After initial statements of concern about the inclusion of the racist/fascistic Religious Zionism party in Israel’s next government, the Israel lobby has congratulated Netanyahu on his inevitable return to power and rationalized the presence of the ultra-right wing faction personified by Itamar Ben-Gvir. Separating Ben-Gvir from the Israeli government and doing business as usual will be a “huge achievement” for Israel, says David Makovsky.
On the eve of Israeli elections, the juggernaut of Religious Zionism is everywhere in West Jerusalem. The ascendance of Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ban-Gvir reflects a hard, militant, unregenerate country moving further and further right and their rise is set to transform Israel’s image to the world.
The Israeli latest polls suggest that Benjamin Netanyahu could become prime minister with the help of the overtly racist politician Itamar Ben Gvir of the fascist Jewish Power party. This is causing great consternation for liberal Zionists. For them, the problem is not that Jewish Power is antithetical to Zionism but rather that it is quintessentially Zionist (and giving Zionism a bad name).
The racist Israeli politician Itamar Ben Gvir could be the lynchpin for Netanyahu’s comeback. But the “New York Times” is keeping that news from its readers. Even as Israel supporters in the Congress, Robert Menendez and Brad Sherman, express concern about what Ben Gvir would do for Israel’s image in the west.
The massive escalation of violence in Palestine has come at a very convenient time for Benjamin Netanyahu, and it follows a very recognizable pattern of events and developments which have helped him keep his grip on power in Israel.
By campaigning for conservative “Arab” voters, Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to suppress the Palestinian vote, by shattering the Joint List, which won a historic 15 seats in the last election and is now polling at only 9.
The Never Netanyahu parties in Israeli politics only get to about 50 seats in polls for the March 23 elections, which likely leaves Netanyahu in power because opposition won’t work with Palestinian votes! Netanyahu sees a path to a majority of 61 with a deal he forged between Bezalel Smotrich and Otsma Yehudit, or Jewish Power, a racist fascistic party with Kahanist roots.
Israeli opposition party co-leader Yair Lapid tweeted after a shower, “Israel has to be a state of all its citizens.” Under attack, he reversed himself a half hour later. And Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz has upbraided him, calling the tweet a “seriously outrageous anti-Semitic remark … the slogan of the enemy”.
Benjamin Netanyahu has given the job of Transport Minister to Bezalel Smotrich, who says that he is working for God. Smotrich tried to become Justice Minister, and though his suggestion that Israel should follow biblical law ended that bid, there’s no reason his portfolio won’t grow in years to come.
Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the Israeli Knesset from the Jewish Home party, has delivered his plan for the annexation of Palestinian territories. It’s called the ‘Decision Plan’, but its real name is Apartheid, and its message is: Surrender or be transferred.