Netanyahu won. Now what?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://mondoweiss.net/2015/03/netanyahu-won-what

So he won and I have to say I am relieved. There wll be no more endless cycles of pointless ‘negotiations’ with Israel pretending that some day it will agree to a two-state solution while continually escalating both settlement (colony) building and the maltreament of the Palestinians. Now everyone will see that the Palestinians were right all along and that Israel has never been a partner for negotiations.

There is no real political Left in Israel and if the other side got to form a government, all we would have seen is more of the same. Now we’ll see if the EU has the decency and conviction to enact proper sanctions. Then of course there is the US. The US Administration might stall for a while, but we’ll see if they have what it takes to do the right thing. Israel is no friend to the US and the sooner they realise it the better.

Israel is on a slippery slope of its own making. Get your popcorn, sit and watch. Israel is becoming more radicalised than ever before. Certainly much more than when I was growing up there. Of course I could be wrong — and I hope I am — but I think Israel’s pathological siege mentality will now become more pronounced and more evident to outsiders. Israel has for a long time been readying itself for when the time comes, to bunker down, live with austerity and give up the fancy lifestyle the country has become increasingly accustomed to in the last 20-25 years. They can do this.

Israel has always prepared itself psychologically and economically to being isolated. All that openness to the rest of the world that Israel has enjoyed increasingly in the last generation or so, and Israel’s acceptance by others, have always been seen as temporary in the eyes of most Israeli Jews. They had always expected it to end and had the mentality of ‘let’s enjoy it while it lasts and make the most of it while we can’. Fundamentally Israeli Jews believe that the world hates them because they are Jewish (in their mind it has nothing to do with colonialism or the Palestinians). So although Israel has brought its own situation upon itself, that is not how Israeli Jews see it. They believe things are ‘happening to them’ for no fault of their own. They expect isolation and have dropped all pretences to pander to the West and are behaving more in line now with their true nature. Even less radical people will become radicalised now in Israel. There will be even more propaganda and more brainwashing than ever before.

[geek tragedy]

1. all liberal Jews living in Israel are more than welcome to come to New York, where

they would be right at home.

Just as Europe is losing its appeal to Jews, Israel is losing its appeal to people who believe in democracy and human rights

[oberliner]

4. Liberal Jews feel right at home in Tel Aviv

It is, in fact, one of the most liberal, progressive cities in the world.

Just as San Francisco (for example) remained liberal and progressive even as the US elected Bush/Cheney for two terms.

I don't think there was a huge outflow of liberal Americans just because an extreme RW presidential administration won consecutive elections.

Liberal, progressive Israeli Jews who voted for liberal and progressive candidates will continue to fight for liberal and progressive values in their own country.

[geek tragedy]

5. The US didn't elect someone BECAUSE he advocated apartheid and demonizied minorities for voting

The Israeli left garnered an impressive 4 seats in the election.

They're closer to being within the margin of error than they are to winning an election.

Demographic trends are towards the left and secularism in the USA. They are in the exact opposite direction in Israel.

[MADem]

2. Short term? Peace is fucked. Long term? Hard to say.

It would be a "great" (said with all due bitter ) time for there to be a catastrophic event/attack of some sort occur in Israel so that an "enemy" can be blamed and the population can be mobilized, and sympathy can be procured.

Of course, there would have to be incontrovertible evidence that this was NOT a false flag operation/MIHOP type situation because the slightest hint that it might be would screw the situation completely.

That's pure speculation, of course. Hope crap like that doesn't happen. It would be a crying shame and could be the trigger to WW3.

I've had enough of World Without End, Amen.

[guillaumeb]

3. Some thoughts

Two sections stand out to me:
"Israel has always prepared itself psychologically and economically to being isolated. All that openness to the rest of the world that Israel has enjoyed increasingly in the last generation or so, and Israel’s acceptance by others, have always been seen as temporary in the eyes of most Israeli Jews."
and also:
"Fundamentally Israeli Jews believe that the world hates them because they are Jewish (in their mind it has nothing to do with colonialism or the Palestinians). So although Israel has brought its own situation upon itself, that is not how Israeli Jews see it"

The Jewish people also remember the Diaspora after the fall of the Second Temple, the Inquisition in Spain, pogroms throughout Eastern Europe, and finally the genocide of Nazi Germany. Those types of things, mainly at the hands of Christians, would make most people feel as though they were not really accepted.

That said, what happened to the Jews in the past in no way excuses what the Israeli government is doing to the Palestinians today.
Finally:
"They believe things are ‘happening to them’ for no fault of their own. They expect isolation and are behaving more in line now with their true nature. Even less radical people will become radicalised now in Israel. There will be even more propaganda and more brainwashing than ever before. "
Much the same could be written to describe the Christian imperialists and would be theocrats of the US. The same us against them feelings, with Muslims serving as the "them" for both groups.