Israel: Fortress Racism
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- Published on Wednesday, 01 April 2015 16:51
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A Socialist Project e-bulletin .... No. 1099 .... April 1, 2015
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Israel: Fortress Racism
Reuven Kaminer
Israel sinks deeper and deeper into an abyss of strident chauvinism and endemic racism. Among its Jewish population there is an almost complete consensus that since Israel lives in a dangerous neighborhood it must be always ready on the draw. This consensus is frayed at its edges when social and economic issues are addressed but holds up when security policy is on the table. The war on Gaza last summer was hardly mentioned during the election campaign but it was just plain naïve to believe that the right could be unseated by concentrating on bread and butter issues while leaving the uneven "security" playing field to Benjamin Netanyahu.
On the surface, Israel has many attributes of a normal liberal... democracy. But when push comes to shove the predominant instinct is that of a military region under siege. The clash between the reactionary and liberal Zionists may seem like a typical election battle. But down deep Israel society is similar in essence to one big military base or a giant aircraft carrier. You can criticize the level of management or efficiency but you cannot convince people to change course or that they can live in peace with their neighbors because they have been successfully conditioned to see them as their mortal enemy. The situation is even more dangerous when the Israeli hawks are enthused by the growing strength and influence of their virtual partners in Washington. The masses of citizens in Israel are frightened by the Arabs and will follow the forces that seem to promise them continued military superiority over their neighbors. In short, the attempt to beat Netanyahu foundered on the conception that people would vote their social and class interests. His rivals were mainly supportive or silent regarding the big policy questions on peace or war. The inevitable consequences of Israeli militarism remained hidden from view. Netanyahu's path can only lead to greater conflicts and more dangerous developments. This is the reason that there is room for a fighting left in this country which combines its social program with a clear renunciation of Israel's aggressive role in the region. It will not be easy but there is no short-cut.
That fighting left will find consolation in the relative success of the united list of Arab parties which fought off an attempt to oust Israel's Arab citizens from the electoral process and even boosted their representation. There are more opportunities for expanding the joint action in all sections of society and organizing the underprivileged. But it is clear that the Netanyahu government will do everything to sabotage the unity of the list and block its potential in the Jewish sector.