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Jews including Albert Einstein wrote raised the alarm in 1948 about ‘The Freedom Party’ (Tnuat Haherut) in the newly-created state of Israel.
They warned that it was ‘a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organisation in Palestine’ – bluntly describing it as ‘closely akin in its organisation, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties’. This before the days when it became taboo to speak in such simple language.
Richard Silverstein updated the warning in November 2022 saying that as Netanyahu forms Israel’s first fascist government, the US must respond and they did, giving them more money and more weapons.
Tnuat Haherut preached ultra-nationalism and racial superiority. Its leader, Menachem Begin, was involved in the Deir Yassin massacre. Today, as Palestinian mothers comb through charred remains to try and identify children ripped apart by Israeli bombs in Gaza, we can see that what Einstein feared has come to pass – Israel has turned to genocide.
Tnuat Haherut was the forerunner of Likud which was also founded by Begin, Israel’s Prime Minister back in 1977. Netanyahu has led Likud since 1993 continuing its tradition of racist ultra-nationalism.
Netanyahu’s assault on Israel’s judicial system, is a classically fascist turn, removing all legal impediments to genocide and ensuring that he will never face prosecution. Alongside the blank cheque afforded by the west’s political and media complex, Netanyahu now has the mythical Ring of Gyges.
Netanyahu’s current coalition government brings together the extreme right of Israel, a cabal of proudly fascist, racist Islamophobes who have moved from the margins of Israeli politics into power.
Netanyahu’s government includes Bezalel Smotrich who dismisses the existence of a Palestinian identity and who holds office in the Finance AND Defence Ministries.
Smotrich lives on an illegal settlement, insists the occupied territories are a part of Israel and in his appalling world-view, Palestinians must be forced to ‘choose’ between subjugation, emigration or death. He helpfully describes himself as a ‘fascist homophobe’.
Ben-Gvir of Israel’s Orwellian Ministry of Security was convicted for inciting racism and supporting terrorism – but instead of jail he directs one of the most powerful and savage forces for oppression in the world.
Ben-Gvir’s mentor, Meier Kahane, invoked ‘Jewish violence’ to rid Greater Israel of Arabs. A US court convicted him of terrorism. He inspired Baruch Goldstein, who murdered 29 Palestinians in cold blood. Ben-Gvir had a portrait of Goldstein on proud display in his home.
Kahane an extreme racist and terrorist was banned from the Knesset but his protégé Ben-Gvir is now a senior Minister.
When Yitzakh Rabin signed the Oslo Peace Accord, Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu fanned the flames that led to his assassination. Netanyahu marched with Kahane’s followers and endorsed the crowd at a rally chanting ‘Death to Rabin’. Ben-Gvir stole an ornament stolen from Rabin’s car, proclaiming ’today we got to Rabin’s car, we will get to him too.’ Rabin was killed a few weeks later.
The Guardian called the assassination Israel’s darkest hour – odd considering that its history was already drenched in Palestinian blood, illegal invasions, occupations and ethnic cleansing. Many darker hours have followed and surely things can’t get any darker for Israel than they are now in 2023 – with crypto fascists on the rampage in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Israeli government of Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir is the most far right in the country’s history, a reinvention of apartheid South Africa’s white supremacist mind-set. One need only read their own words to see that their intent is genocide, openly declared and boasted about.
As both Biden and Zelensky chirrup merrily about turning Ukraine into a ‘large Israel’ as part of a new world order – we all need to think very carefully about where we are headed. Ukraine already has openly neo-Nazi militias absorbed into its military and government.
Perhaps some westerners are unconcerned about this new tactic of western funded fascist enclaves at key geo-political pressure points but they should all cop on – because what can be trialled abroad… will soon be done at home.
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