Rise of far-right party shows racism deep-rooted in Israel

[Israeli]

Opinion: Many of us are taken aback when we come upon blunt racism, but it's likely because we simply prefer it in the form of policy, as it has been for the past 74 years

Gilad Grossman|
Published: 09.28.22, 00:03

The viral parody about far-right MK Itamar Ben Gvir is yet another sin of the media for being part of what legitimizes him and the racism attached to his name.

Unfortunately, the media has once again chosen the easy way to cope, by focusing on the symptoms rather than the disease.

Ben-Gvir, who is continuing the ideology of racist Meir Kahana, was legitimized as a political figure by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his efforts to secure his government's survival.

In the same broadcast that showed a political parody of the racist member of Knesset, Israeli news reported on a story of Jewish youths' violent behavior in Jerusalem.

The report showed racist bullying that set out to inflict fear in the Palestinian residents of the city, with the aim of showing them who's boss. The reporter's tone was, unsurprisingly, filled with shock and horror.

One can ask: where do we stand, that our people are no longer embarrassed by being racist?
We can certainly offer explanations. We can blame the growing nationalism in the world, the influence of social networks, and the extreme religious elements in politics.
However, all these excuses cannot justify the extremist racists, who have already adopted the chant "burn their villages," as a rallying cry to others, to target Palestinians.

Continued @ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkkiihpzo

[applegrove]

1. Oh Lordy, Lordy. If there is one place that needs to be clear-headed all

the time it is Israel. Crimes against Palestinians will just legitimize the terrorist organizations in Palestine.

[Israeli]

2. " Crimes against Palestinians will just legitimize the terrorist organizations in Palestine. "

For sure , and nobody is better at crimes against the Palestinians than our religious far Right .

But this is about us and our upcoming elections and how the media gives them air space .

Mainly its about a satirical political hugely popular TV program called Eretz Nehederet.

Here is a blog post from a liberal centeralist who thinks we on the Left have no sense of humour and
take Ben-Gvir and his ally the fanatical Bezalel Smotrich far too seriously .

Its not a bad post , he gets his facts right .

Especially this one :

Quote

And for those who have forgotten, Ben-Gvir was a central activist in the hysterical incitement campaign that led to the 1995 murder of Yitzhak Rabin, is an admirer of the mass murderer Baruch Goldstein, and was a follower of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who called for expelling the Arabs from the Land of Israel.

Source : https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/springtime-for-ben-gvir/

Another quote :

This has normalized Ben Gvir to the point where his party threatens to become the third largest in the Knesset, and, if Netanyahu wins the election in November, it will also probably set the tone for the next government and bring Israel that much closer to civil war. And there’s nothing funny about that.

Kind of contradicts himself

[sabbat hunter]

3. How has

Bibi still avoided trial? He should have stood trial a long time ago, and I don't understand the continued delays in him answering for his crimes.
If Bibi wasn't in charge of Likud, I think it would benefit all of Israel.

As for people who still idolize Meir Kahane, a pox on them. Kahane does not deserve to be called the honorific Rabbi. Screw him and all his cult followers.

[Israeli]

4. He has no sense of morality

no sense of shame , no sense of whats best for the country .

Bibi is just like Trump ....giant ego and a lust for power , never mind the cost .

Compare him to Rabin who resigned following the scandal of his wife's dollar account .

Ref : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollar_Account_affair#:~:text=The%20Dollar%20Account%20affair%20%28Hebrew%3A%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%AA%20%D7%97%D7%A9%D7%91%D7%95%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%93%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D%2C,to%20Rabin%27s%20de%20facto%20resignation%20from%20the%20government.

Rabin's resignation is sometimes seen as a display of public responsibility unmatched by later politicians.

Wish there was more like you living and voting here who think as you do with regard to the Kahanists .

[Israeli]

5. Thinking twice

I didnt really answer your question .

Whats so obvious to us you forget that its not general knowledge outside
of the country .

Bibi did not avoid trial .
Its ongoing and could last years .
There is no law that prevents him from holding a political position in the
meantime .

[sabbat hunter]

6. I am looking at some polls from Israel

and I am having a hard time finding a path for the center-left, Arab-Israeli parties forming a coalition to 61 seats. It would require Yisrael Beiteinu again to form a shaky coalition government, which basically be "keep Bibi out of office".

IMHO the Yesh Atid, National Unity, Labor, Meretz party should all be running as a single entry, rather than splitting the vote up as they are now.
It is unbelievable how fractured Israel is right now politically.

[Israeli]

7. Last elections I was optimistic

not this time .

Lapid has really tried to unite the center/left with no success.

Gantz has formed his own party , Avoda and Meretz have rejected joining together and the Arab joint list
have split .

Its not looking good .

Most polls project a Likud majority .

Said it before and I will say it again .......Bibi is not the one to fear .

MK Itamar Ben Gvir is.

Which BTW is what this thread is all about .

See :

Kahanism’s triumphant makeover

Itamar Ben Gvir, the star of Israel’s most far-right party, is thriving off of a national political discourse that allows him to accomplish what his predecessors could not: bringing Kahanism to the mainstream.

Source : https://www.972mag.com/ben-gvir-kahanism-election/

[sabbat hunter]

8. The Khanist party

is very very scary to me. I don't understand how they are even allowed on the ballot. I had thought that khanist parties were banned in Israel.

The center/left are cutting off their noses to spite their faces by not uniting behind a single person. Bibi wins again, and then his trial will end IMHO shortly afterwards with the government ending the case against him.

[Israeli]

9. Kach was banned

by Yitzhak Rabin's gov in 1994 following Baruch Goldstein’s massacre of 29 Arabs at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron in February of that year.

Times have changed .

[sabbat hunter]

10. Kach was banned

and it has been reborn with a new name, but same basic policies, and worshipping of Kahane.

[Israeli]

11. Apologies for late reply

Ive been staying with my daughter in Tel Aviv and attending Left wing protests against Ben Gvir and
his party and followers .

No idea if any of this is being reported in the American media or in English foreighn media anywhere as I just got
home to the kibbutz today .
Only one link I can give you in English although there are many in Hebrew.

https://www.972mag.com/ben-gvir-tel-aviv-asylum-seekers/

Things are very bad right now for those of us that stand up against the racism and fascism of the
religious right wing .

A 70 year old woman was attacked by settlers

see : https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rye8c111no?utm_source=Taboola_internal&utm_medium=organic

"How can a 70-year-old woman be a threat to young people who can be her grandchildren? How can there be young people among us who get up in the morning and their mission is to beat up elderly people? If that's what they do to Jews, then what do they do to Arabs?" Gefen's sister-in-law asked in her post.

and they are attacking the IDF again .

see : https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkbviqami#autoplay

The suspect has shared on his Facebook page countless posts by prominent right-wing figures, including far-right MK Itamar Ben Gvir and ultranationalist rapper The Shadow, including posts slamming the sitting government and Arab lawmakers and others supporting IDF troops.

[sabbat hunter]

12. No need to apologize

But none of that information has made the news anywhere in the US. Even on sources that might normally cover some of it like PBS.

[Israeli]

13. :(

That is why these forums are so important .

Almost all of the Left wing media is restricted to Hebrew web sites .

The best English Left wing newspaper " Haaretz " is subscription only .

Once it was relatively easy to link to Israeli sourced news in English ,
not anymore , unless you are Right to Centre

[sabbat hunter]

14. Looks like

Bibi's coalition will have 64 mandates. Labor barely makes it in to the next Knesset with 4 mandates, and Meretz out completely.

How does the Center-left recover from this disastrous election?