Israel is effectively a single-party state

[Donald Ian Rankin]

The totalitarianism gaining the upper hand in our lives has to do with the fact that there is no real difference between 'center-left' Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu on the extreme right.

By Yitzhak Laor

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/israel-is-effectively-a-single-party-state-1.326937

A regime gives its subjects language, concepts, images, by many means - from an education system to a briefing for military correspondents. Nevertheless, people feel uncomfortable in face of the regime. Sometimes they even have an interest in resisting it. The opposition is supposed to provide them an alternative voice. People do not exist as an opposition if there is no political party that voices their resistance.

Kadima, therefore, is a disaster for democracy. The totalitarianism gaining the upper hand in our lives - which is mostly of a racist character - has to do with the fact that between Kadima ("center-left" ) and Yisrael Beiteinu on the extreme right there is really no difference. The disappearance of Meretz and the racist ignoring of the Arab public of voters and its representatives in the Knesset are underlining even further how close Israel is to being a single-party state. This used to be called "consensus," now it is broader agreement on most issues. Beyond minuscule differences of opinion among the political parties, we are in effect ruled by a single party, the State Party, with its branches: Likud-Mizrahi (Jews of Middle Eastern descent ), Likud-Russian, Likud-career officers and Labor, Likud-ultra-Orthodox and Likud in its two "authentic" embodiments: Kadima and Likud. This is the context of the loyalty laws and the open season on Balad MK Hanin Zuabi.

In accordance with monotonous political map, which produces the politics, the citizens too are no longer split, even with regard to the fate of the territories, never mind their rights-deprived subjects. Everyone, from time to time, is for "two states." There are indeed phalanxes of settlers, but they live by the spears of the army and the army is the totem animal of the state party. The celebration of unity is presided over by moronic game show hosts. The good times on the way to fascism need not go through anthems and marching songs. It is enough to be a reality show moron.

Meretz voters - the last Jewish opposition public - voted en masse for the right-wing Kadima. Their indifference to this turnaround began back when their party supported Operation Cast Lead. Security-oriented, gung-ho pricks are more convincing in times of bloodbaths. Now the smart alecks are asking us how it could be that the process of becoming fascist doesn't require a dictatorship and prisons.

Continued at http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/israel-is-effectively-a-single-party-state-1.326937

[leveymg]

1. If they didn't constantly make new common enemies, they'd be at each others throats.

Maybe, they all understand that, which is why today there's no diversity in Israeli views on national security.

[villager]

2. Like America, you mean? Is it "the corporate party," too?

:shrug:

[arcticken]

3. the shy is falling the sky is falling!!! n/t

[azurnoir]

4. the "shy" is falling hmmmmm n/t

[oberliner]

5. You've never made a typo before? hmmmmm

[azurnoir]

9. nor have you or was it more Freudian than that? n/t

[oberliner]

12. I was being sarcastic - you've made lots of them

As have I. Not sure why you jumped on that other poster for theirs.

[arcticken]

15. Because he/she can. Yes it was a typo. And

now you know a little bit more about azurnoir than you probably ever wanted to know.

[oberliner]

6. His book The Myths of Liberal Zionism was published in English by Verso Books in February 2009

Alrighty then.

[shira]

7. Great. Another Gideon Levy anti-zionist for one-state tyranny & chaos led by Hamas/PLO.

His idea of justice is the PLO or Hamas in charge, very bloody civil war, and total lack of basic human rights in such a one-state nightmare scenario.

What a great guy!

Seriously, anyone like this guy or Gideon Levy who thinks Amos Oz, David Grossman, and AB Yehoshua are phony liberals has zero credibility.

[oberliner]

8. Yitzhak Laor: Israel’s apartheid is worse than South Africa’s

And on and on.

[azurnoir]

10. Yep along with that "wildly antisemtic"

Desmond Tutu, who would know absolutely nothing about South African Apartheid

[oberliner]

11. Neither this author nor Desmond Tutu is antisemitic

Don't know where you got that from.

[azurnoir]

13. Sarcasm that is why it was in quotes n/t

[oberliner]

16. Putting it in quotes suggests that it is a quote

The implication is that you are quoting someone else here who made that claim.

I know of no one who did.

[azurnoir]

18. To "some" maybe n/t

[oberliner]

21. What do quotation marks mean in your understanding?

I always thought they indicated quoting.

[azurnoir]

23. the meaning of quotation marks would depend entirely on the

context in which they are used

eta what is your purpose in this lengthy questioning based on my pointing out the rather ironic typo of another poster

[oberliner]

24. In what context do the not represented quoted material?

I've never heard of this before thus my follow-up questions.

A simple explanation is all I am looking for.

No idea what was ironic about the typo incidentally.

[Dick Dastardly]

20. Its the common tactic of many in the anti Israel crowd to

make bogus claims or pre-emptive claims of accusations of being called anti-semitic. It takes a variety of forms such as the common tactic of claiming that most supporters of Israel believe any criticism of Israel is anti-semetic when that is patently false except for only a very few of the most extreme. This tactic is far more common than any accusations of anti semitism whether real or false.

[Violet_Crumble]

25. What do you mean by 'anti Israel crowd'?

Is that what you label anyone who dares to criticise what Israel does to the Palestinians or who opposes the occupation? Do you also call people who criticise the US anti-American? If not, why the special treatment for Israel?

As to what you said about accusations of antisemitism. There's plenty of it floating around and to deny that is just ridiculous. Also, where did you come up with the claim that complaining about accusations of antisemitism are far more common than accusations themselves? Is there a study yr referring to?

[Chulanowa]

14. Does unintentional irony hurt? Is that why you're so angry, Shira?

[shira]

17. Phony liberals like Yitzak Laor, Gideon Levy, and their cheerleaders really piss me off. n/t

[Chulanowa]

19. I have to admit some unfamiliary; what makes 'em "phony liberals"?

[shira]

22. see #7 above. n/t