The success of the Palestinian Joint List in the Israeli election has given hope to liberal Zionist groups for a post-Netanyahu era of non-discrimination and a better international image. Though there is little in Israeli Jewish politicians’ conduct to support the hope, Ayman Odeh of the Joint List will be speaking to J Street next month.

“Have you gone mad?” Tamar Zandberg of Meretz challenged Labor after it supported Netanyahu’s plan to deport 40,000 African refugees. But Avi Gabbay, the Labor leader, is pushing the faction to the right in order to meet the Israeli public where they stand, in racist policies.

The leader of the Israeli “left” opposition faction Zionist Union, Avi Gabbay, says, “The left has forgotten what it means to be Jewish,” a virtual carbon copy of Benjamin Netanyahu’s comment from 20 years ago. The parallel shows the collapse of any real opposition to the hard right in Israeli politics.