1 aug 2018
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Israel on 19 July where he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. Orban’s visit would have not required much pause except that the Hungarian leader has been repeatedly branded for his often racist, anti-Semitic remarks.
So why is Orban wining and dining with the leaders of the so-called ‘Jewish State’?
The answer does not pertain only to Orban and Hungary, but to Israel’s attitude towards the rapidly growing far-right movements in Europe as a whole. Netanyahu and Zionist leaders everywhere are not just aware of this massive political shift in European politics but are, in fact, working diligently to utilise it in Israel’s favour.
On his visit to Israel, Orban asserted that Hungarian Jewish citizens should feel safe in his country, an odd statement considering that it was Orban and his party that deprived many Jews and other members of minority groups of any feeling of safety.
Still, Netanyahu has welcomed Orban as a “true friend of Israel” and Orban called on his European counterparts to show more support for Israel. Mission accomplished.
Netanyahu visited Budapest in July 2017 but that supposedly historic visit did nothing to change Hungary’s official discourse, which is dotted with racism and anti-Semitism. In fact, in March 2018, Orban derided Jews, focusing his criticism mostly on Jewish financiers such as George Soros.
At an election rally campaign Orban said, “We are fighting an enemy that is different from us. Not open but hiding; not straightforward but crafty; not honest but base; not national but international; does not believe in working but speculates with money; does not have its own homeland but feels it owns the whole world”.
It is well-known that Israel and Zionist leaders are quite selective in manipulating the definition of ‘anti-Semitism’ to serve their political agendas, but Israel’s attitude towards the racist far-right movements in Europe takes this truth to a whole new level.
Indeed, the ‘special relationship’ between Netanyahu and Orban is only the tip of the iceberg. For years, Netanyahu’s Israel has been ‘flirting’ with radical right movements in Europe.
The unmistakable Israeli strategy, of course has its own logic. Israeli leaders feel that Europe’s move to the far-right is irrevocable and are keen to benefit from the anti-Muslim sentiment that accompanies this shift as much as possible.
Moreover, the EU’s resolve to label illegal settlement products and refusal to heed calls for moving their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is pushing Netanyahu to explore these new routes.
During his previous visit to Hungary Netanyahu met with leaders from the so-called Visegrad-4, which includes Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
On that visit, Netanyahu hoped to find new channels of support within the EU, through exerting pressure by using his new allies in these countries. In an audio recording obtained by Reuters, Netanyahu chastised Europe for daring to criticise Israel’s dismal human rights record, illegal settlement policies and military occupation.
“I think Europe has to decide whether it wants to live and thrive or it wants to shrivel and disappear,” he said.
Netanyahu’s arrogance is unbridled, especially as the censure is emanating from a leader who represents an ethno-nationalist state, which has just recently canceled any reference to democracy in its newly-issued Jewish Nation-state Law.
The new basic law defines Israel by an ethnic identity, not any democratic values. Netanyahu is now closer to Europe’s far-right racist groups than to any liberal democratic model, thus the ongoing flirting between Israel and these groups.
In fact, the term flirting is itself an understatement considering that Israel’s ties with various far-right, neo-Nazi and fascist parties in Europe involve high-level political coordination and, in the case of Ukraine in particular, the actual supplying of weapons.
Human rights groups recently petitioned the Israeli High Court to stop Israel’s export of weapons to neo-Nazi groups.
The Israeli far-right embrace touches almost every single European country, including Italy and Germany, whose history of Nazism and Fascism has wrought death and misery on millions.
In Italy, the connection between Italian far-right parties and Israel goes back to the early 2000s, when post-fascist leader Gianfranco Fini laboured to rebrand his movement.
Initially, Fini was the leader of the Movimento Sociale Italiano (Italian Social Movement), which saw itself as the “heir to the Fascist Party”.
The rebranding of the party required a trip by Fini to Israel in 2003, after changing the name of his movement to the National Alliance. Interestingly, in his highly-touted visit, Fini was accompanied by Amos Luzzatto, the head of the Italian Jewish community.
Unsurprisingly, far-right leader, Matteo Salvini, Italy’s current Interior Minister, went through the same political baptism by Zionist Israel as Orban and Fini by paying a visit to Tel Aviv in March 2016 to launch his political career and declaring his undying love for the Jewish State.
The same scenario is being repeated in Germany where the far-right party – Alternative for Germany (AfD) – has risen in ranks to the point that it nearly toppled a government coalition led by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
AfD has more in common with Israel than the common anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant views. The party which is “derided for anti-Semitic, xenophobic views redolent of the Nazis is also staunchly supportive of Israel,” reported The Times of Israel.
Last April the anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic German party enthusiastically began a campaign pushing for the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, despite Merkel’s views to the contrary.
The story, however, does not end there. What began as Israeli flirting with far-right racist movements is now Israel’s official policy towards Europe. The same story, with different actors and names, can be found in Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO), Belgium’s Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) and virtually everywhere else.
It remains to be seen how Israel’s embrace of fascist Europe will bode, both for Israel and the European Union. Will the EU shrivel and disappear, or will Israel finally be exposed for what it truly is, an ethno-nationalist state with no interest in true democracy in the first place?
- Ramzy Baroud is a journalist, author and editor of Palestine Chronicle. He has authored a number of books on the Palestinian struggle.
So why is Orban wining and dining with the leaders of the so-called ‘Jewish State’?
The answer does not pertain only to Orban and Hungary, but to Israel’s attitude towards the rapidly growing far-right movements in Europe as a whole. Netanyahu and Zionist leaders everywhere are not just aware of this massive political shift in European politics but are, in fact, working diligently to utilise it in Israel’s favour.
On his visit to Israel, Orban asserted that Hungarian Jewish citizens should feel safe in his country, an odd statement considering that it was Orban and his party that deprived many Jews and other members of minority groups of any feeling of safety.
Still, Netanyahu has welcomed Orban as a “true friend of Israel” and Orban called on his European counterparts to show more support for Israel. Mission accomplished.
Netanyahu visited Budapest in July 2017 but that supposedly historic visit did nothing to change Hungary’s official discourse, which is dotted with racism and anti-Semitism. In fact, in March 2018, Orban derided Jews, focusing his criticism mostly on Jewish financiers such as George Soros.
At an election rally campaign Orban said, “We are fighting an enemy that is different from us. Not open but hiding; not straightforward but crafty; not honest but base; not national but international; does not believe in working but speculates with money; does not have its own homeland but feels it owns the whole world”.
It is well-known that Israel and Zionist leaders are quite selective in manipulating the definition of ‘anti-Semitism’ to serve their political agendas, but Israel’s attitude towards the racist far-right movements in Europe takes this truth to a whole new level.
Indeed, the ‘special relationship’ between Netanyahu and Orban is only the tip of the iceberg. For years, Netanyahu’s Israel has been ‘flirting’ with radical right movements in Europe.
The unmistakable Israeli strategy, of course has its own logic. Israeli leaders feel that Europe’s move to the far-right is irrevocable and are keen to benefit from the anti-Muslim sentiment that accompanies this shift as much as possible.
Moreover, the EU’s resolve to label illegal settlement products and refusal to heed calls for moving their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is pushing Netanyahu to explore these new routes.
During his previous visit to Hungary Netanyahu met with leaders from the so-called Visegrad-4, which includes Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
On that visit, Netanyahu hoped to find new channels of support within the EU, through exerting pressure by using his new allies in these countries. In an audio recording obtained by Reuters, Netanyahu chastised Europe for daring to criticise Israel’s dismal human rights record, illegal settlement policies and military occupation.
“I think Europe has to decide whether it wants to live and thrive or it wants to shrivel and disappear,” he said.
Netanyahu’s arrogance is unbridled, especially as the censure is emanating from a leader who represents an ethno-nationalist state, which has just recently canceled any reference to democracy in its newly-issued Jewish Nation-state Law.
The new basic law defines Israel by an ethnic identity, not any democratic values. Netanyahu is now closer to Europe’s far-right racist groups than to any liberal democratic model, thus the ongoing flirting between Israel and these groups.
In fact, the term flirting is itself an understatement considering that Israel’s ties with various far-right, neo-Nazi and fascist parties in Europe involve high-level political coordination and, in the case of Ukraine in particular, the actual supplying of weapons.
Human rights groups recently petitioned the Israeli High Court to stop Israel’s export of weapons to neo-Nazi groups.
The Israeli far-right embrace touches almost every single European country, including Italy and Germany, whose history of Nazism and Fascism has wrought death and misery on millions.
In Italy, the connection between Italian far-right parties and Israel goes back to the early 2000s, when post-fascist leader Gianfranco Fini laboured to rebrand his movement.
Initially, Fini was the leader of the Movimento Sociale Italiano (Italian Social Movement), which saw itself as the “heir to the Fascist Party”.
The rebranding of the party required a trip by Fini to Israel in 2003, after changing the name of his movement to the National Alliance. Interestingly, in his highly-touted visit, Fini was accompanied by Amos Luzzatto, the head of the Italian Jewish community.
Unsurprisingly, far-right leader, Matteo Salvini, Italy’s current Interior Minister, went through the same political baptism by Zionist Israel as Orban and Fini by paying a visit to Tel Aviv in March 2016 to launch his political career and declaring his undying love for the Jewish State.
The same scenario is being repeated in Germany where the far-right party – Alternative for Germany (AfD) – has risen in ranks to the point that it nearly toppled a government coalition led by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
AfD has more in common with Israel than the common anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant views. The party which is “derided for anti-Semitic, xenophobic views redolent of the Nazis is also staunchly supportive of Israel,” reported The Times of Israel.
Last April the anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic German party enthusiastically began a campaign pushing for the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, despite Merkel’s views to the contrary.
The story, however, does not end there. What began as Israeli flirting with far-right racist movements is now Israel’s official policy towards Europe. The same story, with different actors and names, can be found in Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO), Belgium’s Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) and virtually everywhere else.
It remains to be seen how Israel’s embrace of fascist Europe will bode, both for Israel and the European Union. Will the EU shrivel and disappear, or will Israel finally be exposed for what it truly is, an ethno-nationalist state with no interest in true democracy in the first place?
- Ramzy Baroud is a journalist, author and editor of Palestine Chronicle. He has authored a number of books on the Palestinian struggle.
Among the former officials who intend to take part in a protest to be held in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square are former IDF chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and former Mossad director Tamir Pardo; 'Anyone who cares must come to Rabin Square on Saturday night and join the fight.'
Several former chiefs of Israel's defense establishment are expected to arrive at a Tel Aviv demonstration staged by the Druze community against the controversial Nationality Law on Saturday night that restricts the right of self-determination in Israel to Jews alone.
Among the people originally expected to participate in the demonstration in Rabin Square were members of the spiritual leadership of the Druze community, leading Druze women and the Forum of Local Council heads.
However, it is unclear whether leaders will attend or whether the rally will in the end take place following an agreement reached Wednesday evening between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Druze leaders—which was accepted by Drzue MKs—to end the dispute.
Former IDF Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, former Mossad director Tamir Pardo, former Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin, former MK Ami Ayalon, former Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi, former Generals Matan Vilnai, Avi Mizrahi and Amiram Levin, and former Brigadier Generals Giora Inbar and Amal Assad, have announced their intention to attend the protest.
In addition, distinguished academics are expected to join the demonstration, among them Prof. Asa Kasher, Prof. Uriel Reichman and Professor Yedidia Z. Stern.
"The Nationality Law hurts our democracy by quashing the value of equality and therefore I, as a Jew, will not rest until the law is annuled or amended," said Brigadier General (res.) Giora Inbar on Tuesday.
"I cannot see my Druze friends, the Circassians, the Bedouins, or any other group—officers and fighters over whom I commanded and with whom I fought side by side in the most difficult and dangerous battles—get hurt by this law," Inbar added.
"I am not going to accept the fact that my position here is different from theirs only because I was born a Jew. Anyone who cares must come to Rabin Square on Saturday and join the fight for the characteristics of the state and its values," the General called.
The demonstration organizers stressed that the protest is not restricted to members of the Druze community alone. "This is a social protest for preserving the balance of the state as a Jewish and democratic state," they said.
"This protest is vital and significant for all Israeli citizens who recognize the importance in preserving Israel's democratic character," the organizers added.
The organizers set up a tent in Rabin Square Tuesday night, on which flags of the Druze community were hung alongside flags of the State of Israel.
The Nationality Law, sponsored by MK Avi Dichter (Likud) among others, enshrines into law the status of the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.
The law has caused controversy since it passed into law in the Knesset last month. The clause stating that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country has been the subject of fierce criticism and has caused offense among the Druze minority, many of whom serve the country loyally in the IDF.
The Nationality Law also states that the State of Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and that Hebrew is the official language of the state.
Arabic, spoken by the Druze community, was downgraded as an official language and defined as having a special status, with the official state use of Arabic to be determined in separate legislation.
The law legally anchors in law Israel's democratic character, its state symbols, Jerusalem as the capital, Hebrew as the official language and the right of return for Diaspora Jewry.
Several former chiefs of Israel's defense establishment are expected to arrive at a Tel Aviv demonstration staged by the Druze community against the controversial Nationality Law on Saturday night that restricts the right of self-determination in Israel to Jews alone.
Among the people originally expected to participate in the demonstration in Rabin Square were members of the spiritual leadership of the Druze community, leading Druze women and the Forum of Local Council heads.
However, it is unclear whether leaders will attend or whether the rally will in the end take place following an agreement reached Wednesday evening between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Druze leaders—which was accepted by Drzue MKs—to end the dispute.
Former IDF Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, former Mossad director Tamir Pardo, former Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin, former MK Ami Ayalon, former Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi, former Generals Matan Vilnai, Avi Mizrahi and Amiram Levin, and former Brigadier Generals Giora Inbar and Amal Assad, have announced their intention to attend the protest.
In addition, distinguished academics are expected to join the demonstration, among them Prof. Asa Kasher, Prof. Uriel Reichman and Professor Yedidia Z. Stern.
"The Nationality Law hurts our democracy by quashing the value of equality and therefore I, as a Jew, will not rest until the law is annuled or amended," said Brigadier General (res.) Giora Inbar on Tuesday.
"I cannot see my Druze friends, the Circassians, the Bedouins, or any other group—officers and fighters over whom I commanded and with whom I fought side by side in the most difficult and dangerous battles—get hurt by this law," Inbar added.
"I am not going to accept the fact that my position here is different from theirs only because I was born a Jew. Anyone who cares must come to Rabin Square on Saturday and join the fight for the characteristics of the state and its values," the General called.
The demonstration organizers stressed that the protest is not restricted to members of the Druze community alone. "This is a social protest for preserving the balance of the state as a Jewish and democratic state," they said.
"This protest is vital and significant for all Israeli citizens who recognize the importance in preserving Israel's democratic character," the organizers added.
The organizers set up a tent in Rabin Square Tuesday night, on which flags of the Druze community were hung alongside flags of the State of Israel.
The Nationality Law, sponsored by MK Avi Dichter (Likud) among others, enshrines into law the status of the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.
The law has caused controversy since it passed into law in the Knesset last month. The clause stating that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country has been the subject of fierce criticism and has caused offense among the Druze minority, many of whom serve the country loyally in the IDF.
The Nationality Law also states that the State of Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and that Hebrew is the official language of the state.
Arabic, spoken by the Druze community, was downgraded as an official language and defined as having a special status, with the official state use of Arabic to be determined in separate legislation.
The law legally anchors in law Israel's democratic character, its state symbols, Jerusalem as the capital, Hebrew as the official language and the right of return for Diaspora Jewry.
31 july 2018
Shady Zidan, 23, announces on Facebook intention to quit the IDF after five years of service; 'I have given the state my soul, I have risked my life. Today I refused for the first time in my service to salute the flag,' he writes, as Druze leaders call for calm and urge soldiers to leave political disputes outside the army.
A Druze IDF officer announced on his Facebook page Tuesday that he intends to resign from the army in protest against the Nationality Law, which has caused controversy since it passed into law in the Knesset earlier this month.
The clause stating that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country has been the subject of fierce criticism and has caused offense among the Druze minority, many of whom serve the country loyally in the IDF.
The Nationality Law also states that the State of Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and that Hebrew is the official language of the state.
Arabic, spoken by the Druze community, was downgraded as an official language and defined as having a special status, with the official state use of Arabic to be determined in separate legislation.
“I have decided to stop serving this state,” wrote 23-year-old Shady Zidan, the second Druze officer to announce his protest resignation.
“Until this day I have given the state my soul, I have risked my life. Until this day I stood by the state’s flag with pride and saluted it. Until this day I sung the national anthem ‘Hatikvah’ because I was sure that this is my country and I am equal to everyone. But today, today I refused for the first time in my service to salute the flag, I refused for the first time to sing the national anthem,” said the officer who has been in uniform for five years.
“I am not a political person and I am not someone who cares about politics. But!!! But I am a citizen like everyone else and give my entire being and beyond to the state and in the end, am I a class B citizen? So no thank you, I am not prepared to be part of this and therefore, I am also joining this campaign, and therefore I have decided to stop serving this country. Thank you, State of Israel,” he said.
Following the post’s publication, heads of the Druze community in Israel, including spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafak Tarif, urged the community to leave political disputes over the Nationality Law outside the IDF.
“Members of the Druze community serve and will continue to serve in the IDF with their heads held high, with determination and out of a sense of obligation to their homeland," a statement said.
“The disputes regarding the Nationality Law must be left in the appropriate framework and outside the army and military service,” the Druze heads’ statement continued, warning caution not to “blur the lines between the two. We will continue to campaign to fix the law so that it provides equal rights and citizenship.”
A Druze IDF officer announced on his Facebook page Tuesday that he intends to resign from the army in protest against the Nationality Law, which has caused controversy since it passed into law in the Knesset earlier this month.
The clause stating that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country has been the subject of fierce criticism and has caused offense among the Druze minority, many of whom serve the country loyally in the IDF.
The Nationality Law also states that the State of Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and that Hebrew is the official language of the state.
Arabic, spoken by the Druze community, was downgraded as an official language and defined as having a special status, with the official state use of Arabic to be determined in separate legislation.
“I have decided to stop serving this state,” wrote 23-year-old Shady Zidan, the second Druze officer to announce his protest resignation.
“Until this day I have given the state my soul, I have risked my life. Until this day I stood by the state’s flag with pride and saluted it. Until this day I sung the national anthem ‘Hatikvah’ because I was sure that this is my country and I am equal to everyone. But today, today I refused for the first time in my service to salute the flag, I refused for the first time to sing the national anthem,” said the officer who has been in uniform for five years.
“I am not a political person and I am not someone who cares about politics. But!!! But I am a citizen like everyone else and give my entire being and beyond to the state and in the end, am I a class B citizen? So no thank you, I am not prepared to be part of this and therefore, I am also joining this campaign, and therefore I have decided to stop serving this country. Thank you, State of Israel,” he said.
Following the post’s publication, heads of the Druze community in Israel, including spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafak Tarif, urged the community to leave political disputes over the Nationality Law outside the IDF.
“Members of the Druze community serve and will continue to serve in the IDF with their heads held high, with determination and out of a sense of obligation to their homeland," a statement said.
“The disputes regarding the Nationality Law must be left in the appropriate framework and outside the army and military service,” the Druze heads’ statement continued, warning caution not to “blur the lines between the two. We will continue to campaign to fix the law so that it provides equal rights and citizenship.”
On Sunday, Druze officer Capt. Amir Jmall wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decrying the law.
“Mr. Prime Minister, I have sat by myself and after many thoughts that have gone through my head, I have decided to express my opinion about the Nationality Law that you and Knesset members have implemented," wrote the officer on a Facebook post, before deleting it shortly after.
“My two older brothers were also combat soldiers who participated in Operation Cast Lead and Operation Pillar of Defense and I participated in Operation Protective Edge. I wanted to share with you, Mr. Prime Minister, and with all the people of Israel what I feel at the moment and share with you the thoughts that are running through my head,” wrote Jmall, a company commander.
“This morning when I awoke to drive to the base I asked myself why. Why should I serve the State of Israel, the state that I and my two brothers and my father served with devotion, a sense of mission and with love of our homeland when in the end what do we get? To be class B citizens? To continue to serve the country?” he asked.
“I don’t want to continue and I am sure that hundreds more people will stop serving and ask to be discharged from the IDF due to your decision, Netanyahu—yours and your government,” the officer continued.
The IDF released a response to Jmall’s post saying that “soldiers and officers, members of minorities, in mandatory, permanent or reserve service have been and will always be a central part of the IDF, on the battlefield and in routine times. Their contribution throughout the years is worthy of praise and the alliance with them has been forged in blood.
“The IDF is a stately people’s army, and unity among the ranks is stressed in all types of activities regardless of religion or gender,” the statement said, before reminding Jmall of IDF protocol regarding political statements.
“The expression of a political statement is not authorized by army orders. The officer was invited to speak with his commander,” it said.
Since the law’s passage, the prime minister and President Reuven Rivlin have scrambled to mollify the Druze copmmunity by holding meetings with its leaders.
On Sunday, the Druze community leaders met with Rivlin in order to once again express their position over the Nationality Law which they describe as discriminatory.
“The partnership between us is ingrained in the foundation of this country. This is the basis, to live in cooperation, in the country we have established … in full partnership with all those who live in this good country, which is good to everyone and we can retain this equation with no problem,” Rivlin told the leaders.
Two days prior, Netanyahu met with Sheikh Tarif at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem in an effort to mend the rift.
Other prominent figures from the Druze community were also at the meeting, including Brig. Gen. (res.) Amal Asad, former Labor MK Shachiv Shnaan and Communications Minister Ayoob Kara (Likud).
“Mr. Prime Minister, I have sat by myself and after many thoughts that have gone through my head, I have decided to express my opinion about the Nationality Law that you and Knesset members have implemented," wrote the officer on a Facebook post, before deleting it shortly after.
“My two older brothers were also combat soldiers who participated in Operation Cast Lead and Operation Pillar of Defense and I participated in Operation Protective Edge. I wanted to share with you, Mr. Prime Minister, and with all the people of Israel what I feel at the moment and share with you the thoughts that are running through my head,” wrote Jmall, a company commander.
“This morning when I awoke to drive to the base I asked myself why. Why should I serve the State of Israel, the state that I and my two brothers and my father served with devotion, a sense of mission and with love of our homeland when in the end what do we get? To be class B citizens? To continue to serve the country?” he asked.
“I don’t want to continue and I am sure that hundreds more people will stop serving and ask to be discharged from the IDF due to your decision, Netanyahu—yours and your government,” the officer continued.
The IDF released a response to Jmall’s post saying that “soldiers and officers, members of minorities, in mandatory, permanent or reserve service have been and will always be a central part of the IDF, on the battlefield and in routine times. Their contribution throughout the years is worthy of praise and the alliance with them has been forged in blood.
“The IDF is a stately people’s army, and unity among the ranks is stressed in all types of activities regardless of religion or gender,” the statement said, before reminding Jmall of IDF protocol regarding political statements.
“The expression of a political statement is not authorized by army orders. The officer was invited to speak with his commander,” it said.
Since the law’s passage, the prime minister and President Reuven Rivlin have scrambled to mollify the Druze copmmunity by holding meetings with its leaders.
On Sunday, the Druze community leaders met with Rivlin in order to once again express their position over the Nationality Law which they describe as discriminatory.
“The partnership between us is ingrained in the foundation of this country. This is the basis, to live in cooperation, in the country we have established … in full partnership with all those who live in this good country, which is good to everyone and we can retain this equation with no problem,” Rivlin told the leaders.
Two days prior, Netanyahu met with Sheikh Tarif at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem in an effort to mend the rift.
Other prominent figures from the Druze community were also at the meeting, including Brig. Gen. (res.) Amal Asad, former Labor MK Shachiv Shnaan and Communications Minister Ayoob Kara (Likud).
30 july 2018
Organizers of 700-strong gathering in Tel Aviv's Habima Square say lessons meant to demonstrate anger at controversial law's demotion of Arabic from official language to 'special status', with one activist describing law as 'perhaps the most anti-Israel law ever' passed in Israel.
Some 700 people gathered in Habima Square in Tel Aviv on Monday in order to learn Arabic together as a show of protest against the Knesset’s recent passing of the controversial Nationality Law.
Israel passed the nationality bill into law earlier this month to declare that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country, something which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed as the realization of Zionism's vision but which has stoked anger among critics who argue it is racist.
Organizers of the gathering in Habima Square, which was dubbed “The biggest Arabic lesson in the world”, said it was intended “to make the Arabic language widespread in the public.”
The law strips Arabic of its designation as an official language alongside Hebrew, downgrading it to a "special status" that enables its continued use within Israeli institutions.
During the event, a number of short lessons were given on Arabic phrases and words. Arabic and Hebrew songs were also sung by famous artists.
“It is important for us to point out and say that the Arabic language cannot be annulled,” said Nadya Masallah who organized the event. “There are residents here who live and speak this language, and we have to maintain it and strengthen it and continue to work so that the Arabic language will be here.”
Masallah’s children study in a bilingual school which she says strengthens the idea of coexistence. “The Arabic language is something that is extremely essential in this country. This can’t be forgotten. This law, if implemented, would have an impact,” she said.
“Suddenly we will see the signs in the street without Arabic and that is something that my son reads in Arabic and he focuses on it. Suddenly we will go into hospitals which is a government place and there won’t be any Arabic there and it will be the same in various other places which will be extremely significant,” she lamented.
“The language is our past, our present and our future as is the Hebrew language and we are not giving it up,” she said on the stage. “We are here and are continuing our campaign to widen the Arabic language.”
Ron Gerlitz, the joint chairman of the NGO “Sikkuy” (Chance), an organization that promotes equality and coexistence between Arabs and Jews in Israel, said that he believed the Nationality Law is “perhaps the most anti-Israel law that has ever been legislated in Israel.”
“There are many people here, both Jews and Arabs, who came to protest against this law and our protest is done through teaching Arabic and it is aimed against this law and against the downgrading of the status of the Arabic language,” he said, describing the demonstration as “a wonderful thing.”
According to Gerlitz, serious anger is rampant throughout Israeli society at the law. “This is something special and it is not something trivial,” he said.
Some 700 people gathered in Habima Square in Tel Aviv on Monday in order to learn Arabic together as a show of protest against the Knesset’s recent passing of the controversial Nationality Law.
Israel passed the nationality bill into law earlier this month to declare that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country, something which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed as the realization of Zionism's vision but which has stoked anger among critics who argue it is racist.
Organizers of the gathering in Habima Square, which was dubbed “The biggest Arabic lesson in the world”, said it was intended “to make the Arabic language widespread in the public.”
The law strips Arabic of its designation as an official language alongside Hebrew, downgrading it to a "special status" that enables its continued use within Israeli institutions.
During the event, a number of short lessons were given on Arabic phrases and words. Arabic and Hebrew songs were also sung by famous artists.
“It is important for us to point out and say that the Arabic language cannot be annulled,” said Nadya Masallah who organized the event. “There are residents here who live and speak this language, and we have to maintain it and strengthen it and continue to work so that the Arabic language will be here.”
Masallah’s children study in a bilingual school which she says strengthens the idea of coexistence. “The Arabic language is something that is extremely essential in this country. This can’t be forgotten. This law, if implemented, would have an impact,” she said.
“Suddenly we will see the signs in the street without Arabic and that is something that my son reads in Arabic and he focuses on it. Suddenly we will go into hospitals which is a government place and there won’t be any Arabic there and it will be the same in various other places which will be extremely significant,” she lamented.
“The language is our past, our present and our future as is the Hebrew language and we are not giving it up,” she said on the stage. “We are here and are continuing our campaign to widen the Arabic language.”
Ron Gerlitz, the joint chairman of the NGO “Sikkuy” (Chance), an organization that promotes equality and coexistence between Arabs and Jews in Israel, said that he believed the Nationality Law is “perhaps the most anti-Israel law that has ever been legislated in Israel.”
“There are many people here, both Jews and Arabs, who came to protest against this law and our protest is done through teaching Arabic and it is aimed against this law and against the downgrading of the status of the Arabic language,” he said, describing the demonstration as “a wonderful thing.”
According to Gerlitz, serious anger is rampant throughout Israeli society at the law. “This is something special and it is not something trivial,” he said.
26 july 2018
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USCPR Executive Director Yousef Munayyer appeared on Democracy Now! to discuss Israel’s “nation-state” law constitutionally enshrining apartheid.
Transcript: AMY GOODMAN: For more, we’re joined by Democracy Now! video stream by Yousef Munayyer, the executive director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. And joining us in studio, Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, co-authored a new op-ed in The Independent headlined “As Jews, we reject the myth that it’s antisemitic to call Israel racist.” We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Yousef, let’s begin with you. |
If you can talk about what’s happened in Gaza right now, the death toll up to 140, and then move on to the law that was just passed on Thursday?
YOUSEF MUNAYYER: Sure. Well, the most recent events that we’ve seen in the Gaza Strip are sort of a escalation that happens from time to time and forces, you know, many in the media and us here in the United States and the outside world to tune back in to Gaza, based on the fear that it is on the brink of yet another major Israeli bombardment. But the reality is that in those moments when we are not tuned in, the constant and structural violence that Palestinians in Gaza face because of the occupation, because of the policies of Israeli siege and because of the violent methods of enforcement that the Israeli military uses to support those policies, continues all the time.
And this is, altogether, part of a broader agenda by the state of Israel to quell any sort of resistance to what it seeks to do throughout the entirety of the territory, which is to impose its will on the native population of Palestinians, both in the West Bank, in Gaza, in occupied territories, but also on Palestinian citizens of Israel, under the premise that it is the Jewish population that is in control, that deserves to be in control, and that any rights at all that may be afforded to, you know, non-Jews are really done as a favor, and not something that the Jewish state has to do because of principles of equality or tolerance or democracy or anything like that.
And the most recent step that the Israeli Knesset has taken, through the passage of this law, I think, is the best proof of that, showing very clearly that the Israelis no longer care about, you know, even pretending to balance this notion of being a Jewish state and a democracy. You know, I think that was never the case. Now it’s clear that they’re not even interested in pretending anymore. And, in fact, the initiator and sponsor of this legislation said, after its passage, “We are passing this bill to make sure that no one has any doubt, or even any thoughts, about Israel being a state of all its citizens. So it’s very clearly aimed at enshrining inequality, enshrining apartheid, in a constitutional way within Israeli law.
AG: Rebecca Vilkomerson, if you can respond to this, what’s being called the nation-state law that’s been passed?
REBECCA VILKOMERSON: Yeah. I mean, I think what Yousef said is exactly right. I think I found it shocking, but not surprising, because I think anytime you have a set of, again, foundational law—this is a basic law, so it’s sort of the equivalent of a constitutional bill that will then have an impact on any future laws. And it basically obligates the state to treat its non-Jewish citizens unequally. And that’s 20 percent of the overall Israeli population. So, by Israel enshrining racism and discrimination and apartheid into its basic law, that’s pretty shocking, at the same time not that surprising because of the ongoing policies that Israel has been pursuing for so many decades.
AG: And the response of the Jewish community?
RV: Well, here in the United States, I think it’s been interesting, because there’s much more unanimity than there usually is against this bill—you know, everyone, from J Street to the American Jewish Committee to the Reform and Conservative movements, which together represent half of American Jewry.
Even some right-wing organizations like the ADL have had some limited concerns about the bill. And I think it’s a reflection of—you know, Peter Beinart sort of had this seminal essay that he wrote in 2010, which talked about the ways that the Israeli—the Jewish Israeli population was moving to the right, and the American Jewish population is staying sort of liberal and progressive, and there’s a split that’s happening. And I think we’re seeing the fruition of that, and people are just horrified by the sort of extreme-right-wing agenda that I think the Netanyahu government is feeling empowered by the Trump administration to enact fully.
AG: You wrote a piece in The Independent, signed by—well, about how 40 Jewish groups from 15 different countries have signed this joint statement--
RV: Yeah.
AG: —condemning attempts to stifle criticism with false--
RV: Yeah.
AG: —accusations, you say, of anti-Semitism.
RV: Right. This is a pretty historic moment. Again, we had 40 organizations from around the world, Jewish and Israeli organizations. And we felt like it was very important, because there are so many efforts right now, worldwide, lots of different specific strategies and tactics, but worldwide, trying to legislate definitions of anti-Semitism, that sometimes include chilling language, at the very minimum, and sometimes actually legislate that forms of anti-Zionism or certain critiques of Israel would be defined as anti-Semitic. And this has resulted in bank accounts being shut down in Germany and in the U.K., people being prosecuted in France. Here in the United States, there’s something called the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which would make it potentially, you know, extremely difficult for people to speak out politically against Israeli human rights violations. So we felt it was very important to lend a Jewish voice against that and to say that BDS is a legitimate tactic to be using in this particular moment. That’s Boycott--
AG: And you’re talking about the Boycott, Divestment--
RV: Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, yes.
AG: —and Sanctions movement. Yousef Munayyer, what happens from here, after this law is passed, and also in Gaza?
YM: Well, I think there’s great concern for what may happen in Gaza in the coming months. Of course, as we know, in the major Israeli bombardments of Gaza in 2008, 2009, and in the fall of 2012, in the summer of 2014, all of them preceded Israeli elections by a matter of months. And we are, you know, expecting Israeli elections in 2019. And given the recent behavior of the ruling coalition, with the passage of all kinds of right-wing legislation aimed at rallying the support of its base, I would not be surprised if they were to attempt another sort of massive operation against the Palestinian population in Gaza ahead of elections once again. So that’s something that I would definitely keep my eye on. But I--
AG: Yousef Munayyer—we have to leave it there for now—US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, and Rebecca Vilkomerson, Jewish Voice for Peace.
Via the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
YOUSEF MUNAYYER: Sure. Well, the most recent events that we’ve seen in the Gaza Strip are sort of a escalation that happens from time to time and forces, you know, many in the media and us here in the United States and the outside world to tune back in to Gaza, based on the fear that it is on the brink of yet another major Israeli bombardment. But the reality is that in those moments when we are not tuned in, the constant and structural violence that Palestinians in Gaza face because of the occupation, because of the policies of Israeli siege and because of the violent methods of enforcement that the Israeli military uses to support those policies, continues all the time.
And this is, altogether, part of a broader agenda by the state of Israel to quell any sort of resistance to what it seeks to do throughout the entirety of the territory, which is to impose its will on the native population of Palestinians, both in the West Bank, in Gaza, in occupied territories, but also on Palestinian citizens of Israel, under the premise that it is the Jewish population that is in control, that deserves to be in control, and that any rights at all that may be afforded to, you know, non-Jews are really done as a favor, and not something that the Jewish state has to do because of principles of equality or tolerance or democracy or anything like that.
And the most recent step that the Israeli Knesset has taken, through the passage of this law, I think, is the best proof of that, showing very clearly that the Israelis no longer care about, you know, even pretending to balance this notion of being a Jewish state and a democracy. You know, I think that was never the case. Now it’s clear that they’re not even interested in pretending anymore. And, in fact, the initiator and sponsor of this legislation said, after its passage, “We are passing this bill to make sure that no one has any doubt, or even any thoughts, about Israel being a state of all its citizens. So it’s very clearly aimed at enshrining inequality, enshrining apartheid, in a constitutional way within Israeli law.
AG: Rebecca Vilkomerson, if you can respond to this, what’s being called the nation-state law that’s been passed?
REBECCA VILKOMERSON: Yeah. I mean, I think what Yousef said is exactly right. I think I found it shocking, but not surprising, because I think anytime you have a set of, again, foundational law—this is a basic law, so it’s sort of the equivalent of a constitutional bill that will then have an impact on any future laws. And it basically obligates the state to treat its non-Jewish citizens unequally. And that’s 20 percent of the overall Israeli population. So, by Israel enshrining racism and discrimination and apartheid into its basic law, that’s pretty shocking, at the same time not that surprising because of the ongoing policies that Israel has been pursuing for so many decades.
AG: And the response of the Jewish community?
RV: Well, here in the United States, I think it’s been interesting, because there’s much more unanimity than there usually is against this bill—you know, everyone, from J Street to the American Jewish Committee to the Reform and Conservative movements, which together represent half of American Jewry.
Even some right-wing organizations like the ADL have had some limited concerns about the bill. And I think it’s a reflection of—you know, Peter Beinart sort of had this seminal essay that he wrote in 2010, which talked about the ways that the Israeli—the Jewish Israeli population was moving to the right, and the American Jewish population is staying sort of liberal and progressive, and there’s a split that’s happening. And I think we’re seeing the fruition of that, and people are just horrified by the sort of extreme-right-wing agenda that I think the Netanyahu government is feeling empowered by the Trump administration to enact fully.
AG: You wrote a piece in The Independent, signed by—well, about how 40 Jewish groups from 15 different countries have signed this joint statement--
RV: Yeah.
AG: —condemning attempts to stifle criticism with false--
RV: Yeah.
AG: —accusations, you say, of anti-Semitism.
RV: Right. This is a pretty historic moment. Again, we had 40 organizations from around the world, Jewish and Israeli organizations. And we felt like it was very important, because there are so many efforts right now, worldwide, lots of different specific strategies and tactics, but worldwide, trying to legislate definitions of anti-Semitism, that sometimes include chilling language, at the very minimum, and sometimes actually legislate that forms of anti-Zionism or certain critiques of Israel would be defined as anti-Semitic. And this has resulted in bank accounts being shut down in Germany and in the U.K., people being prosecuted in France. Here in the United States, there’s something called the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which would make it potentially, you know, extremely difficult for people to speak out politically against Israeli human rights violations. So we felt it was very important to lend a Jewish voice against that and to say that BDS is a legitimate tactic to be using in this particular moment. That’s Boycott--
AG: And you’re talking about the Boycott, Divestment--
RV: Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, yes.
AG: —and Sanctions movement. Yousef Munayyer, what happens from here, after this law is passed, and also in Gaza?
YM: Well, I think there’s great concern for what may happen in Gaza in the coming months. Of course, as we know, in the major Israeli bombardments of Gaza in 2008, 2009, and in the fall of 2012, in the summer of 2014, all of them preceded Israeli elections by a matter of months. And we are, you know, expecting Israeli elections in 2019. And given the recent behavior of the ruling coalition, with the passage of all kinds of right-wing legislation aimed at rallying the support of its base, I would not be surprised if they were to attempt another sort of massive operation against the Palestinian population in Gaza ahead of elections once again. So that’s something that I would definitely keep my eye on. But I--
AG: Yousef Munayyer—we have to leave it there for now—US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, and Rebecca Vilkomerson, Jewish Voice for Peace.
Via the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
25 july 2018
Pakistan says Israel’s latest law, defining the country as Jewish nation-state is a vivid manifestation of Tel Aviv’s consistent policy of discrimination against Palestinians.
In an open debate on Middle East situation at the UN Security Council, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, said such racist laws should have no place in today’s world.
She said the discriminatory Israeli law relegates indigenous Arab population to second class citizen status.
Maleeha Lodhi said we reject any attempts to diminish legal standing of Palestinians or to deprive them of their legitimate rights within their homeland.
She called for boosting efforts to promote a just solution to the Middle East conflict.
Maleeha Lodhi said the controversial Israeli bill states that only Jews have the right of self-determination in Israel.
In an open debate on Middle East situation at the UN Security Council, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, said such racist laws should have no place in today’s world.
She said the discriminatory Israeli law relegates indigenous Arab population to second class citizen status.
Maleeha Lodhi said we reject any attempts to diminish legal standing of Palestinians or to deprive them of their legitimate rights within their homeland.
She called for boosting efforts to promote a just solution to the Middle East conflict.
Maleeha Lodhi said the controversial Israeli bill states that only Jews have the right of self-determination in Israel.
President of the Tunisian People's Congress Mohamed al-Nasser has denounced Israel's declaration last week of the country as a Jewish nation state, calling it a racist law that runs contrary to all international laws and conventions.
Nasser confirmed his country’s support for the Palestinian people and their just question and struggle for freedom and human rights.
This came in the reception of the Arab MK Ahmad al-Tibi in the headquarters of the Tunisian Parliament on Tuesday, with the presence of his deputy Sheikh Abdul Fattah Mourou and Hisham Mustafa, first counselor of the Palestinian Embassy in Tunisia.
Nasser confirmed his country’s support for the Palestinian people and their just question and struggle for freedom and human rights.
This came in the reception of the Arab MK Ahmad al-Tibi in the headquarters of the Tunisian Parliament on Tuesday, with the presence of his deputy Sheikh Abdul Fattah Mourou and Hisham Mustafa, first counselor of the Palestinian Embassy in Tunisia.
