We shouldn’t downplay the threat posed by a return to power by Netanyahu, a criminal defendant who caused great damage to the fabric of Israeli life, undermined its democratic institutions, eroded its values and is willing to cooperate with Kahanists to regain power. But this threat should not obscure the substance of Rinawie Zoabi’s arguments, which deserve serious attention. Not every abomination can be koshered by citing Netanyahu, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotric
Archiv: Bezalel Smotrich
Lapid: The Ideological Descendants of Rabin’s Assassin Are Sitting in the Knesset Today
(18.10.2021)
Speaking earlier at the official ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem commemorating the 26th anniversary of the assassination, Bennett said at the official ceremony in Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl that an entire Israeli generation is suffering from PTSD, whose lives were shaken and molded by the assassination in 1995.
Seventeen Palestinian Protesters Arrested as Thousands Attend Jerusalem Right-wing March
Thousands of people took part in the controversial right-wing Flag March in Jerusalem on Tuesday, with police clashing with hundreds of Palestinian protesters near the Old City’s Damascus Gate as tensions with Gaza run high after last month’s fighting.
Mounted police and skunk water were used to disperse them, while at Herod’s Gate, police fired sponge-tipped bullets at protesters. Police arrested 17 Palestinian protesters.
Shameful display in Knesset ahead of new gov’t swearing-in – COMMENT
The shameful scene also revealed that indeed, it was high time for the outgoing members of the government to head to the opposition. As Lapid said, their behavior reminded him why it was so important to replace them. Their concept of democracy and free speech has been distorted beyond recognition by too much time in power.
Bernie Sanders calls Hamas a ‚terrorist group‘ but says Israeli government has ‚overt racists‘
Pressed on how the U.S. can take an „evenhanded“ approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when the Hamas terrorist group does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, Sanders slammed the Netanyahu government, saying it is not innocent in the hostilities.
„What you have got to do is also understand that over the years the Netanyahu government has become extremely right-wing. And that there are people in the Israeli government now who are overt racists,“ Sanders told the CBS program. „You have in West Jerusalem people being evicted from their homes. Tremendous pressure on people within Israel, the Arab community, as well as Gaza.“
Gideon Sa’ar Mulling Power Sharing Deal With Netanyahu, Despite Election Promise
(18.05.2021)
Gideon Sa’ar, head of the New Hope party, is looking into a power-sharing government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Haaretz has learned.
Sa’ar has agreed to advance the initiative by the leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, Betzalel Smotrich, after Naftali Bennett announced that establishing a „government of change“ headed by him and Yair Lapid was off the table.
Lapid Suggests Political Considerations Are Behind Israel’s Gaza Operation
Lapid, who has been tasked with forming a coalition after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s mandate expired, also accused Kahanist lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir of having a central role in the escalation in tensions that led to rioting around the country and ultimately Israel’s flare-up with Gaza. “No one would let a card-carrying lunatic like Itamar Ben-Gvir to set Jerusalem and then the entire country ablaze.”
Far-right lawmakers‘ visit to Sheikh Jarrah reignites clashes
(10.05.2021)
Religious Zionist Party chief MK Bezalel Smotrich, who arrived at the contentious area with several members of his faction, slammed law enforcement and security forces‘ for their lax treatment against Palestinian violence and called for the formation of a stable government that can tackle the unrest.
Gulf officials warn Israel against forming gov’t with far-right candidates: report
“A right-wing policy is one thing,” the officials were quoted as saying. “But expressions against Muslims and Arabs by Members of Knesset [Israel Parliament] that are a part of [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s government will harm and sabotage the normalization between Israel and Arab countries.”
Israel Election Results: Far-right Leader Rules Out Netanyahu-led Coalition With Islamist Party
The Islamist United Arab List party, headed by Mansour Abbas, and Naftali Bennett’s Yamina have not yet declared their support for either bloc.
Israel-Wahl: Kleinpartei als Zünglein an der Waage
Likud bleibt zwar mit 30 Mandaten die stärkste politische Kraft, aber selbst mit seinem ultrarechten Rivalen Naftali Bennett von der Jamina-Partei käme sein Lager nur auf 59 von 120 Mandaten. Die arabische Partei Ra’am schafft die 3,25-Prozent-Hürde und ist nun Zünglein an der Waage.
Ra’am erhält fünf Mandate.
After 4th Vote in 2 Years, Israelis Wonder: When Will the Political Morass End?
Official final results are not expected before Friday. But the partial tallies suggested that both Mr. Netanyahu’s alliance and its opponents would need the support of a small, Islamist Arab party, Raam, to form a majority coalition.
Bottom line of yesterday’s election – 57 percent of Israelis voted for parties calling to replace Netanyahu. That doesn’t mean Netanyahu can’t somehow find a way to form a bizarre coalition with the support of Jewish supremacists and Islamists, but it’s still a clear rejection.
Israel Election Results: Kahanist Racism, Homophobia Enter Knesset After Far-right Party’s Strong Showing
In the final days before the election, the Religious Zionist Party, headed by Bezalel Smotrich was viewed as being in danger of falling below the electoral threshold of four Knesset seats.
Kahanist Netanyahu Ally Invokes Hitler in Israeli Election Ad, Draws Ire
It shows candidates from across the political spectrum would form a coalition with the Joint List alliance of majority-Arab parties, revoke the law of return, change Independence Day to Nakba Day, make Yasser Arafat a national hero, and institute a national day of support for Hamas. It drew particular condemnation for showing Labor Party candidate Ibtisam Mara’ana sending an image of Adolf Hitler with a heart icon.
Knesset Votes Down Probe of Judges as Gantz-Netanyahu Crisis Brew
The Knesset on Wednesday voted against forming a commission of inquiry that will probe conflicts of interest of Supreme Court justices.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party said it would back the initiative by far-right lawmaker Bezalel Smotrich of the Yamina faction to establish such a commission.
Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz’s Kahol Lavan party called the move „a declaration of war on democracy.
Israel: Bedouin birth rate a ‚time bomb,‘ says far-right lawmaker
‚I want to maintain a Jewish majority, not just in the State of Israel but in the Negev as well‘
Israeli lawmaker Bezalel Smotrich, known for incendiary anti-Arab comments, said on Thursday that the birth rates of Israeli Bedouins posed an existential threat for the Jewish State, akin to a bomb that must be diffused.
Jewish Home members approve merger with far-right Otzma Yehudit
Vote by right-wing party’s central committee also paves way for alliance with Betzalel Smotrich’s National Union
Far-right Parties Seal Election Merger, Commit to Backing Netanyahu-led Coalition
The Hayamin Hehadash and Union of Right-Wing Parties announced Monday they would run on a joint ticket in September’s election under the name United Right, following a meeting of party leaders Ayelet Shaked, Naftali Bennett, Rafi Peretz and Bezalel Smotrich.
As Indictment Nears, Where Do Israeli Parties Stand on Bill Granting Netanyahu Immunity?
MK Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the National Union party, has already announced that he supports passing legislation to spare Netanyahu from standing trial while in office. Two other parties, Hayamin Hehadash and United Torah Judaism, have said they would consider supporting such a bill.
But the Kulanu party said it would oppose any such legislation.