THIS LEFT WINGER GETS IT
There seems to be little reason to be optimistic when it comes to solving the conflict, but stopping the lies might be a start.
It is not going to be popular among left-wingers, but Naftali Bennett as prime minister could be a good thing for Israel.
We have to face facts; he might win March’s elections. He made a funny campaign video and he apparently “stands for good things” according to a right-wing friend of mine. He unites the secular Right and Religious Zionists, he’s not afraid of international pressure (which many Israelis are also opposed to) and he’s definitely the new, relatable right-wing poster boy.
On the down side, Bennett is unapologetically right wing. He intends to outright deny Palestinians a state and instead to annex even more of the contested West Bank land, Area C, to Israel. Sometimes, watching him speak makes me grimace – he once even said, “I’ve killed lots of Arabs in my life and there’s no problem with that.” That’s unforgivable, no matter what the context. He’s quite awful, but his opinions are in line with much of the Israeli public and that is crucial. Why might he be a good thing, in terms of the conflict?
1. The US doesn’t like him
America supports the two-state solution, Bennett doesn’t. If Bennett wins, we could witness the relationship between the US and Israel turn even more sour. If the two-state solution is officially pronounced dead by Israel, Washington, which currently pulls all the strings, might get angry enough to put its foot down. Will the US stop merely “condemning” Israel’s actions and actually do something to change the status quo? I don’t know, but it will be harder to ignore with Israel under blatant far-right leadership.
2. He’s very realistic
He says there is no hope for a two-state solution. He is pretty damn spot-on. Netanyahu’s government has been paying lip service to “two states for two people” almost as if to appease the Americans and the rest of the world only. Anyone who has half a brain and follows the conflict closely knows that too many people in power are opposed to this idea, and the actions on the ground go completely against the 2SS, to the point where keeping the dream alive is actually not just naive but dangerous.
Abbas keeps it alive by every so often presenting the idea to the UN, but as long as people believe it could happen under current circumstances, we are somehow allowing Israel to get away with so much shit (I speak of human rights abuse) in the meantime. You might say he deals a crushing blow to the 2SS, but Israel already has been doing just that for years. At least he tells it like it really is. The two-state solution is dead and Israel killed it.
3. The EU might finally intervene
He might be the tipping point, the reason why the EU and others finally get involved, most likely by boycotting Israel just as we did with Russia. Whether it will make a difference isn’t clear, unfortunately, but this action – described by Bennett as an act of anti-Semitism (yeah, right) – might make a lot of people wake up and smell the coffee. Finally, it will be made clear to Israel and the rest of the world that the “status quo” of occupation and fighting isn’t acceptable, something like saying, “We don’t really care how you sort it out Israel, but sort it out.”
Of course, if Bennett does get into power, it could also go very wrong and the situation could become even worse than it is now. In the short term at least, we are unlikely to see the situation change for the better. But if Israel continues on its rightward path, we might just see a change in tune and other countries finally facing up to facts. Under a more left-wing or centrist government, on the other hand, the West Bank occupation is condemned to remain as it is now: largely tolerated. Killing the sham that is the peace process, on the other hand, might reveal how hopeless things really are. A Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders is such an impossibility right now it’s barely worth the symbolic UN bid and symbolic votes. Perhaps it’s time everyone woke up to the fact that keeping this dream alive is only stalling things at the cost of too many lives.
There seems to be little reason to be optimistic when it comes to solving the conflict, but stopping the lies might be a start.
@ watsa46:
No proof of Blackmail I believe it’s mostly the weakness and lack of spine by our leaders who would love us to believe they have no choice but to comply to the diktat of America. it covers their own asses domestically and it’s worked pretty much till now. Most political leaders are corrupt though and one needs to critique their decision making within the context of that corruption.
blackmail is a double edged sword just as Our political establishment is mostly corrupt so is Americas.
If they can blackmail ours we can also blackmail theirs.
@ watsa46:
Israel has no friends and neither does collective Jewry.
nations don’t have friends they have only interests and most of those are ephemeral. The very fact that you believe we need friends is your weakness as are those who are like you.
Before 67 Israel had no superpower backing or support we found our relationships where we could find them like Iran, South Africa, France and Romania . We did very well playing the field so to speak. We were also respected by most of the world as well. Yes America forced us out of Sinai in 56 but we couldn’t hold it in those days anyway. Today we are a vassalage of America and Empires grow weary of their vassals and never respect them
@ Bear Klein:
All the Israeli Prime ministers have been blackmailed by the West into moving towards the left. If Bennett gets the premiership, hopefully he will not give into blackmail. Therefore it is important to expand Israel portfolio of friends. India is a great pick. Australia and Canada are on the right side of history.
Sadly many leaders in black Africa are in cahoot with Muslims who still practice slavery, rape, genocide etc…!!!!
1. Hayley Pearce should keep his pseudo-leftist ethics at home. Remember that leftists (Stalin and Mao) have close to 100 Million dead souls on their hands. Did U cry?
Bennett position is honest and he has no regret. If war or terrorism is brought upon you, you cannot have any compunction on killing the assailants. Jews lament the death even of enemies while Islamists REJOICE their death!
2. HP is full of (I don’t know which to chose: shit or Hutzpah) “shit”. He knows (but refuses to be honest about it) that the Islamists want no alive Jews in the land of Israel. So why claim the opposite. Yes there are extremist groups in IL that want the whole, but in the 40 to 50 years after 1948, they did not have much power and that is where the Muslims had their only chances to get something significant that they did not want since they wanted the whole.
3. HP wants it both ways so that if things get dirty he can say from the hypocrite left: I told you so.
All in ALL: Shame on you. Triple hypocrite.
PM Bennett?
Ms. Pearce, just remember one thing…
I called it first. 🙂
It seems to me that one of the implied points in the article is that if right-wingers are in control (more right than Bibi) then all will see how bad they are and then the left will rise again.
What is always high on the list things leftist Israeli politicians and writers is whether the US or EU like someone or something. In this instance the JPost writer says the US does not like Bennett (leftists scare tactict). This based on what criteria? People in the US are just getting to know him. Yes, far leftists in the US probably will not like his positions, as they are based that the TSS solution is a solution and the only solution.
When one debunks this falsehood and shows an audience reality (TSS is BULLSHIT), then one can win over the audience.
In the end the left fails to realize that is more important the Israel do what is right and important for Israel not what some lefty somewhere else will agree to. Yes Israel should try to advocate for what is right but not kowtow to anyone.
Bottom line is that Bennett is the best politician Israel has and his positions are pro-Israel and not based on what the EU or Obama will applaud.
I find it very interesting that even as this left winger gets it she remarks that Bennett “may” actually be good for Israel sort of “despite” the fact that he’s pro-Israel. It’s a bit of a double-handed concession on her part where, “we really know” that only the left really knows what’s good for Israel. Either throw in the towel and admit your wrong or simply support the pro-settlement/some form of annexation platform. Bennett would be good and he might make mistakes but he proceeds from all the correct premises. I would have like to have heard that.
There is zero chance for peace. Even the Israeli Left admits the Palestinian Arabs are so extreme its not possible for Israel to bridge the differences with them. Naftali Bennett is simply saying openly what every one knows. 2015 is already here and in the Middle East the one thing that won’t happen is the Arabs being ready to give up their nearly century old war against Zionism.
Mr. Bennett reads well the minds and feelings of dedicated Jewish and friendly patriots.
The writer is a self deluding co traveler with the renegade, (unJewish) groups.
We owe the Islamic murderous vermin, fabricated pretend people, nothing other than harsh retributions for their bestial acts.
The Oslo elements must be made to own up and face charges for having caused tens of thousands of “victims of peace”. They MUST pay themselves for that.
I also killed Islamic terrorists as a soldier. In Lebanon I, when we WON. Proud of it.