Israel: Liberman's entrance is Arab MK's fault!
Ahmad Tibi, Azmi Bashara and many other Arab members of the Israeli parliameent are in rage over the looming entrance of right wing hawk Avigdor Liberman to the government as the minister in charge of the Iranian threat. But they are the only ones to blame for it.
For months I have been repeating in this website the equation that runs Israeli politics: when Israelis feel secure they turn to conciliatory policy; when they are threatened, they turn hawkish. The Arab MK's such as Tibi and Bashara did not contribute to any safe feeling by supporting Hezbollah through this conflict and by condamning Israel every chance they got. In fact they went so far beyond their public that it has become legitimate to hold views such as those of Liberman. To prove this point one must only look at the Arab Israeli demonstration in front of the Egyptian embassy following this year's tragic road accident in the Sinai. They called upon Egypt to turn to Israel and see how citizens are to be treated. Bashara and Tibi were nowhere to be seen there.
So what should be the lesson from this to everybody? To Arab MK's it is simple: remember who pays your salary and who do you represent. You cannot call for the destruction of Israel and ask for benefits to "your" constituancy a the same time.
The Arab public must distance itself from such views, reaffirming its connection to Israel; and at the same time claim its rights in Israel. Israel is a tough country in which if you do not ask you do not get. It is equally true for both Jews and Arabs. In order to begin this process, the Arab public in Israel must also strive to equal obligations so it has basis to demand those equal rights. With military service being a problem. national service should not be an obstacle. Serving in regional hospitals is as important as military service and deals with everybody. It will also enhance contact with the Jewish population.
The Jewish public of Israel, on its part, must do everything in its power to help fascilitate this contact. Only when the Arab community in Israel, assisted by the Jewish community and devoid of negtive voices such as Tibi and others, does this, can they truly stop opinions such as those of Liberman
For months I have been repeating in this website the equation that runs Israeli politics: when Israelis feel secure they turn to conciliatory policy; when they are threatened, they turn hawkish. The Arab MK's such as Tibi and Bashara did not contribute to any safe feeling by supporting Hezbollah through this conflict and by condamning Israel every chance they got. In fact they went so far beyond their public that it has become legitimate to hold views such as those of Liberman. To prove this point one must only look at the Arab Israeli demonstration in front of the Egyptian embassy following this year's tragic road accident in the Sinai. They called upon Egypt to turn to Israel and see how citizens are to be treated. Bashara and Tibi were nowhere to be seen there.
So what should be the lesson from this to everybody? To Arab MK's it is simple: remember who pays your salary and who do you represent. You cannot call for the destruction of Israel and ask for benefits to "your" constituancy a the same time.
The Arab public must distance itself from such views, reaffirming its connection to Israel; and at the same time claim its rights in Israel. Israel is a tough country in which if you do not ask you do not get. It is equally true for both Jews and Arabs. In order to begin this process, the Arab public in Israel must also strive to equal obligations so it has basis to demand those equal rights. With military service being a problem. national service should not be an obstacle. Serving in regional hospitals is as important as military service and deals with everybody. It will also enhance contact with the Jewish population.
The Jewish public of Israel, on its part, must do everything in its power to help fascilitate this contact. Only when the Arab community in Israel, assisted by the Jewish community and devoid of negtive voices such as Tibi and others, does this, can they truly stop opinions such as those of Liberman
posted by The Middle East News Addict at 6:32 AM
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