Netanyahu mixes racism and opportunism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new political and media strategy ever since the country’s General Election last March. That’s when he posted a video online hours before the ballot boxes closed, with a warning: “The rule of the right is in danger. Arab voters are coming in droves to the ballot boxes.” His message was for those on the right-wing to get out and vote.

It is difficult to estimate the impact of the prime minister’s message on the election results, but the prevalent belief is that it added several parliamentary seats for his Likud Party, making it the biggest in the Knesset and easy for Netanyahu to form a government. There is also a belief — with some credibility — that if the Zionist Camp Party had received more seats than Likud, then the Kulanu Party, led by Moshe Kahlon, would have joined a coalition government led by Yitzak Herzog. The conclusion is that Netanyahu’s open hostility towards Israel’s Arab citizens gave his party more strength and, as a result, is linked to its coming to power.

Netanyahu is racist in his beliefs, principles and convictions, but is also a political fox and opportunist. He can read public opinion skilfully but does not follow the anti-Arab racism of ordinary Israelis; he leads them in their hostility and invests this in increasing his partisan strength and ability to implement an extreme right-wing strategy. There is, therefore, harmony between Netanyahu’s racism and opportunism.

Historically, the position of the Herut Party, from which stemmed Likud, was that the Arab citizens of Israel have civil rights but not national rights. Initially, Netanyahu adopted this position too, but then he added his own racist poison, and denied the Arabs their civil rights. Hence, when he comes across a party that not only demands full civil rights for all citizens, but also stresses that they have national rights as well, the prime minister works against it. When the same party describes itself as a national democratic party and follows that line politically, then Netanyahu fights to eliminate it if at all possible. This is where his racism and opportunism meet and mix, as he makes sure to adopt initial premises that are hostile towards any expression of national aspirations by the indigenous people. In the same breath, he seeks to gain cheap popularity amongst the Israeli masses, who are moving increasingly towards chauvinism and extremism.

A few months ago, Netanyahu made a statement from a prepared text, saying that, “The National Democratic Alliance is walking while the flags of Daesh are flying behind them.” He was very clear that this was a deliberate incitement and that there would be more to come. His move against three alliance MKs last week, myself included, was not a manifestation of something new; it was part of a political strategy led by Netanyahu that targets the Arab masses in Israel — one-fifth of the population — especially their political forces that he believes have “crossed the red line”. More specifically, this means the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, which he banned last year, as well as the National Democratic Alliance, being content with banning the Knesset members of the latter for several months pending further deliberations. This was done after the three MKs in question visited the families of Palestinian victims of state violence to see if they could help to have their bodies released by the Israeli authorities for burial; some have been in the mortuary for four months. Rather than being a valid reason for our suspension, this was opportunism to justify political persecution.

What Netanyahu is seeking to do is limit the political presence of Israel’s Arab citizens and their national forces. He is doing this by limiting our public space for political action and, in doing so, sending a message to the wider Israeli public that he is tightening the noose; the political gains from this will be his alone. He is seeking glory from a policy of hatred, which is no longer just one of his political tools; it is his central strategy.

The National Democratic Alliance has faced many such rabid campaigns. We challenge them every time and remain committed to our positions and principles; we do not deviate from them. After every battle, we become stronger and tougher. This is what will happen this time, as we are emerging from a strong starting point given the unity of our political forces in the context of the Joint List and the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel. We have accumulated experience in confronting political persecution campaigns and we know how to face them courageously and wisely. Netanyahu’s cynical mix of racism and opportunism will not deter us in our struggle.

Translated from Arab48, 12 February, 2016.

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