The Leadership Must Stop Pandering: Israel as a Free Nation Won't Survive the Occupation

[Little Tich]

Source: Haaretz, by Zeev Sternhell

Democracy requires acceptance of the majority decision, but it does not mandate recognition of the rightness or the moral legitimacy of the majority.

Ever since the “upheaval” in 1977 that brought Menachem Begin to power, the Israeli center has been haunted by the fear of being disconnected from “the people:” Since the people has turned rightward and extremism is growing, the only possible way to regain its good graces is by imitating the right and supplying the same goods that it does, in different packaging. This sad, pathetic show continues to repeats itself, occasionally with the addition of innovative elucidations: Anyone who withdraws from the majority opinion, who is disgusted by it and who fights it, is said to reject the very essence of the democratic process.

Nothing could be a bigger mistake: Democracy requires acceptance of the majority decision, but it does not mandate recognition of the rightness or the moral legitimacy of the majority. When the majority opinion rejects the universal principles of justice, equality and individual and collective human rights, it loses its legitimacy. Human rights, which in the past were also called natural rights, were devised exactly for this goal, in order to ensure the rights of the individual, of the society or of a national, ethnic or religious minority against the ruthlessness of the majority.

That is why the Jewish majority in Israel does not have the right to deprive the Palestinians of their right to freedom, independence and self-rule, just as it does not have the right to violate the rights of those who reject its opinion to freedom of expression, of association and of resistance. These are exactly the principles in which the majority here does not believe. Is it even possible to change the majority’s opinion and to convince them, for example, that the occupation hurts the Jews more than it does the Arabs? In the present struggle, Palestinian society only coalesces further and doubles down on its negation of Israel, while large parts of Israeli society are losing their faith in the country’s future. An apartheid regime in the West Bank, including placing the “people’s army” at the employ of the settlers, the slow process of brutalization — of which the murder of an incapacitated Palestinian assailant as he lay on the ground in Hebron is only one symbol — create a sense of alienation in many Israelis.

Against this formula of “democracy,” which in practice empties it of its liberal and universal content, this same minority, which observes the slow sinking of its country with forlorn eyes, is rebelling: Nowhere has a democracy of masters lasted over time. This knowledge is what causes revulsion for so many who are unwilling to follow the majority only because it is a majority. Different people give this feeling different expression: There are those that think the battle has already been lost and after 50 years of occupation, almost half the period of Zionism from its beginning, their children and grandchildren have no future here.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.725547

Note: Premium article, Google title for access.

Zeev Sternhell
Source: Wikipedia

Zeev Sternhell (Hebrew: זאב שטרנהל‎‎, born 10 April 1935) is a Polish-born Israeli historian, political scientist, commentator on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and writer. He is one of the world's leading experts on Fascism. Sternhell headed the Department of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and writes for Haaretz newspaper.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeev_Sternhell

[Israeli]

1. Note from your Wikipedia source ......

On 25 September 2008, Sternhell was the victim of a pipe bomb attack at his home, and was injured in the leg and hospitalized.[20] Jerusalem police, who found fliers offering more than 1 million shekels (approximately $300,000) to anyone who kills members of Peace Now at the scene, suspected that he was attacked by right-wing settler extremists for his views. From his hospital bed, Sternhell said that "the very occurrence of the incident goes to illustrate the fragility of Israeli democracy, and the urgent need to defend it with determination and resolve." "On the personal level", he continued, "if the intent was to terrorize, it has to be very clear that I am not easily intimidated; but the perpetrators tried to hurt not only me, but each and every one of my family members who could have opened the door, and for that there is no absolution and no forgiveness."[18]

Now go here :
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134129901

“One of those killed in the attack was a Peace Now activist (referring to Michael Feige). Stop. I can’t stand this happiness … Elor Azarya , this is for you.”

[aranthus]

2. What you have to do is convince the majority that they won't be attacked

if they withdraw the Occupation. Good luck with that.

[Little Tich]

4. In the bi-national state the settlements will stay where they are.

I think that's where things are heading. If Israel couldn't relinquish the occupied territories in 1967 when there were no settlements, it's probably a little bit harder now with 600.000 settlers living there...

[Israeli]

6. Security Little Tich......

....its all about security ..........

Government to approve NIS 72 million for West Bank

Citing security as its justification, the government will pump resources into West Bank ventures including the establishment of hotels; Haredi community set to receive millions agreed during coalition talks

Itamar Eichner
Published: 06.19.16, 10:56 / Israel News

Source : http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4817532,00.html

[Israeli]

5. All ready in the works aranthus.....

ref : http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134129320

.....but you were in that thread already ....

Here have a reminder : ....

http://en.cis.org.il/