Let Netanyahu win

[Jefferson23]

By Gideon Levy

Benjamin Netanyahu will apparently be Israel's next prime minister. There is, however, something encouraging about that fact. Netanyahu's election will free Israel from the burden of deception: If he can establish a right-wing government, the veil will be lifted and the nation's true face revealed to its citizens and the rest of the world, including Arab countries. Together with the world, we will see which direction we are facing and who we really are. The masquerade that has gone on for several years will finally come to an end.

Netanyahu's election is likely to bring the curtain down on the great fraud - the best show in town - the lie of "negotiations" and the injustice of the "peace process." Israel consistently claimed these acts proved the nation was focused on peace and the end of the occupation. All the while, it did everything it could to further entrench the occupation and distance any chance of a potential agreement.

For 16 years, we have been enamored with the peace process. We talk and talk, babble and prattle, and generally feel great about ourselves; meanwhile the settlements expand endlessly and Israel turns to the use of force at every possible opportunity, aside from a unilateral disengagement which did nothing to advance the cause of peace.

remainder here:http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1061736.html

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Since many of my friends are without jobs right now here in the U.S., I'm focusing on the economy

here, and not much on what is happening in Israel. We have an emergency in the U.S. Jobs are lost every second. Our economy has been destroyed by Repukes.

Maybe I'm not being fair. Those who have jobs and are doing well might prefer to discuss other topics, such as Israel, etc., but it still amazes me why they would while we've hit rock-bottom. :(

[Jefferson23]

4. While I am sorry to hear of anyone losing their job, what is about to take place in Israel

will have an impact on human life not only for the Palestinians, but for the Israeli population that does not support their governments policies nor brutal tactics, and I am concerned. I am concerned for these people as well as my own countries involvement. You are as you say, amazed due to the US economic crisis that anyone is speaking of anything else. Yet you are here in I/P forum, spending time reading, and I will add that I am not sure of your intent here. Concern and thoughtfulness are not exclusive to one topic. I do hope your friends find employment and I wish them all the best, the situation is devastating and of course to listen to the Republicans play politics as usual is infuriating, absolutely. Thank you for your post.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

16. I'm sorry but my family's lives, and my friend's lives, and mine come before

in this emergency situation we are experiencing here. Unemployment is estimated at 17.2 and growing, there's exponentially rising homelessness, etc. I realize you don't agree but you will when there's rioting here.

[Jefferson23]

18. I'm still uncertain as to why you presume I have no concern for

the state of our economy, as if posting in this forum is somehow your evidence of that. Best wishes to you.

[LeftishBrit]

12. Fair enough; but this is the I/P forum (or was the thread relocated?)

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. No, it's in the right place. I'm merely making a statement -

Our unemployment is over 17.2 in a a country that has practically NO social programs to ease the anguish of the unemployed (unlike other Europe, which does), our homelessness rate is rising at a rate never before seen, crime is through the roof, and I'm sorry but this state of emergency is #1 and needs to be taken care of before anything else is attended to.

One would be insane to take care of the emergencies of others before their own emergencies.

[rateyes]

2. I hate Netanyahu, but if that's really what it will take...

He's really a big POS, IMO.

[oberliner]

3. He is not going to win

Likud is fading fast.

[Jefferson23]

5. So you think that the votes going to Lieberman are significantly

helping Livni in the end? One poll I read seem to suggest that, but still reporting that it is too close.

[oberliner]

6. I think so

It looks like it will go down to the wire between Kadima and Likud with Likud losing votes to Beiteinu while Kadima holds steady.

[aranthus]

7. You're right, but it's too close for comfort. n/t

[Fozzledick]

8. Arab Opinion: Netanyahu favored by moderates

With elections looming in problematic Israel, the race seems to be down to right-wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu and center party candidate Zipi Livni. Surprisingly, many Arabs favor a win by the seemingly more hawkish Netanyahu.

The considered opinion of political and business leaders in the region is that Netanyahu offers stability and the possibility of peace, while the inexperienced Livni brings a likelihood of volatility and crisis.

An Egyptian-trained economist pointed out the differences between the two Israeli candidates: "Netanyahu is an experienced politician who has the highest likelihood of bringing a stable government to Israel. A stable Israel means a stable region, and right now this is very important; the coming years are a crucial time for many Arab countries to develop their economies, and an unstable Israel makes that unlikely. Netanyahu's agenda is centered on economic growth as his top priority, so he needs quiet and stability as much as everyone else, and maybe more."

"Livni, the centrist Kadima party candidate, has an unclear agenda at this stage. Although her outlook is assumed to be less hawkish then Netanyahu, there is a strong feeling that her inexperience will lead to increased risk of conflict. She is unlikely to enjoy a firm power base in Israel, and this, combined with her inexperience in foreign and security affairs, means that her handling of crisis will likely escalate situations. Moreover, such a weak leader is too much of an opportunity for groups such as Hamas and Hizbullah to ignore, so crisis situations seem sure to turn up."

http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/234587

[Alamuti Lotus]

10. That term "moderate" is thrown around far too easily

[Alamuti Lotus]

9. Surprisingly, agreed.

Benjamin Netanyahu will apparently be Israel's next prime minister. There is, however, something encouraging about that fact. Netanyahu's election will free Israel from the burden of deception: If he can establish a right-wing government, the veil will be lifted and the nation's true face revealed to its citizens and the rest of the world, including Arab countries. Together with the world, we will see which direction we are facing and who we really are. The masquerade that has gone on for several years will finally come to an end.

While I doubt he personally is interested in anything more than bluster, the loons he'll bring along with him (slightly reconstructed Kahanists, boilerplate nationalist-racists, crypto-nazis like Feiglin, etc) are just crazy enough to make things happen.

"And he whom you cannot teach to fly, teach to fall faster!"

[Idealism]

11. This part is spot on:

There is, however, something encouraging about that fact. Netanyahu's election will free Israel from the burden of deception: If he can establish a right-wing government, the veil will be lifted and the nation's true face revealed to its citizens and the rest of the world, including Arab countries. Together with the world, we will see which direction we are facing and who we really are.

With Livni, you don't know if its an election ploy, power politics, military-industrial complex corporatism, or just ignorance. With Bibi, you know to expect the worst neo-con nuttery known to man.

[Jefferson23]

19. I agree and he certainly has made his points here, as frightening a price

as that would be if Netanyahu wins.

[LeftishBrit]

13. I disagree. I've heard too many such arguments over the years

'Kinnock isn't a true socialist; it's better to risk having Thatcher for another term than to compromise our principles. At least she's honest about her intentions!'

'There is no real difference between Bush and Gore'

etc...

And we saw and experienced the consequences.

I am not a Kadima fan by any means, especially right now (I'd vote for Meretz if I was Israeli); but Netanyahu would be an utter disaster. I don't think that voting for someone RW, just to prove how bad the RW are, is a good risk. Letting things reach rock-bottom in order to force change is rarely a good strategy in any situation.

[pelsar]

14. not so fast...

in israel only the right can actually make the "big moves"...Begin with his greater israel, returned the sinai to egypt, sharon gave the Palestinians Gaza (though they really didnt take advantage of it)....Netanyaho may or may not surprise us.....

meretz has lost their way in that the ones who made a difference are no longer involved, though they would be the conscience vote.....and the rest of them?....who knows..... (i havent decide which way to vote....)

[LeftishBrit]

15. I'd thought of the Begin example...

and a few similar ones elsewhere, e.g. Nixon going to China. However, there's something about Netanyahu that doesn't make me feel hopeful in this respect. Also, if he did get into office it might well be in coalition with parties that are even worse.

[pelsar]

20. the system sucks.....

one option is the Netanyhu, livni and barak get together and change the system and put in a geographical representative system......if they do that i might even "thank god" and get religion......

other than that, on one hand they're all opportunists playing their best cards...of which i believe very little of any of them. On the other hand, i dont doubt any of their sincerity when it comes to their belief that they will do what they believe is in the bests interest of the country.....quite the quandary.

(btw did you know that Netenyaho and Barak served together in a top commando unit..makes me wonder just about their relationship, some experiences cant be erased from memory, hence i dont doubt that they can work together)