Meretz leader: Israel should not have gone into Gaza

[Israeli]

Summary: In an interview with Al-Monitor, leftist Meretz Party head Zehava Gal-On explains that she does not worry about finding herself left out of the Israeli security consensus following her call for a unilateral cease-fire

The previous two Meretz leaders, Yossi Beilin and Chaim Oron, stood by the government from the depth of the opposition and supported the ground assault. Beilin did so during Ehud Olmert's tenure as prime minister for the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Oron (“Jumes”) supported Ehud Olmert during Operation Cast Lead in 2008. But Gal-On refused to grant similar backing. True, in the early days of the operation she praised the prime minister to the media for his moderate security approach.

In a conversation with Al-Monitor, she reiterated what she told Netanyahu: “'Mr. Prime Minister,' I said, 'I would not have reached this point, because I would have embarked on a diplomatic process with the Palestinians. I would have carried through with the fourth prisoner release.' I emphasized that he’s about to make a big mistake by launching a ground operation, and I said to him, ‘There are two reasons that you are about to enter Gaza. The first is Hamas, and the second is [Ministers] Bennett and Liberman. You failed to stand up to their pressure.’

Ever since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge, Gal-On and Meretz have been advancing a consistent and clear position, opposing a ground incursion into Gaza and calling for a cease-fire. This position is supported by all members of the party’s Knesset faction and has the backing of the party’s governing body. Unlike the Labor Party, its partner from the left-wing bloc, which supports the ground incursion, Meretz is the only Zionist party to remove itself from the common consensus of, “Quiet! We’re shooting here.”

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/07/meretz-leftwing-party-zehava-gal-on-ground-operation-gaza.html#ixzz38SbnnD8L

[Israeli]

1. Quote shira .....

" The biggest news is that Israel is totally united left to right. "

ref: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=71590

Wrong shira .

Now you have told me repeatedly on here that if you were an Israeli that you would vote Meretz as I do .

Does that comment still stand ?

[shira]

8. Polls show Israeli support for Bibi in this war is 82% while 10% disapprove

As per channel 2 news in Israel. Last week it was 91% approval.

And given what we now know about Hamas' terror tunnels, it would be completely irresponsible of Israel NOT to destroy them given the threat they pose to all Israelis living near the Gaza border.

I can't support Meretz on this. It's suicidal.

========

How do you feel about this, from a fellow Kibbutznik?

#t=85

[shaayecanaan]

10. you never supported them on anything nt

[shira]

11. You're speaking for yourself, of course? They're a Zionist party…..

…so to you they're hardly different than the most hardline racists of Likud.

[Israeli]

23. you know that ...

I know that to .

....the rest is all spin .

[progressoid]

13. Support does not equal right.

Support for our invasion of Iraq was 72%.

[shira]

14. Why Israelis are rallying behind latest Gaza campaign

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28437986

Excerpt:

The reason why Hamas has been so effective in unifying Israelis is that they attacked the Israeli consensus.

They didn't attack the West Bank, whose fate divides Israelis. They attacked Tel Aviv and close to Ben-Gurion International Airport with rockets, targeted left-wing agricultural communities on Israel's side of the border with Gaza from what Israel calls terror tunnels, and allegedly kidnapped boys on the way home from school in a society that is obsessed with children.

By doing so, Hamas built up the stamina of an Israeli population that was more impatient in previous standoffs in Gaza.

Polls have shown that support for the ground offensive is sky-high and that Mr Netanyahu's backing of a proposed Egyptian cease fire was extremely unpopular.

A Panels poll taken on the eve of the invasion for the Knesset Channel, which broadcasts the Israeli parliament's proceedings, found that 63% of respondents wanted to enter the Gaza Strip and only 27% did not. Ten per cent did not answer or had no opinion in the poll, which surveyed a representative sample of the Israeli population, including Arabs.

[progressoid]

16. Well, as long as people support it, I'm sure it will be a rousing success.

[shira]

17. Read the entire article so you'll better understand the reasoning. n/t

[Israeli]

20. Polls show ...

seriously shira ....91% approval and you believe that ?

" How do you feel about this, from a fellow Kibbutznik? "

Young ...south african by her accent ....feel for her , wont be her last war .. hope she learns that the only solution is an end to the occupation and to allow the Palestinians the right to self determination .....otherwise she is going to have to go thru all of this again in another few years .

How do you feel about this ?:

http://tv.social.org.il/en/peace-square

someone of my age that came also from south africa ... lost a son shira ...she votes Meretz .

[shira]

21. Yeah, 91% and here's the source

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/07/protective-edge-netanyahu-gaza-ground-attack.html#

From a Channel 2 Israel News survey:

http://reshet.tv/חדשות/News/Politics/Security/Article,156618.aspx

Of course I feel for her and everyone there. That's why I posted it. You'll find that your "allies" here won't give 2 shits. I wouldn't be surprised to see them call it lies or propaganda that incites Israel to commit its "war crimes" against Gazans. Your friends here are incapable of empathy for Israelis. Such is their contempt.

It's sad anyone is dying in this senseless war. Deepest Sympathies. But good for her voting Meretz, a Zionist political party.

[shaayecanaan]

29. That would require the support of all of the Jews and at least half of the Arabs

unless of course they simply ignore the Arabs when defining "Israeli"

[Israeli]

31. thanks shaayecanaan ...

I would have thought it was obvious .....91% !!!
Some folks will believe anything they are spoon fed .

[shira]

22. I asked you about the girl in the video...

…because I assume you're in just as much danger with those tunnels while in a Kibbutz near the Gaza border, like she is.

[Israeli]

24. you are sooooooooo obvious shira ...

Nope ... I'm nowhere near the Gaza border .

[azurnoir]

25. still hoping you and yours are well

and I'm sorry about the news on the cease fire

[shira]

27. Good, I thought you were near the border. What's so obvious?

I truly have no idea what you're talking about.

[shira]

15. Quote BBC:

Dovish Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and the hawkish Bennett gave interviews on Israel's top-rated nightly news show on successive nights. They sounded remarkably the same.

There have been anti-war demonstrations. In Israel, in times of war and peace, there tend to be demonstrations about something or other every day. But so far, the demonstrations have been a dramatic failure. Only Israeli Arab citizens and Jews on the fringe far-Left have participated in them.

There have been funerals of soldiers that have attracted far more people - in one case more than 30,000 - indicating overwhelming support for the Israel Defense Forces.

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog from the Labour Party - who will face off against Mr Netanyahu whenever Israel will have its next election - has praised the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip as strongly as the prime minister's closest supporters.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28437986

And then there's this…

The reason why Hamas has been so effective in unifying Israelis is that they attacked the Israeli consensus.

They didn't attack the West Bank, whose fate divides Israelis. They attacked Tel Aviv and close to Ben-Gurion International Airport with rockets, targeted left-wing agricultural communities on Israel's side of the border with Gaza from what Israel calls terror tunnels, and allegedly kidnapped boys on the way home from school in a society that is obsessed with children.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Good for Gal-On

'There are two reasons that you are about to enter Gaza. The first is Hamas, and the second is Bennett and Liberman. You failed to stand up to their pressure.’

Yes, the government has been letting the hot-heads on both sides set the agenda, with tragic results.

[Israeli]

4. also LeftishBrit ...

....dont forget that Chaim Oron completely isolated his voting base last time around .... with the result that Meretz lost seats and voters ..... many of whom moved on to Hadash .

[ann---]

3. Someone in

this world is sane.

[azurnoir]

5. Thank you

and to be honest I've wondered about the order in which she listed the reasons Hamas and Lieberman Bennett because just a couple of days prior to the beginning of Operation Defensive Shield Bibi wasn't sounding all too interested in a major military campaign, then Lieberman started shaking his fist about breaking up the coalition ect ect and a day later ...well here we are

Where does it end? Not to sound cold or overly analytical but this campaign is proving much more expensive in terms of Israeli lives, usually Gaza had been a 'cheap date' in that respect and it comes down to how much will the Israeli people stand?

Ms Gal-On is a brave women for saying as much as she has and may she and those who are like minded prevail soon

[Israeli]

6. Well first azurnoir ....

....lets get rid of this idiotic notion that :

" The biggest news is that Israel is totally united left to right. "

Its anything but .

Ok Meretz doesnt support Bibi and Co ....neither does Hadash or any of the arab parties .
Avoda is starting to crumble .....they to are worried about losing votes .

Thats the political side .

On the street there is so much anger right now directed towards Bibi and Co and what they have got us into and why .... lets hope that will be reflected in the next elections .

" Where does it end? " ......or when ?

Your guess is as good as mine .
I'm worried about Hezbollah joining in up north in support of Hamas right now .
The West Bank is ablaze .

more rockets towards Tel Aviv and the airport as I write this ....no sign of any ceasefire.

[azurnoir]

7. Lol no need I've had that one pulled on me before too

"Israeli's are of united on this" might have been during OLC

The political end is comforting almost, Israeli's should be angry, very angry

and Hezbollah I'm not sure I would think they have their hands full with Syria right now and I'm not sure that either the Lebanese government as a whole, Hezbollah, or Israel for that matter wish to start another conflict

rockets on Tel Aviv and the airport now that's scary may you and your stay safe and well

[bemildred]

12. Lieberman reminds me of the Ukrainian Rebels a lot, for some reason. nt

[geek tragedy]

18. Even Marty Peretz calls him "the Moldovan gangster." nt

[MisterP]

26. or the Pravy Sector, for that matter

[bemildred]

28. Yeah, them too. nt

[shaayecanaan]

9. if the Arab Israelis had any sense they would vote for this woman

and not for the usual asshats, when they actually could be bothered to vote.

[rateyes]

19. Good for her!

[Ken Burch]

30. Brave stand. Meretz was looking likely to gain seats in the next election prior to this.

They may pay an electoral price...but we need to let them know they aren't alone.

Meretz represents what Zionism was SUPPOSED to be about...not what Likud and others on the Israeli Right(including chunks of Labor on bad days)have reduced it to.

[Israeli]

32. No Ken ....

...read my responce to LeftishBrit ... # 4.

The opposite ...we paid an electoral price last time because Haim Oron supported Operation Cast Lead .....

ref :

"Meretz stuttering response to Operation Cast Lead invoked internal party criticism. MK Gal-On said on the subject, "My opinion was different than that of most party members. Because Meretz is an ideological party, it must have a clear statement even in such a situation."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3670057,00.html

She had to come out this time OR she was going to loose votes .

This is the Left we are talking about .... the Israeli Left (voting public) does NOT support Bibi and Co . period .

Here read these two links to get a better perspective .

http://www.promisedlandblog.com/?tag=meretz

http://972mag.com/when-the-canons-roar-the-israeli-left-remains-silent/92458/

[Ken Burch]

33. OK...thanks for the clarification. n/t.