According to the Jewish Labour Movement’s ‘Sister Party ‘Settlements represent the ‘beautiful face of Zionism’
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| “The beautiful face of Zionism”- protecting settlements from the natives. A checkpoint in the Jordan Valley, which “must remain” under Israeli state control; photo on January 2, 2014 by Uri Lenz/Flash90 |
Officially both the Jewish Labour Movement and Labour
Friends of Israel are in favour of a 2 State Solution. However it is axiomatic that a genuine Palestinian
state can’t come into existence whilst the Zionist settlement blocks are in existence.
Friends of Israel are in favour of a 2 State Solution. However it is axiomatic that a genuine Palestinian
state can’t come into existence whilst the Zionist settlement blocks are in existence.
The present Israeli cabinet’
viewpoint is explained well in Ben White’s excellent new pamphlet Israeli
incitement, rejectionism & anti-Palestinian racism. As Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan explained:
viewpoint is explained well in Ben White’s excellent new pamphlet Israeli
incitement, rejectionism & anti-Palestinian racism. As Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan explained:
I think all the members of the
cabinet oppose a Palestinian state, and the prime minister first among them.
cabinet oppose a Palestinian state, and the prime minister first among them.
‘“We need to return to the basic truth of our rights
to this country,” she said. “This land is ours. All of it is ours. We did not
come here to apologise for that.”
to this country,” she said. “This land is ours. All of it is ours. We did not
come here to apologise for that.”
However it is not only Likud that opposes a 2 State
Solution. So too does the Israeli Labour
Party. Its position of no withdrawal of
the settlements means that there cannot be a Palestinian state. Of course it still hypocritically pretends
that there can be a Palestinian state but what it is really talking about is a Bantustan
or a series of Bantustans, the model that was first pioneered in Apartheid South
Africa.
Solution. So too does the Israeli Labour
Party. Its position of no withdrawal of
the settlements means that there cannot be a Palestinian state. Of course it still hypocritically pretends
that there can be a Palestinian state but what it is really talking about is a Bantustan
or a series of Bantustans, the model that was first pioneered in Apartheid South
Africa.
The reason why LFI and JLM parade their ‘support’ of a 2 State Solution (whilst opposing any criticism whatsoever of Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza) is because they know there will never be a 2 state solution. Any genuine supporter of such a solution would, as a precondition oppose the Military Occupation and demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. They would oppose the military courts, the use of torture, administrative detention, the checkpoints and the theft of Palestinian land.
The JLM and LFI do none of these things.
As Uri Avnery explains, the Israeli
Labour Party, which resembles a political corpse without a purpose, has elected
a new leader, Avi Gabbay. He has barely
been a member of the party for more than 5 minutes, having previously served in
Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Labour Party, which resembles a political corpse without a purpose, has elected
a new leader, Avi Gabbay. He has barely
been a member of the party for more than 5 minutes, having previously served in
Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet.
The ILP have reached for someone
on the Right in the hope of fooling Israel’s electorate that the Israeli Labour
Party too is on the Right.
on the Right in the hope of fooling Israel’s electorate that the Israeli Labour
Party too is on the Right.
Logically there really is no
reason for the ILP to have to convince anyone it is not on the Left. It was the original party of government in Israel
for 30 years. It waged 3 wars and
launched numerous attacks on its neighbours.
For most of its time in government Israel’s Arabs were under military
rule. It developed the nuclear bomb,
expelled the Palestinian refugees and formed the alliance with the United
States. It developed all the structures
of Zionist Apartheid that we see today.
However even the word ‘Labour’ is likely to put people off in a state
where even the word ‘leftist’ is a term of abuse.
reason for the ILP to have to convince anyone it is not on the Left. It was the original party of government in Israel
for 30 years. It waged 3 wars and
launched numerous attacks on its neighbours.
For most of its time in government Israel’s Arabs were under military
rule. It developed the nuclear bomb,
expelled the Palestinian refugees and formed the alliance with the United
States. It developed all the structures
of Zionist Apartheid that we see today.
However even the word ‘Labour’ is likely to put people off in a state
where even the word ‘leftist’ is a term of abuse.
The problem for the ILP was in
bringing in the Arab Jews to form a Jewish working class and then treating them
like dirt. The ILP was a party of the
Ashkenazi Jews and after a time these poor whites decided to vote, in 1977, for
Menachem Begin of Likud. With just two
interruptions, the history of Israeli governments since then has been a history
of the rule of Likud in alliance mainly with far-Right and religious parties
(Shimon Peres was a rotating Prime Minister in 1984).
bringing in the Arab Jews to form a Jewish working class and then treating them
like dirt. The ILP was a party of the
Ashkenazi Jews and after a time these poor whites decided to vote, in 1977, for
Menachem Begin of Likud. With just two
interruptions, the history of Israeli governments since then has been a history
of the rule of Likud in alliance mainly with far-Right and religious parties
(Shimon Peres was a rotating Prime Minister in 1984).
As former leader Shelly
Yacimovich admits, the Israeli Labour Party is not and never has been a
left-wing party. It was always
resolutely opposed to class politics, even of the social democratic
version It was a party of Jewish labour
and it believed that the national struggle against the indigenous Arabs was the
class struggle. The Arabs were transformed
into the class enemy and the Jewish capitalists were their friends. Ben Gurion coined the slogan ‘from class to
nation’ to accommodate this perspective.
Yacimovich admits, the Israeli Labour Party is not and never has been a
left-wing party. It was always
resolutely opposed to class politics, even of the social democratic
version It was a party of Jewish labour
and it believed that the national struggle against the indigenous Arabs was the
class struggle. The Arabs were transformed
into the class enemy and the Jewish capitalists were their friends. Ben Gurion coined the slogan ‘from class to
nation’ to accommodate this perspective.
Professor Zeev Sternhell’s
Founding Myths of Israel describes
how it is a myth to ever believe that the ILP ever had a socialist
beginning. From the start its 2
components – Ahdut Haavodah and Hapoel Hatzair- which merged in 1930 to form
Mapai, were resolutely anti-socialist.
Founding Myths of Israel describes
how it is a myth to ever believe that the ILP ever had a socialist
beginning. From the start its 2
components – Ahdut Haavodah and Hapoel Hatzair- which merged in 1930 to form
Mapai, were resolutely anti-socialist.
What is an outrage is that this
openly racist party is proudly described
by the Jewish Labour Movement as its ‘sister’ party.
openly racist party is proudly described
by the Jewish Labour Movement as its ‘sister’ party.
The
ILP’s leader previous leader Isaac Herzog was no slouch when it came to racism. Herzog declared that his nightmare was waking up to find that Israel had a
Palestinian Prime Minister and 61 Palestinian Members of Israel’s Knesset
. Who
needs the Right when we have Isaac Herzog? Herzog also declared
that he wanted to dispel the false impression that the ILP were ‘Arab
Lovers’ Herzog
slammed for remark about ‘Arab lovers’. Imagine that someone had said
their nightmare was to wake up and find Britain had a Jewish Prime Minister or
that the Labour Party was not a ‘Jew lovers’ party. The term ‘Jew lover’
and ‘N***** Lover’ used to be part of the language of the National Front and
BNP. The fact that it trips off the tongue of the head of Israeli Labour
should be an indication of what Zionism and the JLM are really about.
ILP’s leader previous leader Isaac Herzog was no slouch when it came to racism. Herzog declared that his nightmare was waking up to find that Israel had a
Palestinian Prime Minister and 61 Palestinian Members of Israel’s Knesset
. Who
needs the Right when we have Isaac Herzog? Herzog also declared
that he wanted to dispel the false impression that the ILP were ‘Arab
Lovers’ Herzog
slammed for remark about ‘Arab lovers’. Imagine that someone had said
their nightmare was to wake up and find Britain had a Jewish Prime Minister or
that the Labour Party was not a ‘Jew lovers’ party. The term ‘Jew lover’
and ‘N***** Lover’ used to be part of the language of the National Front and
BNP. The fact that it trips off the tongue of the head of Israeli Labour
should be an indication of what Zionism and the JLM are really about.
It
is a complete disgrace that the JLM has not been disaffiliated from the Labour
Party. When Michael Kalmanovitz suggested at the Free Speech on Israel meeting at Labour Party conference that the Jewish
Labour Movement should be disaffiliated, the Right went into hysterics. After all ‘supporting the world’s only Jewish state is a mainstream and
longstanding Labour position’. So is
supporting the world’s only Apartheid state!
It is difficult sometimes to get it across that religious states went out
of fashion around the late 18th century with the French
Revolution. The identification of a
state with a religion, especially a state that gives privileges to members of a
particular religion, is a badge of racism.
The Zionists often point to the Islamic states of Iran and Saudi Arabia. These are not exactly model states but the role
of Islam is to legitimate the repression that Muslims experience not to accord
them privileges.
is a complete disgrace that the JLM has not been disaffiliated from the Labour
Party. When Michael Kalmanovitz suggested at the Free Speech on Israel meeting at Labour Party conference that the Jewish
Labour Movement should be disaffiliated, the Right went into hysterics. After all ‘supporting the world’s only Jewish state is a mainstream and
longstanding Labour position’. So is
supporting the world’s only Apartheid state!
It is difficult sometimes to get it across that religious states went out
of fashion around the late 18th century with the French
Revolution. The identification of a
state with a religion, especially a state that gives privileges to members of a
particular religion, is a badge of racism.
The Zionists often point to the Islamic states of Iran and Saudi Arabia. These are not exactly model states but the role
of Islam is to legitimate the repression that Muslims experience not to accord
them privileges.
The
Israeli Labour Party is a party of segregation and Jewish supremacy. It openly states that it does not believe Jews
and Arabs can co-exist in one state. Its
attitude to its sole Arab MK, Zouheir Bahloul is instructive.
Because he refused to attend the Balfour Day celebrations he has been
told he will not be allowed to stand for the ILP again. He was expected to be an Arab Zionist and celebrate the misfortune of his own people. The only reason an Arab is a member is
because historically the ILP gained a significant but today declining
percentage of the old clientist Arab vote.
Israeli Labour Party is a party of segregation and Jewish supremacy. It openly states that it does not believe Jews
and Arabs can co-exist in one state. Its
attitude to its sole Arab MK, Zouheir Bahloul is instructive.
Because he refused to attend the Balfour Day celebrations he has been
told he will not be allowed to stand for the ILP again. He was expected to be an Arab Zionist and celebrate the misfortune of his own people. The only reason an Arab is a member is
because historically the ILP gained a significant but today declining
percentage of the old clientist Arab vote.
The
affiliation of the JLM to the Labour Party is a historical anachronism, a
left-over from the days when the Labour Party supported the British Empire. It was natural that since the Zionists were
partners in crime with British imperialism in Palestine that they should have a
privileged status in the Labour Party. This
was a position that Jeremy Corbyn used to support. Socialists should be raising this demand in
the Labour Party once again. Of course this has
nothing to do with expelling Jews from the Labour Party as the Zionists assert. On the contrary they could affiliated the newly formed Jewish Voices for Labour .
I’m not convinced that Jews should have a Jewish section in the Labour
Party but to appease the liberals I am not opposed to a non-Zionist Jewish section. However the present racist Zionist section should
be removed as soon as possible.
affiliation of the JLM to the Labour Party is a historical anachronism, a
left-over from the days when the Labour Party supported the British Empire. It was natural that since the Zionists were
partners in crime with British imperialism in Palestine that they should have a
privileged status in the Labour Party. This
was a position that Jeremy Corbyn used to support. Socialists should be raising this demand in
the Labour Party once again. Of course this has
nothing to do with expelling Jews from the Labour Party as the Zionists assert. On the contrary they could affiliated the newly formed Jewish Voices for Labour .
I’m not convinced that Jews should have a Jewish section in the Labour
Party but to appease the liberals I am not opposed to a non-Zionist Jewish section. However the present racist Zionist section should
be removed as soon as possible.
ONE DAY the
Israeli Labor Party felt that it needed a new leader.
Israeli Labor Party felt that it needed a new leader.
That happens to
this party every couple of years. The party is in bad shape. It looks more like
a political corpse than a living organism. Wanted: a new leader, charismatic,
energetic, enthusiastic.
this party every couple of years. The party is in bad shape. It looks more like
a political corpse than a living organism. Wanted: a new leader, charismatic,
energetic, enthusiastic.
So they found
Avi Gabbay.
Avi Gabbay.
Why him? Nobody
is really sure.
is really sure.
Avi Gabbay has
no visible qualities of political leadership. No charisma at all. No special
energy. No enthusiasm himself and no ability to inspire enthusiasm in others.
no visible qualities of political leadership. No charisma at all. No special
energy. No enthusiasm himself and no ability to inspire enthusiasm in others.
After serving
as a government employee dealing with the mobile phone industry, he himself
became the successful director of the largest mobile phone concern. Then he
went into politics and joined a moderate right-wing party, and was appointed
Minister for the Protection of the Environment. When the extreme right-winger
Avigdor Lieberman was appointed Minister of Defense, Gabbay resigned from the
government and his party and joined Labor. That was only a year ago.
as a government employee dealing with the mobile phone industry, he himself
became the successful director of the largest mobile phone concern. Then he
went into politics and joined a moderate right-wing party, and was appointed
Minister for the Protection of the Environment. When the extreme right-winger
Avigdor Lieberman was appointed Minister of Defense, Gabbay resigned from the
government and his party and joined Labor. That was only a year ago.
He has one
significant asset: he is a Mizrahi, an oriental Jew. His parents are immigrants
from Morocco, he is the seventh of eight children. Since the Labor party is
considered a Western, Ashkenazi, elitist grouping, these passive attributes are
important. Up to a point.
significant asset: he is a Mizrahi, an oriental Jew. His parents are immigrants
from Morocco, he is the seventh of eight children. Since the Labor party is
considered a Western, Ashkenazi, elitist grouping, these passive attributes are
important. Up to a point.
GABBAY DID not
waste time in presenting his political identity card.
waste time in presenting his political identity card.
First he made a
speech asserting that he will not sit in the same government with the
“Joint List”.
speech asserting that he will not sit in the same government with the
“Joint List”.
The Joint List
is the united (or disunited) list of the Arab community in Israel. It joins
together the three very different “Arab” parties: the Communist party, which is
overwhelmingly Arab, but includes some Jews (including a Jewish member of
parliament), the Balad party, which is secular and nationalist, and a religious
Islamic party.
is the united (or disunited) list of the Arab community in Israel. It joins
together the three very different “Arab” parties: the Communist party, which is
overwhelmingly Arab, but includes some Jews (including a Jewish member of
parliament), the Balad party, which is secular and nationalist, and a religious
Islamic party.
How come these
diverse parties created a joint list? They owe this achievement to the genius
of the great Arab-hater, Avigdor Lieberman (see above), who saw that all three
parties were small and decided to eliminate them by raising the electoral
threshold. But rather than perish separately they decided to survive together.
There is no doubt that their list represents the vast majority of Israel’s
Palestinian citizens, who constitute more than 20% of the population. Strange
as this may sound, every fifth Israeli is an Arab.
diverse parties created a joint list? They owe this achievement to the genius
of the great Arab-hater, Avigdor Lieberman (see above), who saw that all three
parties were small and decided to eliminate them by raising the electoral
threshold. But rather than perish separately they decided to survive together.
There is no doubt that their list represents the vast majority of Israel’s
Palestinian citizens, who constitute more than 20% of the population. Strange
as this may sound, every fifth Israeli is an Arab.
The simple
numerical fact is that without the support of the Arab members in the Knesset,
no left-wing government can exist. Yitzhak Rabin would not have become prime
minister, and the Oslo agreement would not have come into being, without the
support “from the outside” of the Arab bloc.
numerical fact is that without the support of the Arab members in the Knesset,
no left-wing government can exist. Yitzhak Rabin would not have become prime
minister, and the Oslo agreement would not have come into being, without the
support “from the outside” of the Arab bloc.
Then why did
they not join Rabin’s government? Both sides were afraid of losing votes. Many
Jews cannot envision a government including Arabs, and many Arabs cannot
envision their representatives sharing “collective responsibility” in
a government mainly occupied with fighting Arabs.
they not join Rabin’s government? Both sides were afraid of losing votes. Many
Jews cannot envision a government including Arabs, and many Arabs cannot
envision their representatives sharing “collective responsibility” in
a government mainly occupied with fighting Arabs.
This has not
changed. It is highly unlikely that the Arabs would join a Gabbay government if
invited, and even more unlikely that they would receive such an invitation.
changed. It is highly unlikely that the Arabs would join a Gabbay government if
invited, and even more unlikely that they would receive such an invitation.
So why make
such a declaration? Gabbay is no fool. Far from it. He believes that the Arabs
are in his pocket anyhow. They could not join a Likud government. By making a
blatantly anti-Arab declaration, he hopes to attract right-wing voters.
such a declaration? Gabbay is no fool. Far from it. He believes that the Arabs
are in his pocket anyhow. They could not join a Likud government. By making a
blatantly anti-Arab declaration, he hopes to attract right-wing voters.
His
predecessor, Yitzhak Herzog, publicly complained that too many people
considered the Labor party to consist of “Arab-lovers”. Terrible.
predecessor, Yitzhak Herzog, publicly complained that too many people
considered the Labor party to consist of “Arab-lovers”. Terrible.
IF ANYONE hoped
that this was a one-time anomaly, Gabbay put them right. After the first blow
came more.
that this was a one-time anomaly, Gabbay put them right. After the first blow
came more.
He declared
that “we have no partner for peace”. This is the most dangerous
slogan of the populists. “No partner” means that there is no sense in
making an effort. There will never be peace. Never ever.
that “we have no partner for peace”. This is the most dangerous
slogan of the populists. “No partner” means that there is no sense in
making an effort. There will never be peace. Never ever.
He declared
that God promised the Jews the entire land between the sea and the Jordan. That
is not quite correct: God promised us all the land from the Euphrates to the River
of Egypt. God never made good on that promise.
that God promised the Jews the entire land between the sea and the Jordan. That
is not quite correct: God promised us all the land from the Euphrates to the River
of Egypt. God never made good on that promise.
Last week
Gabbay declared that in any future peace agreement with the Palestinians, not a
single Jewish settlement in the West Bank would be evacuated.
Gabbay declared that in any future peace agreement with the Palestinians, not a
single Jewish settlement in the West Bank would be evacuated.
Until now,
there has been tacit agreement between Israeli and Palestinian peace activists
that peace will be based on a limited exchange of territories. The so-called
“settlement blocs” (clusters of settlements near the green-line
border) will be joined to Israel, and an equivalent area of Israeli territory
(for example, along the Gaza Strip) will be ceded to Palestine. This would
leave some dozens of “isolated” settlements in the West Bank,
generally inhabited by fanatical religious right-wingers, which must be
evacuated by force.
there has been tacit agreement between Israeli and Palestinian peace activists
that peace will be based on a limited exchange of territories. The so-called
“settlement blocs” (clusters of settlements near the green-line
border) will be joined to Israel, and an equivalent area of Israeli territory
(for example, along the Gaza Strip) will be ceded to Palestine. This would
leave some dozens of “isolated” settlements in the West Bank,
generally inhabited by fanatical religious right-wingers, which must be
evacuated by force.
Gabbay’s new
statement means that after a peace agreement, these islands of racist extremism
will continue to exist where they are. No Palestinian will ever agree to that.
It makes peace impossible, even in theory.
statement means that after a peace agreement, these islands of racist extremism
will continue to exist where they are. No Palestinian will ever agree to that.
It makes peace impossible, even in theory.
In general,
Gabbay agrees to the “two-state solution” – but under certain
conditions. First, the Israel army would be free to act throughout the
demilitarized Palestinian state. The Israeli army would also be positioned
along the Jordan River, turning the Palestinian “state” into a kind
of enclave.
Gabbay agrees to the “two-state solution” – but under certain
conditions. First, the Israel army would be free to act throughout the
demilitarized Palestinian state. The Israeli army would also be positioned
along the Jordan River, turning the Palestinian “state” into a kind
of enclave.
This is a
“peace plan” without takers. Gabbay is much too clever not to realize
this. But all this is not devised for Arab ears. It is meant to attract
right-wing Israelis. Since a Labor-led “center-left” coalition needs
rightist or religious votes, the reasoning looks sound. But it isn’t.
“peace plan” without takers. Gabbay is much too clever not to realize
this. But all this is not devised for Arab ears. It is meant to attract
right-wing Israelis. Since a Labor-led “center-left” coalition needs
rightist or religious votes, the reasoning looks sound. But it isn’t.
There is no
chance whatsoever that a significant number of rightists will move to the left,
even if the left is led by a person like Gabbay. Rightists detest the Labor
party, not since yesterday, but have done so for generations.
chance whatsoever that a significant number of rightists will move to the left,
even if the left is led by a person like Gabbay. Rightists detest the Labor
party, not since yesterday, but have done so for generations.
THE LABOR party
was born a hundred years ago. It was the main political force that led to the
creation of the State of Israel, and led it for almost thirty years. Its power
was immense, many (including me) accused it of dictatorial tendencies.
was born a hundred years ago. It was the main political force that led to the
creation of the State of Israel, and led it for almost thirty years. Its power
was immense, many (including me) accused it of dictatorial tendencies.
During all
these years, the main occupation of the Zionist leadership was the historical
fight against the Palestinian people for the possession of the country. Except
for a tiny minority, the party was always nationalist, even militaristic. It
was left-wing only in its social activities. It created the Jewish workers
movement, the powerful trade union (the “Histadrut”), the Kibbutzim
and much more.
these years, the main occupation of the Zionist leadership was the historical
fight against the Palestinian people for the possession of the country. Except
for a tiny minority, the party was always nationalist, even militaristic. It
was left-wing only in its social activities. It created the Jewish workers
movement, the powerful trade union (the “Histadrut”), the Kibbutzim
and much more.
This social
network has long since degenerated. Corruption became endemic, many scandals
were uncovered (mainly by my magazine). When the right-wing under Menachem
Begin finally took over, in 1977, the Labor Party was already a living corpse.
It has changed its name many times (its current name is “the Zionist
Camp”) but it has dwindled from election to election.
network has long since degenerated. Corruption became endemic, many scandals
were uncovered (mainly by my magazine). When the right-wing under Menachem
Begin finally took over, in 1977, the Labor Party was already a living corpse.
It has changed its name many times (its current name is “the Zionist
Camp”) but it has dwindled from election to election.
Avi Gabbay was
called in as a savior. His nationalist declarations are conceived as patent
medicines. No chance.
called in as a savior. His nationalist declarations are conceived as patent
medicines. No chance.
CAN THE Labor
Party be saved at all? I doubt it.
Party be saved at all? I doubt it.
In the last
elections, after a powerful, spontaneous social upheaval, there seemed to be a
new chance. Some of the young leaders, female and male, who had appeared from
nowhere, joined the Labor Party and entered the Knesset. They are genuine
leftists and peace activists. Somehow, their voices became quieter and quieter.
Instead of inspiring the party, the party subdued them. It seems to be beyond
repair.
elections, after a powerful, spontaneous social upheaval, there seemed to be a
new chance. Some of the young leaders, female and male, who had appeared from
nowhere, joined the Labor Party and entered the Knesset. They are genuine
leftists and peace activists. Somehow, their voices became quieter and quieter.
Instead of inspiring the party, the party subdued them. It seems to be beyond
repair.
A question
never asked is – does the party really, really want to assume power? On the
face of it, the answer is yes, of course. Isn’t that the supreme prize of
politics?
never asked is – does the party really, really want to assume power? On the
face of it, the answer is yes, of course. Isn’t that the supreme prize of
politics?
Well, I doubt
it. The existence of a parliamentary opposition is a cozy one. I know, because
I was in that situation for ten years. The Knesset is a good place, you are
coddled all the time by the ushers, you get a good salary and an office, you
have no responsibilities at all (unless you create them for yourself). You
must, of course, make an effort to be re-elected every four years. So, if you
are not particularly keen on becoming a minister, with all the work and
responsibilities and public exposure that this entails, you just stay put.
it. The existence of a parliamentary opposition is a cozy one. I know, because
I was in that situation for ten years. The Knesset is a good place, you are
coddled all the time by the ushers, you get a good salary and an office, you
have no responsibilities at all (unless you create them for yourself). You
must, of course, make an effort to be re-elected every four years. So, if you
are not particularly keen on becoming a minister, with all the work and
responsibilities and public exposure that this entails, you just stay put.
WHAT IS the
practical conclusion? To forget the Labor Party and create a new political
force.
practical conclusion? To forget the Labor Party and create a new political
force.
We need new
leaders, young, charismatic and resolute, with clear-cut aims, who can energize
the peace camp.
leaders, young, charismatic and resolute, with clear-cut aims, who can energize
the peace camp.
I do not
subscribe to the picture of a public divided between a right-wing majority and
a left-wing minority, with the orthodox on one side and the Arabs on the other.
subscribe to the picture of a public divided between a right-wing majority and
a left-wing minority, with the orthodox on one side and the Arabs on the other.
I believe that
there is a right-wing minority and a left-wing minority. Between the two there
is the great mass of the people, waiting for a message, desiring peace but
brainwashed into believing that peace is impossible (“there is no
partner”).
there is a right-wing minority and a left-wing minority. Between the two there
is the great mass of the people, waiting for a message, desiring peace but
brainwashed into believing that peace is impossible (“there is no
partner”).
WHAT WE NEED is
a new start.
a new start.
Labour chief: Settlements represent the ‘beautiful face of Zionism’
 |
| Shifting further rightwards, Avi Gabbay lauds settlers’ ‘determination,’ says Israel must retain Jordan Valley, stresses imperative for national unity |
By Alexander Fulbright, Times of Israel
October 19, 2017
October 19, 2017
Labour Party leader Avi Gabbay on Thursday called the settlement enterprise “the beautiful and devoted face of Zionism” and said Israel must retain control over the Jordan Valley in any peace deal with the Palestinians.
“The settlement [project] was and remains the beautiful and devoted face of Zionism,” he said, in quotes carried by Army Radio in a pre-recorded video for an event celebrating 50 years of settlement in the Jordan Valley.
“Over the years, regardless of the party in power, the settlement project demonstrated commitment, determination, and love of the country. You, the settlers, are the pioneers of our generations, people who act in the face of adversity, who cause the wilderness to bloom, who realize the impossible,” he added.
Labour party leader Avi Gabbay leads a Zionist Union faction meeting at the Knesset on July 24, 2017. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90
Gabbay’s remarks marked further dramatic evidence of his shift to the right. They came days after he said in an interview he would not evacuate West Bank settlements as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians, in comments that represented a dramatic break from the historical stance of the dovish Labour party.
In the past week, he has also said he would not have the Joint (Arab) List as a member of any coalition he heads, and indicated he was “unsure” that Israel has a viable partner on the Palestinian side for a peace accord.
His position on ruling out the evacuation of settlements has been condemned by a number of lawmakers from the Zionist Union, an amalgam of Labour and the Hatnua party.
Gabbay’s comments earlier this week were seen by many as further proof of Labour’s rightward shift since he was elected chairman in July as part of a bid to pick up more moderate members of the ruling Likud party and supporters of the centrist Yesh Atid.
On Thursday, Gabbay also said Israel must maintain control over the Jordan Valley as “Israel’s eastern security buffer” under a future peace agreement, echoing a sentiment expressed by previous Labour leaders, most notably Yitzhak Rabin.
“For us, the Jordan Valley was and will remain Israel’s eastern security buffer. And security requires settlement,” he said.
“But the security of the Jewish people in its land requires not only tanks and fences, but also national unity,” added Gabbay. “And this is our duty as public servants, to be moderate and remember in every statement we make that without unity there is no nation, and no state.”
Speaking at the Jordan Valley event later Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the area a “strategic defensive belt” for Israel and said the Jewish state will never relinquish control over it.
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| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at an event marking 50 years of settlement in the Jordan Valley on October 19, 2017, near the Ma’ale Efraim settlement in the West Bank. Photo by Gali Tibbon/AFP |
“[The Jordan Valley] has supreme security importance for the State of Israel. The Middle East is unstable and violent. The Jordan Valley is a strategic defensive belt for the state and without it the fundamentalist flood would reach the interior of the country,” said Netanyahu.
“That’s why our eastern line of defence begins in this place. If we are not here, then Tehran and Hamastan will be here. We won’t allow this to happen,” he added. “The Jordan Valley will always be a part of the State of Israel.”
Times of Israel Staff contributed to this report
In interview with pro-settler media outlet Arutz Sheva, Labor head and opposition leader says Labor has always been a centrist party.
Jonathan Lis Nov 08, 2012 7:19 PM
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| Former leader Shelley Yacomovich – Israeli Labour was never a left-wing party |
The Labor Party never was a left-wing party, but rather a centrist one, its chairwoman Shelly Yacimovich asserted on Thursday.
In an interview with the settlement-movement radio station Arutz Sheva, Yacimovich said that calling Labor a left-wing party is a historical injustice. “Labor has always drawn its power from being a centrist party. There have been both hawks and doves within its ranks, and there has always been an argument among them. Labor has always drawn its power from advocating peace, but pragmatically,” she said.
Over the last few months, Yacimovich has been courting right-leaning voters, mostly because of an in-depth poll conducted for her party, which suggests that Likud could lose five Knesset seats to Labor in the coming election.
In addition, Yacimovich has recently been expressing intentions to implement a policy similar to that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding negotiations with the Palestinians.
Yacimovich told her interviewer that she appreciates the settler community. “I have appreciation for an ideological community, and I believe that any policy move must be based on national consensus and not come from a place of hatred, hostility or disrespect.
“The Labor party’s pragmatic view is two states for two peoples, a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians, as well as determining borders and territorial exchanges that would retain the settlement blocs and 80 percent of the settlers. The opposite of this arrangement would be a single state, and that would be a danger to a Jewish and democratic state.”
Yacimovich used the words “hityashvut” and “mityashvim,” which are less politically charged words for “settlement” and “settlers” than the more commonly used “hitnahlut” and “mitnahlim.”
Some 83 Labor party members are expected to run for a spot on the party’s Knesset list. The party’s central election committee Thursday approved their candidacies, including the group of young, influential “rising stars” that recently joined the party, even though most of them have not been party members for at least six months as required by the party bylaws.
Thus, Merav Michaeli’s candidacy was approved, although sources close to Yacimovich have hinted recently that they would have preferred not to allow Michaeli to run. (Michaeli, a journalist and social activist, is a columnist for Haaretz.) “There are more than a few people trying to take advantage of the party’s momentum in the polls to gain a seat in the Knesset at the expense of people who have been party loyalists for years,” said Labor party officials.
The committee also approved the candidacies of social protest leaders Stav Shaffir and Itzik Shmuli; journalist Miki Rosenthal; businessman Erel Margalit; former commander of the Sayeret Matkal commando unit, Omer Bar Lev; educator Hili Tropper; executive director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Gilad Kariv; and two Kadima MKs, Nino Abesadze and Nachman Shai.
Arab
MK from Zionist Union plans to skip Knesset’s Balfour tribute
MK from Zionist Union plans to skip Knesset’s Balfour tribute
‘This
is not a joint celebration for me and my Jewish friends’ says Zoheir Bahloul;
MKs from Joint (Arab) List also to stay away
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| Zionist Union MK Zouheir Bahloul in the Knesset on December 5, 2016. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90) |
An Arab lawmaker from the Zionist Union faction said Monday that he
would not be attending a Knesset ceremony next week marking the 100th year
anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
would not be attending a Knesset ceremony next week marking the 100th year
anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
“It is not out of defiance that I will not be attending the
session,” Zoheir Bahlul told Channel 2. “This is simply not a joint celebration
for me and my Jewish friends.”
session,” Zoheir Bahlul told Channel 2. “This is simply not a joint celebration
for me and my Jewish friends.”
In the Balfour Declaration, which was issued on November 2, 1917,
then-UK foreign secretary Arthur Balfour told British Jewish leader Lord Walter
Rothschild that His Majesty’s government “view with favor the establishment in
Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.”
then-UK foreign secretary Arthur Balfour told British Jewish leader Lord Walter
Rothschild that His Majesty’s government “view with favor the establishment in
Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.”
Although the lawmaker recognized the strength of his Israeli
identity, he also emphasized his equally strong connection to the Palestinian
people. “What about my people?” he asked. “You (the Jewish people)
received the the right to self-determination through the Balfour Declaration,
while the same Palestinian goes completely ignored.”
identity, he also emphasized his equally strong connection to the Palestinian
people. “What about my people?” he asked. “You (the Jewish people)
received the the right to self-determination through the Balfour Declaration,
while the same Palestinian goes completely ignored.”
The lawmaker and former sport broadcaster added that he had no
problem being a member of a Zionist faction, but celebrating the Zionist
character of the state when part of his own identity as a Palestinian remains
unrecognized was something he could not accept. “I do not think it would
be appropriate to participate when I myself am not free,” Bahloul said.
problem being a member of a Zionist faction, but celebrating the Zionist
character of the state when part of his own identity as a Palestinian remains
unrecognized was something he could not accept. “I do not think it would
be appropriate to participate when I myself am not free,” Bahloul said.
Close associates of new Zionist Union chairman Avi Gabbay told
Channel 2 that Bahloul’s remarks “were too extreme and that his place is no
longer in the party.” They added that this would be the Arab lawmaker’s last
term on the faction list, although Gabbay does not have the authority to remove
members elected by Labor voters.
Channel 2 that Bahloul’s remarks “were too extreme and that his place is no
longer in the party.” They added that this would be the Arab lawmaker’s last
term on the faction list, although Gabbay does not have the authority to remove
members elected by Labor voters.
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| Joint (Arab) List MK Youssef Jabareen during a committee meeting in the Knesset, December 13, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) |
Also announcing that they would not be participating in the
centennial celebration were the members of the Joint (Arab) List faction. “Of
course we will not be participating in the event honoring the Balfour
Declaration,” said one of its MKs, Youssef Jabareen, in a Monday statement.
“Britain had promised land that did not even belong to it… ignoring its
original inhabitants and without even asking them.”
centennial celebration were the members of the Joint (Arab) List faction. “Of
course we will not be participating in the event honoring the Balfour
Declaration,” said one of its MKs, Youssef Jabareen, in a Monday statement.
“Britain had promised land that did not even belong to it… ignoring its
original inhabitants and without even asking them.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will leave for Britain on Tuesday
to take part in the UK’s own celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the
Balfour Declaration along with Prime Minister Theresa May and leaders of the
British Jewish community.
to take part in the UK’s own celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the
Balfour Declaration along with Prime Minister Theresa May and leaders of the
British Jewish community.
Posted in Blog
