Netanyahu. There are principles and then there is life itself
Photo: AFP
The prime minister’s flexible principles
Op-ed: Nothing that has been said by Swedish Foreign Minister Wallström can match what our old-new friend, Turkish President Erdoğan, has been saying about us. But when it comes to the Swedes, who we are less afraid of, Netanyahu has principles.
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is boycotting Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström.
In principle, Netanyahu is against boycotts, but also in principle, Netanyahu is also in favor of the two-state solution, or in favor of transparency, or in favor of freedom of speech, or in favor of criticism.
Netanyahu is also in principle against his principles. Principles are slogans that have to be recited, not rules to live by. There are principles, and then there is life itself. Life itself determines that Netanyahu is right, and so any criticism against him is an act against life itself.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström. Diplomatic boycott (Photo: Knesset, Getty Images)
What did Margot Wallström actually say to justify a boycott against her? Oh, she said extremely bad things. She said that the Palestinians are entitled to a state. Okay. In principle, Netanyahu says that, too. But then, Sweden recognized Palestine. That’s very bad. Principles are not supposed to be implemented. She also called for an investigation into whether Israel was carrying out extrajudicial executions. “The response to the stabbings,” she said, “should not be an extrajudicial execution or a disproportionate response.”
On the one hand, again, it’s true that IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said that soldiers should not open fire on every little girl carrying scissors. On the other hand, Eisenkot is not Sweden’s foreign minister. The chief of staff is someone whose words should be considered. Sweden isn’t. If Eisenkot were Sweden's foreign minister, he would be boycotted at once.
I assume that Minister Wallström did and said other horrible things, like a call to label settlement products (my friends the talkbackers will soon provide me with the details). There is no doubt that an approach that dares to argue that Israel uses excessive force, or does everything in its power to deprive the Palestinians of their rights is a thorn in the side of the prime minister and communications minister (partial titles list). But it’s also clear that Sweden is just a friendly country with a proper relationship with Israel.
As a matter of fact, nothing that has been said by Wallström can match what our old-new friend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said numerous times, including in his recent interview to Israeli journalist Ilana Dayan. The thing is that we need him, so we are willing to accept whatever he says (including his unequivocal support of Hamas). We don’t need the Swedes as much as we need him (and more importantly, we are less afraid of them), so we have principles. And principles, as we know, are a flexible thing. Netanyahu, as always, is not afraid of the weak. That the way it is in life itself.
This principle should concern us more than the attitude towards the Swedish foreign minister (allow me to assume that she will get over the bitter disappointment of not being able to meet the prime minister and foreign minister in Jerusalem). The thing is that Netanyahu sees not only Sweden as a weak element that should not be treated by the rules, but a significant part of the public, as well. Although he won only one-quarter of the parliament seats, Netanyahu thinks like Louis XIV. He is the state.
Netanyahu looks at the United States and is filled with joy. Donald Trump does and says what Netanyahu and life itself would like to do, and will now try to do. One can, it seems, provoke those who support universal right, the media, the “old” political system, and be elected president. One can make two opposite comments, play with the truth and with facts as if they were a piece of modelling clay, promote one’s billionaire friends, disregard the rules in the name of personal interests, and win the support of “the masses.” One can renege on previous commitment, violate promises and associate with the few leaders one has a joint political language with (showing contempt towards democracy, taking over the media, a firm hand, diligently looking after one’s own interests) and joint interests with (Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example) all while being the leader of the free world. Bingo!
The speed with which Netanyahu suggested adopting one of the most corruptive systems in the Western world—handing out the American administration positions to associates—in the name of the governability principles (those principles again; principles are a useful thing if they are used right) points in the direction the wind is blowing. Birds of a feather flock together. Boycotting Wallström is just a rain cloud. All those who fail to adapt themselves to Netanyahu will soon be hit by a deluge.
