Israel’s Straitjacket
JVL Introduction
In a short essay Israeli writer Yonatan Mendel assesses the outcome of the recent Israeli elections.
He finds no room for optimism. Netanyahu has successfuly branded centrists and leftists as “the ultimate anti-Jewish Other”; and Palestinian citizens of Israel as “terrorists”.
And, says Mendel: “Over the next four years, the government will take extraordinary steps to lock in its hegemony. It plans to introduce an ‘overriding clause’ that will enable the parliament to overturn Supreme Court rulings, effectively abolishing the separation of powers and ensuring that Netanyahu’s trial will end without conviction.”
Is this the “light unto nations” that Zionism envisaged?
This article was originally published by Sidecar, New Left Review on Tue 15 Nov 2022. Read the original here.
Israel’s Straitjacket
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If ever there was a time for supporters of democracy and human rights to speak out against the evils of Zionism, it is now. If anyone is under the mistaken impression that Zionism means anything other than occupation and subjugation, they need to read Tony Greenstein’s new book. It clearly shows that Zionism is anathema to Judaism, and those such as Keir Starmer, who declared his unequivocal support for Zionism, are perpetuating racism and apartheid in the Zionist State of Israel.
The recent elections will entrench and expand Israel’s settler-colonial project at the expense of Palestinians who face increasing violence from settler — or should I say – colonial communities, more house demolitions, and even tougher repressive measures from the IDF. Yet as an activist in defence of Palestinian human rights, I hope the adage — the “darkest hour is just before dawn” proves to be true for the Palestinians and Israelis who strive to build a society that is truly democratic and predicated of equality of both peoples.