From Haaretz's amazing story on the appeal that rightwing extremist Avigdor Lieberman holds for Israeli youth. Please someone tell me why this is not in the American press, while Haaretz cries out for our help?
[One youth says,] "This country has needed a dictatorship for a long time already.
But I'm not talking about an extreme dictatorship. We need someone who
can put things in order. Lieberman is the only one who speaks the
truth." Adds Edan Ivanov, an 18 year old… "We have a problem: Upper Nazareth is surrounded by
minorities. There are lots of incidents with them. Women are scared to
walk in the streets, and people are afraid they'll be stabbed. No one
knows what to do about it at this point. There are people who live here
and during a war they act as a fifth column. It will only be possible
to make peace with them after we make war."
But I'm not talking about an extreme dictatorship. We need someone who
can put things in order. Lieberman is the only one who speaks the
truth." Adds Edan Ivanov, an 18 year old… "We have a problem: Upper Nazareth is surrounded by
minorities. There are lots of incidents with them. Women are scared to
walk in the streets, and people are afraid they'll be stabbed. No one
knows what to do about it at this point. There are people who live here
and during a war they act as a fifth column. It will only be possible
to make peace with them after we make war."
Alex Miller, 32-year-old member of the Knesset living in the West Bank:
"Loyalty is the most burning issue for the youth.
They're about to go in the army and therefore national honor is
important to them. They want someone whose word is good, who stands
behind his principles. Avigdor Lieberman projects strength." …
They're about to go in the army and therefore national honor is
important to them. They want someone whose word is good, who stands
behind his principles. Avigdor Lieberman projects strength." …
Sergei Leibliyanich, a senior, draws a connection
between the preparation for military service in school and student
support for the right: "It gives us motivation against the Arabs. You
want to enlist in the army so you can stick it to them. The preparation
gives you the motivation to stick it to the Arabs and we want to elect
someone who'll do that. I like Lieberman's thinking about the Arabs.
Bibi [Benjamin Netanyahu] doesn't want to go as far."
between the preparation for military service in school and student
support for the right: "It gives us motivation against the Arabs. You
want to enlist in the army so you can stick it to them. The preparation
gives you the motivation to stick it to the Arabs and we want to elect
someone who'll do that. I like Lieberman's thinking about the Arabs.
Bibi [Benjamin Netanyahu] doesn't want to go as far."
Miriam Darmoni-Sharvit, education policy-maker:
In my daughter's class, the kids told a joke that
went something like: 'How long does it take an Arab woman to get rid of
the trash? Nine months,' and the teacher didn't stop or say anything to
them about it."
went something like: 'How long does it take an Arab woman to get rid of
the trash? Nine months,' and the teacher didn't stop or say anything to
them about it."
Jeff Blankfort comments:
This is very scary, but not surprising. Is there any other term for it but "Nazification?" Back in October 1981, I had a letter in the Nation commenting on an article by Chris Hitchens on Kahane, that the racist rabbi was just "a tip of the iceberg." The iceberg has now emerged.
