli soldiers enter Palestinian homes with search warrants for weapons or signs of hostility and prevention of looting by IDF.
2. It can be viewed as an NGO whose main purpose is to gain testimony from soldiers, who had served in the various campaigns in Gaza, claiming human rights abuse that are made public, even to countries who seek every opportunity to bash Israel on these issues. Hostile countries do wait for opportunities like this.  

Testimonies of soldiers made public are also available to those, who are hostile to Israel. This, unfortunately, is the price that is paid by a democratic country - the price of openness. This does not negate the importance of watchdog activity by an NGO such as Breaking the Silence. It is no less important that the IDF does examine itself in this sphere, despite the problems, and establish a committee to investigate the authenticity of these soldiers’ testimonies. It is not enough to say that “The IDF is the most moral army in the world.” The function of human rights NGO is to ensure that this statement remains true. This does not mean that all those, who serve in the IDF, have committed crimes against innocent Palestinians.  

If high ranking generals in the IDF, who had served with distinction, such as General Amiram Levin, support Breaking the Silence, we must bear in mind that they know what they are talking about. I do respect the high ranking officers’ decision in supporting Breaking the Silence. If these generals feel the importance of this NGO, who are we to question.   These high ranking generals are not traitors to Israel. They held responsible positions in the IDF and in the intelligence service as well as being entrusted with state secrets. In an ad in the liberal Haaretz daily titled “I too am breaking my silence,” former Shin Bet security service director and navy commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Ami Ayalon, and retired Northern District police chief Deputy Commissioner (ret.) Elik Ron wrote that Breaking the Silence, which is at the center of a fierce debate on the limits of free speech in Israel, strengthens the IDF and its morality.

Most human rights NGOs receive funds from the EU, US and some countries who have a political agenda against Israel. The NGOs involved in pro-Israeli government activities such as Im Tirtzu and other pro-settlement activity beyond the green line, receive funding from private donors (or “philanthropists” such as Irwin Moskowitz) as well as government subsidies. (In 2009, Im Tirtzu’s largest donor was the John Hagee Ministries (JHM) via the Christian-Zionist organization Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Im Tirtzu received US$100,000 from JHM and $34,000 from other sources. In 2010, The Jerusalem Post reported that JHM "expressed deep displeasure" with Im Tirtzu after its campaigns against the New Israel Fund and Ben-Gurion University and announced the cessation of its funding. A JHM spokesman said that Im Tirtzu "misrepresented its focus when they told us their mission was strictly Zionist education."^[55]

The group's spokesperson, Erez Tadmor, was found guilty of embezzling munitions from the Israeli military.^[56]

The organization was accused of acting in an Anti-Semitic fashion, including emulating Nazi propaganda, in its criticisms of U.S. Ambassador Martin Indyk and of the New Israel Fund.^{[57][58]  From Wikipedia )}

All NGOs, irrespective of political leanings, accept donations from any source sympathetic to the causes they represent. They are not concerned with the origin of donors’ funds. The main point is that the sources should be transparent and be held accountable for the amount of money they donate.

Another evil, racist organization, Lehava, is also involved in preventing assimilation of Jews in Israel with Arabs. They are more militant in contrast to Bayit Hayehudi of its leader, Naftali Bennett, and now the Minister of Education. The latter wants to instil a religious right wing Zionist education in the Department of Education and prevent students from gaining access to books or novels that are about intermarriage between Arabs and Jews. Here the similarity to the Lehava ideology is blatant.

In a democratic country, education should be non-political. Healthy discussion with responsible, objective moderation should be encouraged. The same is true of Breaking the Silence. There should be NGO monitoring of activities (not concerned with security secrets) in the IDF as well as the government law-making process to ensure that democratic values and transparency remains paramount. 

Holocaust Context Today

It has become rather trendy to equate the Israeli occupation with all sort  of stereotypes and mantras. The occupation is a problem caused by the inability of the Arab states to recognize Israel's right to exist. Mainstream Palestinian thought today is according to the Hamas Charter. The PA is weak and has very little support in Palestinian street. Most Palestinians want peace but the PA leadership claiming to represent them, fear Hamas.

We are all aware of the wars that Israel fought to defend its citizens against Arab aggression prior to the June 1967 Six Day War. Israel was forced to carry out a preemptive strike after President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, had closed off the Tiran Straits, choking Israel's shipping just after he (Nasser) ordered the UN observers to leave the area. Israel won the war and occupied the West Bank, Golan Heights, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula and East Jerusalem. Prior to 1967, Israel never had occupied Palestinian lands and yet the desire to destroy Israel from the day of its establishment remained in the mindset of the Arab countries. As far as Hamas is concerned, the whole of Israel, established since 1948 is occupied territory and not just the areas occupied after the Six Day War.

What is happening today? Various Palestinian terrorist groups or "Freedom Fighters" infiltrate Israel carrying out terrorist attacks against innocent Israelis. Many act on their own as individuals, ramming civilians in Jerusalem with vehicles at their disposal, stabbings or suicide attacks. “Peacemaking” NGOs, who have adopted the Palestinian cause against the Israeli occupation, arrived as volunteers to get involved in so-called coexistence projects. Superficially it seems noble but in practice, these organizations are indulged in spreading lies and hate against Israel as well as exaggerating the plight of the Palestinians and IDF abuse of them. Their silence on Palestinian terror gives a clear sign as to whom they support.

These NGOs are funded by many European countries and the whole plan is to delegitimize Israel by creating falsehoods about Israel's treatment of Palestinians. The BDS movement is a ramification of these NGO activities to wear Israel down in the hope of capitulation to Palestinian "freedom movements” such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other splinter terrorist groups whose aim is Israel's total destruction.

Many of us were deceived by these European funded NGOs into believing in the nobility of their cause for peace. These "peacemakers" glorify the Palestinians. They do not know the history of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict or Middle Eastern history, let alone Palestinians.

They equate Israel's treatment of the Palestinians with apartheid South Africa and Nazi Germany. They even talk about Israel's acts of genocide against Palestinians. These self-righteous, ignorant, double standard, hypocrites come to Israel to spread their ignorant lies. Why do they not go to Syria, Iraq and Yemen, where there is bloodshed, killings of a dimension that boggles the mind? In these countries Arabs kill each other and no condemnation of worth is uttered in the UN. What about the persecution of Christians in these countries who are being killed like vermin as well as Muslims who do not follow Jabhat el Nusra and ISIS? This proves that underneath all the NGO "peace motives" is a more sinister all encompassing, race hatred - anti-Semitism! They deny this of course, by saying that they hold the Jewish People and Israel to a "higher standard" and feel they must speak out against the "cruel oppression of the Palestinians" that Israel commits, calling it "war crimes" against Palestinians.  There are some Israelis in the employ of these NGOs, who invent stories about torture of Palestinians and create a new truth by uttering lies and distortions that are publicized in the media sympathetic to the Palestinian cause whatever that represents. Tell a lie often enough and it becomes the truth. This was evident in Operation Naked Edge in July/August 2014 in Gaza.

The aftermath of this last war in Gaza witnessed a rise in anti-Semitism the likes of which has never been experienced since the end of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. The sympathy for the Palestinian fight against the occupation has taken root in Europe. Attacks against Jews, destruction of synagogues and this is all the result of a resurgence of classic anti-Semitism that has reached a zenith in France with an attack on a kosher Supermarket in Paris as well as anti-Semitic attacks gaining momentum in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and many other European countries. It is a weird mix of classic anti-Semitism and Islamist extremism that has overtaken Europe. IS has its roots in many mosques in Europe, brainwashing European youth to their cause for establishing a caliphate in their home countries with fiery Imams delivering the most rabid anti-Semitic sermons that has become anti-Christian as well.

The Western world stands in silence while the US kowtows to the wily President Hassan Rouhani of Iran - the charming sugar-coated bitter pill of the cruel, despotic ayatollah regime of Khamenei and its hate of the US and Israel. Pathetic! Is President Obama the modern Neville Chamberlain appeasing Iran? Time will tell and that time is on Iran's side, not on the side of the civilized world. The Holocaust denials - part of Iran's stock and trade, as well as of many NGOs active in the Palestinian quest for freedom from Israeli occupation.

These self-righteous, hypocritical, double standard NGOs should be sent to Syria, Iraq and Iran to monitor human rights and torture, where they can promote peace. Israel is easy meat for them. In the above mentioned countries, they will be beheaded in no time while their allies in the UN will remain apathetic to their plight.

The attempt at creating conditions for committing genocide against the Jews has never been as rife as it is today since the end of World War 2. The anti-Semitism has even spread to places as far as South Africa, Australia and even New Zealand firing the imagination of many Muslims in these countries Thank you, European NGOs, for fomenting anti-Semitism and xenophobia internationally in countries where it was never an issue.