ISL, the RCIT Section in Israel/Occupied Palestine, 11.04.2022
The outcome of the parliamentary elections in Israel may have shocked some pro Zionists supporters who love to say that Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. They hoped that Lapid would win and that they would be able to present Lapid’s block as a liberal progressive format. In the real world by now when 93% of the votes have been counted the Likud’s block has gained 65 seats, Likud by itself 32 seats, the ultra -nationalist religious Zionism won 14 seats and the conservative religious parties won more than 20 seats. Lapid’s block won 50 seats.
The Jewish Zionist population did not vote for Gantz to be defense minister or Lapid to be foreign minister. It voted for Netanyahu, and the ultra-racist Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the extreme nationalists Bezalel Smotrich, and the conservative religious Arye Deri and Yitzhak Goldknopf. It means letting Netanyahu form a very right-wing, very religious coalition. That is what the Zionists want, that is what they voted for. Which means an ultra -reactionary majority.
The question to ask is how the Zionist state has reached the stage that it is real nature is clear even for people who repeat the idiotic mantra that criticizing the Zionist state is a form of Anti-Semitism.
Needless to say, the first major factor that determine the consciousness of all the Zionists is the nature of the Zionist society and state. Namely a society of settler colonialists that repress the Palestinian native population. The heroes of the youth Zionists are those who promise to kill and expel the Palestinians and repeat the Nakba 0f 1947-8. These figures are of course Itamar Ben-Gvir, and the extreme nationalists Bezalel Smotrich.
The other factor is the brutal repression of the Palestinians by the government of Bennet-Lapid-Mertez and labor parties. This round of repression began with the escape of the six Palestinian political prisoners from Gilboa prison. Under this government the settlers have felt very secure and able to terrorize the Palestinians and the Palestinians have rebelled against the oppression. This struggle for national freedom has pushed the Zionist society to the far right.
Needless to say, Meretz – the liberal Zionists – that served the government of Bennett and Lapid and its propaganda, was vote Meretz for the Lapid block did not pass the electoral threshold in Tuesday’s election and will remain outside of the Zionist 25th Knesset. Ra’am hardly passed the electoral threshold and Balad, the party we gave critical support to, did not pass and was short of a few thousands votes. We did not vote for Hadash-Taal who won 4-5 seats as it was possible that in case Lapid won they would support him from outside.
Down with the Zionist apartheid from the river to the sea!
For a Palestine red and free from the river to the sea!