It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a leader beset by scandals must be in want of a war (apologies to Jane Austen). Bibi is no different. The beatings of the war drums in Syria are a perfect foil for him as the Israeli attorney general contemplates whether to indict him on any of four separate charges of corruption, bribery, and financial improprieties. In truth, and in any other western society, he’d have long since been indicted and resigned his position. But this isn’t a western society. It’s a scandal-plagued corrupt, quasi-democracy in which almost anything can be bought for a price.
Avihai Mandelblit, the AG, has all four cases sitting in his lap. He could decide to indict at any moment or wait a year from now to decide. My hunch is that the longer he waits, the less likely he will indict. That’s why diversions like the Syria crisis are so useful to Bibi. The AG cannot possibly indict during such a critical period when Israelis believe their nation is under threat. The Israeli prime minister will also extend this period of crisis as long as he can. The attacks against Iranian positions will continue, perhaps even intensify. All according to Bibi’s political needs.
And this sort of war-hucksterism works like a charm. Bibi’s polling numbers have shot through the roof since the last attack in Syria.
The corruption cases have already been stewing for over a year. Mandelblit can wait even longer before deciding. If I were a betting man I’d wager that Mandelblit, who was appointed to his position by Netanyahu after the former served as his cabinet secretary (yes, the fix is in), will refuse to indict. In effect, both the PM and AG will be throwing down the gauntlet and daring the Israeli public to stand against them. The question then becomes: does the nation rise up in rebellion at the cesspool Bibi created. Do they voice their outrage at chosen stooge who offered him the “get out of jail free” card? Or does it stand by quiescently, accepting the inevitable triumph of the elites who run the show.
If we recall the social justice movement of 2011 (known as J14), which brought hundreds of thousands into the streets on behalf of economic justice. It launched with a bang. It stormed the citadels of Israeli power. The titans shook and shivered in their luxury condos in Tel Aviv. But eventually it came to naught. Social inequality is worse than ever in Israel. The poor stay poor and rich grow ever fatter. If this is any indicator, Netanyahu may be able to ride this out. Especially if he can summon yet another security crisis to divert the public’s attention.
But the optimist in me hopes that Israelis will band together and overthrow the titan; and topple his statue as they did Saddam’s in Baghdad.
To be clear, as I’ve written here numerous times, this will not fundamentally alter Israel’s political dynamic, which is dysfunctional, corrupt and incapacitated. The farthest-right, most racist elements control the government now, and will continue to control it after Bibi goes. Of that you may be certain. But at least if Bibi goes, there will be one less of these cretins dipping his hands into the public till to enrich himself at the people’s expense.
There is a certain cynical strain which says: let Bibi stay. Let him conduct the most corrupt government in Israeli history. Eventually, the worse things get the more radical the transformation will be when the time comes. But then I’m drawn up with the realization that there is no telling how bad things will get before they get better. How low can they go? What will it take? Another Srebrenica? A Rwandan genocide?
I’m cheered by the news that Malaysians overthrew their corrupt government and re-elected a former leader, who in turn will free one of his foremost enemies, Anwar Ibrahim. Now the two will govern together. And presumably when this 92-year-old dies, the reins of power will pass to the former hated enemy thrown into prison on trumped-up charges. But will Ibrahim rise to the occasion and govern cleanly and wisely? Or will he fall into the same trap as his former tormentors?
Admittedly, Malaysia has a long history of democratic elections. It has a far more stable society than Israel. It is also far more prosperous and wealth is distributed more evenly among the populace. So Israel faces even more daunting challenges amidst these scandals than Malaysia. Could Israel follow the path of Malaysia and throw the bums out? Or will it revert to status quo ante?
Mr. Silverstein,
I’m puzzled by your Malaysian comparison to Israel. Israel GDP per capita is 3-4 times that of Malaysia. How can you call the former more prosperous?
Israel Gino score is also lower than that of Malaysia. That mean more equal.
Thank you.
@ Dudu:
It is no accident that 2 different hasbara commenters published two separate comments referring to the same two economic indices to dispute my claims about Malaysia vs Israel. And both of you were wrong on the same count!
That means whichever hasbara commandante assigned you to refute this post he made a boo-boo and double teamed me with the SAME COMMENT virtually. You guys have to do your assignments better to make your efforts more opaque! You’re giving hasbara a bad name!
So you’re both wrong about GDP. Israel is ranked 55th by GDP and Malaysia is ranked 27th. I didn’t mention “per capita” GDP. You did. You are correct in that Malaysia’s GINI coefficient is higher than Israel’s. But not by a great deal.
You’re both on notice. I will be watching both of you for comment violations. I don’t like shenanigans like you both pulled.
Pure GDP doesn’t mean much when it comes to the individual citizen.
India’s economy was always larger than that of Luxemburg. Would you say India is more prosperous???
@ Dudu: Israel and Malaysia have nowhere near the population discrepancy of Indian vs. Luxembourg. Not to mention that you ignored the terms of my original comparison and substituted one of your own and then claimed I had made an error, when I hadn’t. You’re either sloppy or posting in bad faith.
Returning to the GINI co-efficient: Israel has the fifth worst wealth inequality ranking of all the OECD countries. It may be slightly better than Malaysia. But it’s far worse than most OECD nations, which Israel always likes to be compared with.
And do straighten things out with DrS so that you don’t duplicate each others comment and arguments. It should be quite embarrassing to you both and your hasbara supervisor.
I haven’t said your info was wrong but that it was irrelevant.
And I brought the India-Luxemburg comparison not b/c it is similar numberwise but b/c it shows clearly that pure GDP is irrelevant.
Why do you have to impugn 2 unrelated people’s responses (which screamed out to the heavens BTW) as “hasbara”? Its as thought you are saying that there is some global zionist network run by the Israeli government pulling our strings, coordinating and dictating our lines. What, Jews can’t make up their own minds, just as you do?
But this is a side issue to the main thrust of your post. I certainly can’t rule out that Bibi is stirring things up for political reasons. However when you look back at his statements going back 25 years, he has been talking about Iran and its threat to Israel and global security. So he has been consistent.
@ DrS: In fact I’m saying just the opposite. You two ARE related. Either you’re working in the same hasbara shop or get your marching orders from the same hasbara handbook. The overlap in your responses is no accident.
There is precisely what you are claiming doesn’t exist. Calling it a “global zionist network” is a bit grandiose. It’s really just a series of hasbara initiatives launched the the Strategic Affairs and Foreign ministries along with academic fell travelers like IDC. And yes, you’re either directly part of it or influenced by it.
Bibi is never consistent politically. He blows with the wind. The only consistency is avarice and political preservation. Those are his chief motivations.
meanwhile the country is burning down, thanks to the histadrut who on a wild strike has shut down ALL IMPORTS TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL. NO FOOD IS COMING IN NO MERCHANDISE. NO MAIL.
WHY THE HISTADRUT EMPLOYEES WHO ALREADY AVERAGE 40.000 SHEKELS A MONTH “EACH” *THAT IS ALMOST 13.000 us$ EACH. AND WHY. BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS BUILDING COMPETITION PORTS THAT WILL PROVOKE COMPETITION AND THEY WANT THE FEW NEW EMPLOYEES TO HAVE SAME BENEFITS.
ARE WE TALKING FRANCE IN HERE.
AND NOW THEY ARE IN COURT CONTEMPT FOR NOT APPEARING AND FOR NOT OBEYING BACK TO WORK MANDATES.
SO MUCH SO THEY REFUSE TO NEGOTIATE UNTIL MR BIBI HIMSELF COMES TO PROTECT THEIR MONOPOLY.
YES DEAR JEW OVERSEAS, SEND NO MAIL NO FOOD THEY WILL ROT BECAUSE THE HUNGRY PORT PEOPLE WILL NOT UNLOAD. MEANWHILE THERE ARE OVER 30 SHIPS ANCHERED OUTSIDE ASHDOD GARNERING LATE SHIPPING FEES.
DO YOU THINK THESE BIBI BABIES WILL SUFFER OR PAY CONSEQUENCES. YES SAME AS ULTRAORTHODOX WILL GO TO THE ARMY.
YES BIBI DEAR GO CREATE A WAR TO MAKE THE AG THINK TWICE BEFORE TOUCHING HIM WHILE ISRAEL STARVES
AIPAC SEND YOUR DOLLARS TO MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS IN ISRAEL (ABOUT 80% OF ALL WORKERS , BEEN THERE SEEN IT, FELT IT)
NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IRAN TURKEY SYRIA RUSSIA OR KAZAKSTAN OR US FOR THAT MATTER (5MILLION POOR PEOPLE LOST OBAMACARE LAST YEAR. THANK YOU MR TRUMP)
‘The question then becomes: does the nation rise up in rebellion at the cesspool Bibi created. Do they voice their outrage at chosen stooge who offered him the “get out of jail free” card? Or does it stand by quiescently, accepting the inevitable triumph of the elites who run the show…’
This implicitly assumes that Israeli Jews want the rule of the law, a Western-style democracy, etc. That may be true of an ever-shrinking Ashkenazi secular minority — and even there it would be questionable — but it’s a very dubious proposition when it comes to Yemenis, etc. I wouldn’t expect such desires of gentile Yemenis or Muslim religious fanatics, etc — and I don’t see why we should expect it of Jewish Yemenis or Jewish religious fanatics, etc. Israel simply doesn’t have the kind of Western, secularized majority your paragraph assumes.
The bulk of Israeli Jews may WANT a state in which Elor Azari gets a slap on the wrist — and if no one films him, no slap at all. It’s quite alright with them if Netanyahu pays off their religious leaders, and panders to their baser instincts with endless reassuring displays of Israel’s power vis-a-vis the once dominant Muslim other. Just look, for example, at the IDF shows and the booths where little nippers can practise shooting keffiyah-clad ‘terrorists.’ This is a society that lusts for violence. It doesn’t want the rule of the law — at any rate, not of Western, progressive law.
You’re assuming a ‘nation’ that — outside of Tel Aviv — simply isn’t there. At any rate, I don’t think it can be assumed it’s there. In a sense, people do tend to get the government and society they deserve — and Israel is getting Netanyahu and the society it wants. No one’s making Israeli Jews behave this way. They want to act like this.
Anyway, Israel really has Iran by the short hairs here.
‘…At least 11 Iranians were among those killed in unprecedented Israeli strikes on Syria this week, an activist group said on Saturday.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 27 pro-Syrian fighters were killed on Thursday when Israeli jets hit targets in Syria.
“Six Syrian soldiers and 21 foreign fighters, including 11 Iranians” were among the dead, said the group’s director, Rami Abdel Rahman…’
Either Iran stages a humiliating withdrawal, she accepts a ‘new normal’ in which Israel simply murders Iranians at will, or she plays into Israeli hands and retaliates. The first two obviously impose formidable domestic political costs, while the last leads Iran into a devastating war with the US. That we won’t like the outcome either won’t help the Iranis.
Moreover, it’s all a pity, as at the moment, Iran is on the side of the angels — such as they are. She’s helping Assad win, and while Assad isn’t a great guy, the restoration of his rule is the one plausible way the Syrian Civil War can end at this point. Iran’s withdrawal from Syria would make it that much more likely Israel and the US could continue to promote anarchy and conflict in Syria — which in fact is what we do, and what I’m convinced we intend to do.
So aside from the unprovoked aggression, and the considerable likelyhood of a wider war with a cornered Iran, there’s also the likelihood that it’ll all serve to prolong Syria’s misery, continue to provide a happy hunting ground for various forms of Islamic extremism, and continue to promote a stream of Muslim refugees into Europe — which will continue to feed European Islamophobia.
Of course, for Israel, these are all good things.
My. Now the breaking news is Israel is bombing Gaza.
This is like watching a three year old with Halloween candy. They just can’t quit. Who else is there to bomb?
Yemen? Is Yemen within range?
@Colin: Bibi is a full-employment PM for IAF pilots.
and section 8200 and subsequently arms dealers and cyber spies such as blackbox? (not sure of the name) nevermind the shoah survivors or retired survivors who received ONE SHEKEL increase in the last 5 years (not 1 shekel EVERY YEAR, NO 1 SHEKEL – 5 YEARS AGO. that ought help the gdp conversation funny israel fought hard and long to be able to join oecd. only to find itself at the bottom of the barrel with the rest of the 34,
Of course, there are further considerations. Netanyahu just met with Putin — and Putin is no angel.
Russia may not want Assad to win completely either. A triumphant Assad would become an independent actor. An Assad dependent on Russia for support in a continuing civil war would remain a Russian client.
The deal may be that Russia will let Israel and Saudi Arabia et al continue to sponsor Sunni fanatics in the Syrian Desert, while allowing Assad to cling to a Alawite-dominated mini-Syria in the north and east. This may go further; Russia might not mind the Iranian connection being severed, leaving Assad completely dependent on Russia.
Theoretically, there’s no reason the Syrian civil war has to ever end. This fine state of affairs — so fruitful of desirable consequences as far as Israel is concerned — could continue forever. Who knows? Perhaps Israel may even find it necessary to seize additional territory at some point.
For her own protection, of course.
In my brief foray into this blog I have noticed out how the commenting works.
Pardon me for pointing this out, but it seems that the Israel bashing crowd gets free reign to ramble and spew nonsensical accusations (such as the last 4 comments). But if somebody shows up to argue with them in favor of Israel’s actions, the “comment rules” suddenly kick in…
But hey, its your blog. So I’ll try to play by the rules
Anyway, since my last comment was a “major violation” for not bringing evidence, I’m not sure I get your statements here about Malaysia. Israel has a significantly higher per capita GDP and a lower GINI coefficient than Malaysia, (check Wikipedia yourself) So why do you say “It is also far more prosperous and wealth is distributed more evenly among the populace.”? Do you have different numbers?
A far more stable society? Israel has no history of democratic elections? When did Israel imprison a political opponent?
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is police state stabe? 10 refugees received state help out of 23 THOUSANDS REQUEST? is theocracy democratic? is xenophobia democracy? is yelling to the 4 winds. the arabs are voting the arabs are voting not alt right? is legislating the theft of palestinian land for granting houses with gardens democracy? spare me Mr DrS
to give retired ONE SHEKEL INCREASE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS IS THAT GDP IMPROVEMENT
keep the wiki ratios and tell me how to buy vegetables when some wildcats breakers starve a whole country and your mr bibi is too busy living on cigars and champagne
those are facts not percentages
‘A far more stable society? Israel has no history of democratic elections? When did Israel imprison a political opponent?’
Democratic elections: Israel has exercised sovereignty over Gaza and the West Bank for fifty years. To date, only Jews residing there have the vote.
When did Israel imprison a political opponent? Israel has imprisoned innumerable Palestinians, including quite a few elected representatives. I’d say Israel ROUTINELY imprisons political opponents.
@DrS: Read the comment rules carefully before you post another comment. They indicate that running this blog and the comment section is my perogative and mine alone. You don’t like the rules, don’t comment. Do NOT try to spar with me or bitch and moan about them via comments.
As for imprisoning elected officials, it’s curious you don’t realize that virtually every Palestinian MK is investigated by police for ” criminal conduct” while relatively few Jewish MKs are. Also numerous Palestinian MKs have been exiled or imprisoned for sham security offenses. A shabby record.
As to stability, Israel regularly and visibly addresses her internal tensions by attacking her neighbors. It’s going on right now, but the most visible example of this came about ten years ago — here memory will have to serve.
There had been growing protests about the housing situation or something — among the Jewish population. It was really getting serious.
Then there was a somewhat suspiciously successful ‘terrorist attack’ across the border with Egypt — a good hundred miles south of Gaza, but that’s okay.
‘Hamas did it.’ Israel opens a furious bombardment of Gaza, killing one hundred and fifty innocents or so. The enemy is at the gates, and all good Jews need to man the ramparts.
By the time the dust settles — presto. No protests.
I’m not sure a state that deals with its internal tensions by attacking its neighbors can be described as ‘stable.’ On the contrary, the behavior would seem to make for instability.
This is good news.
Love Israel, love Trump.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_article_page/public/main-images/trump%20jerusalem.afp_.jpg
aka breitbart
‘…Its as thought you are saying that there is some global zionist network run by the Israeli government pulling our strings, coordinating and dictating our lines…’
Lol. What a preposterous notion.
So if you are being sarcastic, are you saying that is what you believe?
Because the way the blog owner uses the term “hasbara” that is certainly what it sounds like.
I know you guys use it in the pejorative but its not about 2 people arguing about Israel at a coffee shop, or a blog, for that matter.
So the implication that anybody who comes and argues a “pro-israel” position is a “hasbarist” is no more logical than accusing you or Tikun Olam as working for the Muslim brotherhood or BDS information bureau.
In fact its worse than that because it feeds into the far-right conspiracy claims of a far-reaching global Jewish network that runs everything…
[comment deleted: to repeat ad nauseam–there is no room for discussion of the way I edit comments here. If you don’t like being called a hasbarist then don’t parrot talking points of the hasbara lobby. If you do, that’s what you’ll be called.]
@ DrS:
You go ahead and try that shit here. I’ll ban your ass so fast it’ll make your head spin. In your case, there is ample evidence of the hasbara program that is well financed and corrdinated by Israel and Israel Lobby entities in the Diaspora. Not to mention that you comments precisey overlapped in suspicious ways. So I do accuse you of coordination and involvement in this project. But I do so with ample evidence. While smears against me by you or anyone would be entirely devoid of evidence.
No it doesn’t Moishe Kapoyeh because Jewishness and Israel aren’t the same, as hard as you try to make it so. Nor have I ever made such a claim…ever. If you ever come near to associating me with this claim again I’ll ban you. And don’t tell me you didn’t do so, you mentioned me and the claims and linked us by inference. I will not accept this. Understand me well, because you have skirted oblivion with this comment. If you want to remain here follow the rules or else you’re gone.