Opinion
Leftist party is over
Yoel Meltzer
Published: 21.11.11, 18:16
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31. to 26
(11.22.11)
they left noting --sure nothing is not right nor wrong it is nothing -empty-
32. INDULGENT TO A FAULT
David ,   New York, NY   (11.22.11)
And none too soon. In the context of the existential threats that Israel faces both internally and externally, Israel must be the most INDULGENT nation on the face of the earth, or possibly in all of history. This is especially true in the latitude given to Ieft wing Israels whose whole raison d'etre to bash their nation whose rights as citizens they enjoy giving aid in comfort to Israels enemies, even if not in a strictly legal sense. They need to be introduced a word which is quite foreign to them: "PATRIOT."
33. #19, weird because those parties did not get many votes
Danny   (11.22.11)
Admittedly more than Meretz did but less than the centrist parties. You must have a very full facebook page if you have 450,000 friends just in Israel.
34. Repeal rightist radicalism.
Luiz F Haddad ,   Brazil   (11.22.11)
I deplore several comments that criticize "leftism" but endorse radical and intolerant "rightism". Me and other SocialDemocrats, and true Christians, friends of the Jewish State, are saddened. What do you want, guys? A fundamentalistic and isolated Israel into the Middle East? An infinite war against the Arab world? An increased anti semitism? I don't believe. You have to be united against common dangers, like Britain during II World's War; like your own country during Independence's War and Six Days'War. Ben Gurion and Golda Meir should live again. Sincerely.
35. Typical of gola jews
Dan ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (11.22.11)
So many of you, supporting nazi-like laws, while sitting comfortably in a different reality. If you read this same newspaper in its Hebrew version, you'll understand that the huge majority of Israelis are in panic with this new tendency. But you don't understand, because you don't live here, and you enjoy a real democracy wherever you live, but think that for us, represion is fine. Why don't you mind your own business...
36. couldn't have said it better!
nadav ,   tel aviv   (11.22.11)
i'd add a reminder on how the Left stifled Arutz 7 radio because they ideologically opposed it. In the US, the tide is changing as well. Previously, any criticism of Obama was labeled as racist, fascist yada yada yada... Now that people realize the has no idea how to govern the country's economy and Foreign policy, criticism is finally being heard! Let's hope its not too late!
37. #35 neo nazi laws?
Joe Tango ,   usa   (11.22.11)
Dont make me laugh what tolerant person calls laws which are the same are less strict than in the US neo nazi.
38. #35. It's all about ending leftist repression.
Chaim ,   Israel   (11.22.11)
#35 Dan. Your resort to ridiculous hyperbole weakens whatever point you are trying to make. There is nothing "Nazi-like" about laws seeking to end the subversion of Israel's government, laws and media - against the wishes of most Israelis. Nor do you represent a "huge majority" of Israelis. As even the most cursory knowledge of Israeli election results and recent polls prove. Israelis are fed up with leftist repression and are finally doing something about it.
39. Toda raba, Ynet, for Meltzer’s blog
Borislava ,   Sofia, Bulgaria   (11.22.11)
40. Dan #35 yeah right
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (11.22.11)
A pathetic minority are up in arms - the vast majority don't think that it goes far enough.
41. It's about time!
Jake Stone ,   USA   (11.22.11)
Cleaning house...and throwing out the trash! God bless Israel!
42. Accurate
Shalom Freedman ,   Jerusalem Israel   (11.22.11)
This article is so far as I know an accurate description.
43. Very Sad
Tee Bee Dee ,   Denver CO USA   (11.22.11)
I am so sad as I read this article and the vast majority of the comments. What has happened to my beloved Israel? Public debate in Israel has always been loud and obnoxious, but the recent bills to - in effect - defund left wing NGOs and neuter the Supreme Court mark a sea change. The author's suggestion that the Left silences debate is absurd. That argument seems to ignore the fact that Israel has had several right wing governments since the 70's. As for the Supreme Court, the author fails to understand that the role of the courts is not merely to rubber stamp the majority's will - it is to protect the rights of minorities against the tyranny of the majority. This is part of the checks and balances of any free society. Mar Meltzer is certainly correct that large segments of the public are furious at the left, and the left should be doing some soul searching about that fact. But the legislation to which he refers is simply about political payback. It is aimed at punishing political opponents for their opinions. Ugly indeed.
44. The Left has never had the survival of Israel as a goal
William ,   Israel   (11.22.11)
only of their own ideology, with the "State" as the means to its survival. The Leftist ideology does not know geographic or political boundaries, and freely flows into States under the guise of "popular revolution" to create a Leftist State which eventually kills more people than its claims to save. Whether the State eventually fails or not, or even move from a Leftist foundation to a more centric or Capitalistic foundation does not matter. The Left will continue to push its "Utopian" ideology and blame its detractors as the reason for this "Utopia" not coming to fruition.
45. #14 - how does it ever happen?
William ,   Israel   (11.22.11)
The Left often takes advantage of social discord to sow its socialist platform.
46. #19 - you must be the person referred to by the author
William ,   Israel   (11.22.11)
who claims that the Left is the only true ideology and anyone opposed to it is a radical neo-nazi in favor of gas chambers, prisons, and giving total rule to rabbis. How rabbis and settlers figure into the mix of "anti-democratic" is beyond me, as a true democracy allows for all voices. In your post, it's clear you are anti-democratic (also as the author claimed of the Left) by wanting to stifle the voices of rabbis and settlers. The Left has veered so far away from Ben Gurion's Zionism that its an insult for any of you to claim ties to him. While Ben Gurion welcomed Arabs as part of the Jewish State, he never gave up on the Jewish majority, a State built on Jewish values, and placating to all of the foreigner voices that today's Left dance to. Again - while Ben Gurion focused on the State, today's Left focus on foreigners and couldn't care less about the State. In reality, Ben Gurion's Zionism is more Right than Left.
47. #24 - today's Left is not the same as 1948 Left
William ,   Israel   (11.22.11)
That's a reality that your ilk failure to internalize. The Left of 1948 would not have put Israel in such a position as today's Left has through the Oslo Accords, and demanding unlimited concessions to a population who are focused on only one goal - the destruction of Israel. The Left of 1948 would have been thrilled to return to Jewish lands stolen in 1949 by illegal means by Arabs, and would have equally demanded equal rights and obligations of all Israeli citizens. Today, the Left fights for the majority of rights to be given to the minority, with the obligations carried by the majority. That's called Apartheid, and as we've seen, any country following that route will be destroyed. In the same token, you vilify the Right as "rabbis and settlers" and ignore the many seculars who are Right. Infact, you might even consider all non-Leftists to be immoral, neo-nazis because labels helps you demonize people easier. Your ilk are so worried about acceptance from the world community that you'd put the very existence of your State behind it as a priority. Israel wasn't accepted very well either in the world in 1948 or 1967 but we fought the wars we needed to in order to survive. If today's Left were in charge back then, we'd all be living in a part of Uganda or Alaska, in order to appease the world.
48. Arrogant Leftists
Zvi ,   Pittsburgh, PA   (11.23.11)
Tell it like it is. The party for the Left is over! This is long past due.
49. All this talk about threats to "democracy"
Zarayah Israel ,   Bellingham, Wa. USA   (11.23.11)
The left, the right, the democracy!!! There must be some people our there in the world that are aware that the USA was never meant to be a democracy, but a Constitutional Republic. Is that word mentioned in our constititution, no, not even in our "Pledge of Allegiance". Why is there so much misinformation which is regarded as truth? Please view the YouTube video "Types of Government" and you will have an "aha" as well as "deja vu" moment. Blessings of all that aspire to inspire truth, Zarayah Israel
50. A few comments - Part 1
Yoel Meltzer ,   Israel   (11.23.11)
To all those who commented, thank you for taking the time. Regarding those who disagree with me, I'd like to clarify a few points. For years some of the most powerful institutions in Israel, powerful in terms of affecting public opinion and policy, such as the court system, the media and the academic world, have been dominated by a worldview that is not representative of the average Israeli (to put it mildly). Nevertheless, they have used and abused their positions of influence and power to promote their worldview in Israel, regardless of what the public thinks. In doing so, the voice and mindset of the average Israeli, the "amcha", a group which is characterized as being somewhat traditional, somewhat nationalistic and somewhat right-wing and which percentage wise makes up the majority of the Israeli population, is barely expressed or represented. Moreover, this is regardless of which political party happens to be leading the government at any one moment.
51. A few comments - Part 2
Yoel Meltzer ,   Israel   (11.23.11)
(Continuation from first comment): This is what needs to be changed and this is why those who for so long have had an exaggerated amount of influence and power are going absolutely ballistic, since they feel the threat to their hegemony. Having said all this, my intention is certainly not to replace one group who has abused its power with another group that will abuse its power. Rather, I want a real balance in this country regarding the exchange of ideas, something that has been lacking for years in the overly powerful and influential left-leaning court system, academic world and media. Similarly, I want a real balance in the ability to shape the direction and future of the country, be it on the domestic front or in international issues, something that for years has been dominated by a mindset that is not representative of the majority of Israelis. Yoel Meltzer (http://yoelmeltzer.com/)
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