For God’s sake, do not mention peace!
Elections are a time of great excitement. The streets are plastered with propaganda; politicians talk themselves hoarse; sometimes violent clashes break out.
Not now. Not here in Israel. Seventeen days before the election, there is an eerie silence. A stranger coming to Israel would not notice that there is an election going on. Hardly any posters in the streets. Articles in the newspapers on many other subjects. No rousing speeches. No crowded mass meetings.
Everybody knows that this election may be crucial—far more so than most.
It may be the final battle for the future of Israel—between the zealots of Greater Israel and the supporters of a liberal state. Between a mini-empire that dominates and oppresses another people and a decent democracy. Between settlement expansion and a serious search for peace. Between what has been called here “swinish capitalism” and a welfare state.
In short, between two very different kinds of Israel.
So what is being said about this fateful choice?
Nothing.
The word “peace”—shalom in Hebrew—is not mentioned at all. God forbid. It is considered political poison. As we say in Hebrew: “He who wants to save his soul must distance himself.”
All the “professional advisers,” with whom this country is teeming, strongly admonish their clients never ever to utter it. “Say political agreement, if you must. But for God’s sake, do not mention peace!”
Same about occupation, settlements, transfer (of populations), and such. Keep away. Voters may suspect that you have an opinion. Avoid it like the plague.
The Great Absent One
So, where is the main opposition party, the Zionist Camp (also known as the Labour Party)?
Its leader is the Great Absent One of this election.
Yitzhak Herzog does not have a commanding presence. Of slight build, more like a boy than a hardened warrior, with a thin, high voice, he does not seem like a natural leader. Cartoonists have a hard time with him. He does not have any pronounced characteristics that make him easily recognizable.
In spite of everything, Likud and the Zionist camp are running neck and neck. The polls give each twenty-three seats (of 120), predicting a photo finish and leaving the historic decision to a number of small and tiny parties.
A game changer for worse
The only game changer in sight is the speech by Benjamin Netanyahu before the U.S. Congress.
It seems that Netanyahu is pinning all his hopes on this event. And not without reason.
All Israeli TV stations will broadcast the event live. It will show him at his best. The great statesman, addressing the most important legislative body in the world, pleading for the very existence of Israel.
Netanyahu is an accomplished TV personality. He is not a great orator, but on TV he has few competitors. Every movement of his hands, every expression of his face, every hair on his head is exactly right. His American English is perfect.
The leader of the Jewish ghetto pleading at the court of the Goyish king for his people is a well-known figure in Jewish history. Every Jewish child reads about him in school. Consciously or unconsciously, people will be reminded.
The chorus of Senators and members of Congress will applaud wildly, jump up and down every few minutes, and express their unbounded admiration in every way, except licking his shoes.
Some brave Democrats will absent themselves, but the Israeli viewers will not notice this, since it is the habit on such occasions to fill all empty seats with members of the staff.
No propaganda spectacle could be more effective. The voters will be compelled to ask themselves how Herzog would have looked in the same circumstances.
I cannot imagine any more effective election propaganda. Using the Congress of the United States of America as a propaganda prop is a stroke of genius.
Spitting in President Obama’s face
Milton Friedman asserted that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and this lunch has a high price indeed.
It means almost literally spitting in the face of President Obama. I don’t think there was ever anything like it. The prime minister of a small vassal country, dependent on the United States for practically everything, comes to the capital of the United States to openly challenge its President, in effect branding him a cheat and a liar. His host is the opposition party.
Like Abraham, who was ready to slaughter his son to please God, Netanyahu is ready to sacrifice Israel’s most vital interests for election victory.
For many years, Israeli ambassadors and other functionaries have toiled mightily to enlist both the White House and the Congress in the service of Israel. When Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin came to Washington and found that the support for Israel was centered in the Congress, he made a large—and successful—effort to win over the Nixon White House.
AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and other Jewish organizations have worked for generations to secure the support of both American parties and practically all senators and members of Congress. For years now, no politician on Capitol Hill dared to criticize Israel. It was tantamount to political suicide. The few who tried were cast into the wilderness.
And here comes Netanyahu and destroys all of this edifice for one election spectacle. He has declared war on the Democratic Party, cutting the bond that has connected Jews with this party for more than a century. Destroying the bipartisan support. Allowing Democratic politicians for the first time to criticise Israel. Breaking a generations-old taboo that may not be restored.
President Obama, who is being insulted, humiliated, and obstructed in his most cherished policy move—the agreement with Iran—would be superhuman if he did not brood on revenge. Even a movement of his little finger could hurt Israel grievously.
Does Netanyahu care? Of course, he cares. But he cares more about his re-election.
Much, much more.
Uri Avnery is a distinguished Israeli writer, peace activist, and former lawmaker. Founder of Gush Shalom peace movement, Avnery has had a ringside view of the Middle East and the Arab-Israel conflict for the past seven decades.
