An Israel that insists on national pride but that is harming national security and eroding national fortitude in a dangerous way.
By Ari Shavit | Dec.06,
2012 | 3:48 AM |
Let's set aside values. Are we indeed prepared to reinforce our status as an occupying state that controls another people for a prolonged period? Let's set aside justice and morals. Are we indeed prepared to turn Zionism into an apartheid movement that denies millions of residents their basic rights? Let's set aside identity. Are we indeed prepared to exchange a Jewish democratic state for a state of ultra-nationalist zealotry that tramples on its minorities?
Let's set aside universal values, and Jewish
values, and what Israel once aspired to be. In terms of national security, the
political map that seems to be shaping up arouses aversion. The sharp right
turn that the ruling party and its partners have taken is endangering the
Jewish state's diplomatic, security and economic interests. It is likely to
lead to a situation in which, very soon, Israel loses the last few bases of
support it has left in the West and becomes a state that weakens itself to
death.
Iran? Iran. The government that Benjamin
Netanyahu, Avigdor Lieberman and Zeev Elkin can set up will have the most
limited ability to deal with the Iranian nuclear challenge. Since it will be
conceived of in the West as an irrational government, no one will want to
listen to its rational claims on the irrationality of Tehran. Since it will be
conceived of as an illegitimate government of a country that is gradually
becoming illegitimate, it will not have the necessary legitimacy to curb Iran,
either diplomatically or militarily. An Israel that is controlled by
"ultra-nationalism-is-our-home" parties will be an Israel that is
isolated and weakened, whose ability to prevent the nuclearization of Iran is
slim.
Deterrence? Deterrence. A government whose
values are those of Likud MK Yariv Levin will be conceived of in the
international community as if it were a government of Afrikaners. The
Afrikaners do not have the right to self-determination and self-defense. Since
they do not recognize the natural rights of others, their natural rights too
are undermined. That being the case, the ability of the Israeli Afrikaners to
use force against Hamas and Hezbollah will be close to nil. Any justifiable act
of defense on their part will be seen as a war crime. Any wild settlement
project will take them to the international court in The Hague. A Netanyahu
painted in the hues of Levin will not enjoy the same umbrella of sympathy and
forgiveness that Shimon Peres enjoyed with the Oslo Accords, or Ariel Sharon
with the "road map," or Ehud Olmert with the Annapolis talks. With a
backward kind of logic, precisely this ultra-nationalist leadership that
strives to be strong will be the weak leadership of a weak country whose strategic
situation is in dire straits.
Economics? Economics. The bitter herbs that the
European Union is dishing out to us this week are merely the first course.
Let's not get things wrong: Everything was planned in advance and known in
advance. While the prime minister and foreign minister were busy celebrating
the fact that they had prevented the diplomatic tsunami of 2011, the
Palestinians, Europeans and Americans were working diligently to prepare the
diplomatic tsunami of 2012 and 2013. All they were waiting for was the
reelection of Barack Obama as America's president. Now, when the Democratic
regime in the United States is stable and sure, there is no Sheldon Adelson in
the world who can hold back a coalition of progressive forces in the West with
zero tolerance for a continuation of the occupation and settlements.
If the wild construction in the territories
continues, the diplomatic protest gestures will soon become legal and
commercial protest gestures that will badly harm the Israeli economy.
Supporters of the Likud will learn the hard way that there is a price tag to
electing Moshe Feiglin, and the citizens of Israel will learn the hard way that
there is a price tag to electing Feiglin's devoted supporters.
Thin out your stock portfolio, dear readers. The
Israel of Likud Beitenu is an Israel that is going to crash into the wall. In
another month and a half, Israelis will go to the polls. To our great regret,
they won't find in the voting booths a worthy and high-quality alternative in
the center-left bloc. But whoever votes for the extremist slates of the new right-wing
bloc must know exactly what he is voting for - a weak Israel. An Israel that
insists on national pride but that is harming national security and eroding
national fortitude in a dangerous way.
