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Israel: “this country belongs to us, to the white man”

Robbiepackman | 07.06.2012 19:00 | Anti-racism | Migration | Palestine | World

Recent anti-immigrant racist extemism in Israel only serves to demonstrate that a strictly jewish state will never exist in peace.

Israel: “this country belongs to us, to the white man”

That Israeli interior minister, Eli Yishai, last Friday in an interview with the Isreali newspaper, Maariv can claim “This country belongs to us, to the white man”, demonstrates the staggering ability of this modern world to echo the most abhorrent excesses of 20th century racist doctrine in the very state founded by those fleeing such persecution.

This isn’t just a case of an extremist grabbing headlines, such inflammatory and blatantly racist statements are the norm for various members of the Israeli government including the prime minister himself who claimed recently that “The breach of our borders by infiltrators could threaten the Jewish and democratic state (…) we will begin by removing the infiltrators from South Sudan and move on to others”.

Nor is this a case of politicians talking tough in order to garner votes. Just this month draconian legislation was passed allowing anyone attempting to enter of having entered Israel illegally to be imprisoned for up to three years. Furthermore, anyone helping migrants or providing them with shelter could face prison sentences of between five and 15 years.

Perhaps most worrying is the stoking of public anger against African immigrants, the latest direct consequence of which has been the firebombing of a house containing 10 Eritreans. Politicians such as Eli Yishai and Michael Ben-Ari of the National Union shamelessly associate African immigrants with viral diseases, HIV and criminality while sources from Israel´s very own health ministry clearly state that “99.9% of the migrants who come to work in Israel are not infected with any unique disease whatsoever” and a recent parliamentary committee recently found the percentage of crimes committed by foreigners to be 13.5% although they make up 28.5% of the population.

Despite the apparent contradictions, maybe in the end we should not be surprised: name the only two nation states in history to be explicitly based on ethnicity – Nazi Germany and Israel. Eli Yishai said he was speaking out of “love for my country”, but let this be a wakeup call for all Israelis who really love their country. Instead of perpetuating centuries old hate Israel must break from its past and embrace secularism, for a Jewish state – Judaism being the only major religion strictly based on lineage – will never be at peace.

Full referenced version available at  http://yabastamedia.wordpress.com/

Robbiepackman
- e-mail: robbie_packer@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://yabastamedia.wordpress.com/

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That's a releif

08.06.2012 06:36

I thought a day was going to pass without another Israel related story on Indymedia UK

Some people really are obsessed with Je...... sorry I mean Zionists (cough)

Thanks


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Focus

08.06.2012 08:00

I'm sure the people of Syria will be grateful to know that when they are being slaughtered in their thousands the focus for some here is once again Israel. The entire Middle East is undergoing the most profound change in a generation and despite that for certain individuals Israel is their everything.

An Egyptian friend of mine said he gave up on this site (which he had believed was a good outlet for non mainstream media news) when much of news about the revolution in his country was almost immediately commented on from an Israeli viewpoint.

Allen


Hidden Comment

This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Is Israeli racism worse if it calls itself 'white'?

09.06.2012 21:11

This article says

'That Israeli interior minister, Eli Yishai... can claim “This country belongs to us, to the white man”, demonstrates the staggering ability of this modern world to echo the most abhorrent excesses of 20th century racist doctrine in the very state founded by those fleeing such persecution.'

What's the point? White European racism is worse than Jewish racism? Has Israel gotten worse because, in addition to being founded on the ethnic cleansing of non-Jews, some of its inhabitants have started attacking Africans and calling themselves 'white'?

R P Reeve
mail e-mail: rpreeve1@yahoo.com


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