The Isrealites, by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise | @MDWorld

March 21, 2015 Victor El-Khouri 3 Comments

Oy.

The elections in Israel this week depressed me to no end.  From my perspective, Netanyahu won by appealing to the most primitive fears and prejudices of the electorate.  He complained that Israeli Arabs (who are tax-paying citizens with rights guaranteed by the Israeli constitution, including suffrage) were voting.  He rattled figurative sabers against Palestinians (whom he has himself terrorized).

In other words, he acted like a modern Republican.  Which isn’t surprising, since he hired modern Republican consultants for his campaign.

Because Israel’s democracy is different from ours, with a Parliamentary system that encourages multiple political parties (i.e. not just two), it is necessary for candidates to form coalitions with other parties in order to achieve a majority.  Netanyahu formed his alliances with extreme right-wing groups and ultra-Orthodox parties.  The Labor Party aligned with more progressive  and secular factions.

At this time, it wasn’t enough for my team.

There was, however, some good news. Israeli Arabs have put aside their differences to form a cohesive voting block in the Israeli Parliament.  The strength of their numbers mean that other parties will have a pragmatic incentive to work with them.

I’d like to say that this is because progressives are always more humane and empathetic, while right-wingers are more jingoistic.  However, that isn’t true:

“For decades, left-leaning Zionist parties have shown no more interest in including Arabs in coalitions they headed than the Arabs did in being part of an Israeli government whose policies they prefer to protest.”

Also, no unicorns.  Damn reality.

This newly influential Arab coalition models how a diverse group can find common ground.  Secular feminists and Islamicists will work together.  If I may quote again:

“Aida Touma-Sliman, a feminist from the alliance’s communist wing who will be serving in the Knesset for the first time … said the diverse group would be able to stick together because ‘what we agree on is more than what we differ on.

“‘Yes, it is an Islamic movement, but it is moderate and pragmatic,’ she said of her unlikely comrades. ‘They signed on to a work program that called for the full equality of women, and liberating women from oppression.”’

I hope this works.  I hope there is a way for American Jews to support this group, to show that we don’t share Bibi’s violent and racist dreams.

Media Goddess Martha Thomases hopes they aren’t cutting down the trees she planted in Israel for more illegal settlements.