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2 Responses to “After Bloodshed, Iranian Opposition Takes Deep Breath”

1. Suzanne says:

   June 22, 2009 at 4:49 AM

   The last few paragraphs of Gideon Levy’s in Haaretz :

   The unrest in Iran makes me green with envy

   It’s true, there is liberty in Israel, but only for us, the Jews. We have a regime that is no less tyrannical than the ayatollahs’ regime: the regime of the officers and the settlers in the territories. But what do we have to do with any of this? In Iran, police disperse demonstrations with violence, they shoot and kill. And what do we do?

   When you get a chance, go on Friday to Na’alin or Bil’in and see what happens there. Demonstrators are killed here with similar brutality, but in Iran the crowd is standing up to a tyrannical regime, while here only a handful of brave people stand up to the Border Police, who are firing weapons. Moreover, we hardly write anything about the protest being silenced with bullets. It interests no one, and this, too, is called democracy.

   A democracy is not tested only with elections. A democracy is measured in everyday life. National aims are not achieved only through power hungry politicians; the street must also speak. In the latest polls, 64 percent of Israelis say they support a two-state solution. Great. But when Israel moves steadily away from such a solution, when the prime minister takes a small step forward but then raises more and more impossible obstacles, no one thinks to do anything. Have you heard a single political conversation recently? Nothing.

   One can only imagine what would have happened if the day after Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech, that same silent and paralyzed majority that allegedly wants two states had taken to the streets to demand an end to the occupation. Or if they demanded that we say yes to the Arab peace initiative. What a boost that would have been, a genuine wind of change on whose strength Barack Obama, Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas and Bashar Assad could move forward together.

   But when the street is silent, only the leaders are left, and their survival drives them.

   Israel is now at a fateful crossroads, no less than Iran. An opportunity lies before it that will not be seen again, one that affects the future of all its people no less than the election results in Iran affect the Iranians’ fate. Missing the opportunity here will be just as decisive as four more years of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power. But look what is happening in totalitarian Iran and what is happening here, the sole democracy in the Middle East, blah, blah, blah.

   Reply
2. SimoHurtta says:

   June 22, 2009 at 6:45 AM

   The absolutely the “funniest” news from Israel in the time of big demonstrations in Iran. Jewish right-wing blokes are going to kick Israeli Arabs when they can’t kick Jewish gays. Hilarious.

   Anti-gay pride protest set for Sakhnin

   Right-wing activists headed by MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union), Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir are planning to stage “Jewish pride parades” in 15 Arab towns across the country as a response to the gay pride parade that is scheduled to take place in Jerusalem this week.

   “There has to be one rule for everyone,” said the organizers. “Freedom of expression and the right to march are not only for the people of the [gay community's] Open House and the far Left. We have the right to march and review the illegal construction in the cities and the towns and, of course, to hold marches with Israeli flags.”

   What a country. A real example of tolerance, religious freedom and equal rights. The Kristallnacht in Israel could (= will, if they continue like this) happen any day. The big question is can Israel any more make an u-turn or is the society already to fascistic to make peace possible.

   Reply