4 thoughts on “Israeli Labor Riven by Dissension on Lieberman’s Entry Into Governing Coalition – Tikun Olam תיקון עולם إصلاح العالم
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  1. Gideon Levy in Haaretz (apologies if you’ve already seen this) suggests we should welcome Lieberman’s entry into the government because what he is advocating is already happening in Israel. Levy:
    “Lieberman says what many people think. His racism and extreme nationalism are already out of the closet, while among many others, those qualities are still concealed deep within, even though they operate according to their spirit. They have no moral advantage over Lieberman. An openly racist and extreme nationalist is preferable to a closet racist and extreme nationalist.”
    It’s an interesting read –
    http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/774651.html

    I enjoy your blog. (Got a big laugh seeing the frame from Blazing Saddles, one of my all time favorite movies.)

    ellen
    http://www.ellenr-word.blogspot.com

  2. Ellen: I almost universally love Gideon Levy’s work. But I’m not so sure I fully agree w. him here. Of course, he is precisely right in his take on Lieberman & how he reflects what the majority of Israelis feel but don’t wish to acknowledge in their views of Arabs. But I’m not so sure I agree that it’s a good or desirable thing to have Lieberman in government.

    Normally, it would be a good thing if there was a viable progressive political alternative. They could possibly make political hay out of the radicalizataion of Olmert’s government. But there isn’t. So I’m afraid that what could happen is that Lieberman’s entry into the coalition could stabilize Olmert’s shaky government & allow it to continue for quite a long time. This would further legitimize Lieberman as a viable political figure. It would be as if Bush brought in David Duke or Pat Buchanan & made him VP. Without a viable Democratic alternative, how can the opposition make any hay out of this horrible development??

    Thanks for the praise of my blog.

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