Yuli Edelstein
1. Yossi Gurvitz at +972: “Israel’s Propaganda Minister: ‘Arabs are a deplorable nation'”
Israel’s Propaganda and Diaspora Minister, Yuli Edelstein, said the Arabs are a “deplorable nation.” His spokesman: He meant every one of them Israel’s Propaganda and Diaspora Minister, Yuli Edelstein, told a crowd in a public diplomacy event in Or Yehuda that “as long as the Arab nation continues to be a deplorable nation, which continues investing in infrastructure for terrorism, education to hate, and welfare for the families of shaheeds (martyrs), there will be no peace.”
It can be seen in his Facebook page, here (Hebrew). The Hebrew epithet used by Edelstein to describe Arabs – נפסד – is rather difficult to translate: I put it as “deplorable” but it can also mean “morally bankrupt.”
I phoned the minister’s office for comment, and asked his spokesman: “Are you aware of the fact there are some 80 million Arabs in the world, from Sudan to Syria?” He replied: “Yes, there are – and the minister meant them all.”
2. Ari Shavit from 10 days ago, in Haaretz: “Israel has never been so ugly”
We have never been so ugly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu seeks to silence the call to prayer over the loudspeakers of the country’s mosques, and to shut down Channel 10 television. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman expresses support for the Russian “democtator” who has just rigged elections. Defense Minister Ehud Barak stands by while Jewish settlers victimize Palestinians and ultra-Orthodox religious nationalists victimize female soldiers.
How ugly? Ugly enough that it will probably get worse.
I just saw this comment by jdledell, whose comments I use to follow on TWN because he travels to Israel regularly and is pretty objective about what is going on. He is responding to a guest post on Col Lang’s site by Robert Lifton, a true blue zionist, who lays the I/P blame mostly on Palestine.
“jdledell said…
Mr. Lifton – Israel has changed dramatically since the administrations of Barak and Olmert. Netanyahu, supported by a majority of Israelis, is going to try to implement his “reservation” strategy. I’m in the West Bank frequently since all my relatives live there. All you have to do is show up at shul and someone from Bibi’s camp will be there(Danon, Begin, Ayalon etc) to explain how they will NEVER allow a real Palestinian state.
Netanyahu has been quite open about his concept of “economic peace” where small pockets of Palestinians are granted autonomy. He thinks Palestine should be like Andorra – totally dependent on other countries for their defense as well as access to the world. I’ve heard him speak about this numerous times. He believes, honestly or otherwise, that Palestinians should be grateful for this generosity and concentrate on making a good living and raising families – not bothered with all that other nasty stuff like foreign affairs etc.
Israelis understand, except for the hot heads, that transfer is out of the question. However, most in the current administration believe that the world will be no more upset about the plan for Palestinian autonomy pockets – essentially Area A and most of Area B, than they are with the occupation. A Palestinian traveling from Jenin to Hebron would probably need 5 or 6 special Israeli travel visas – a bureaucratic nightmare if you have ever experience Israeli offices.
I’m sure you are aware that the Jordan Valley is almost completely cleared of Palestinians and the Bedouin in Area C are in the process of be moved to Area B.
You can forget ascribing good intentions to Israel’s policy on Palestinians. Israel has a plan, they are implementing it, and will shed no tears for Palestinians when it is in effect. Walrus is right – the burden to fix this problem falls on Israel’s shoulders but they have no intention of pursuing it with Justice in mind. As I said, go to shul in the West Bank and you will hear that the Palestinians destiny is better than the Canaanites – so what’s the problem.
I am personally VERY distressed about what is happening in Israel because it goes against the very essence of my Jewish faith and ideals. I am still an Israeli citizen from the time I lived there in the 1980’s. Since my Haifa bar mitzvah in 1956, I have logged over 100 visits to Israel. I have seen the changes over time and much of it turns my stomach. “
People who have Alzheimer’s or various other mental conditions although able to speak nevertheless don’t make much sense (in the normal understanding of “sense”). These hasbaristas (hasbarniki ?) demonstrate that the list of debilitating mental conditions must be broadened to include their mental situations, poor dears. (Maybe American Republican presidential candidates, too.)
“Are you aware of the fact there are some 80 million Arabs in the world, from Sudan to Syria?”
He replied: “Yes, there are – and the minister meant them all.”
Imagine that any minister, or some high positioned public official would say it.
ANY minister from ANY country.
Imagine that Obama ‘s Propaganda minister would say: “Hindus are a deplorable nation”.
Or Merkel’s Propaganda Minister would announced: Jewish people are a deplorable nation”.
Or Iran’s president would say: “Christians (especially zionists) are a deplorable nation.
Or Putin’s Propaganda minister would say : Protestants are a deporable nation.”
etc,etc,etc.
The chutzpa, the stupidity, the insult of that kind of statements is unbelievable.
It shows that they more and more dig into delusions, paranoia, disregard for all human beings. They feeed themselves on such idiotic propaganda statements to boost their ,falling rapidly on the international scene, ego.
Truly pitiful and obnoxious.
You are right American,but might I add with the almost total support of Congress,which is all the GOI think they need, nothing will be said before the next US election, Europe for the most part will remain mum and follow the craven US,short of mass murder the US will do nothing, a couple of murders a day and slow ethnic cleansing is what the GOI know they can get away with, only civil society throughout the world can shame their Governments into taking punitive measures to end this abomination.
“deplorable nation”? Really Yossi? Maybe “morally bankrupt”? The word is difficult to translate, or perhaps too embarrassing. Google translate starts with “wasteful”, then offers
Harmful
Damaged
Worthless
Is it the last that Edelstein really meant? This racist scumbag should be looking in the mirror.