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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWow. President Pumpkinhead Might Have Just Cost Bibi Netanyahu The Next Election.
It should be obvious by now that anybody who attaches themselves to Donald Trump gets ruined. Which is why Netanyahu's decision to capitulate to Trump's request to ban Omar and Tlaib from visiting Israel makes so little sense. It appears to be backfiring in a spectacular way.
Thanks to Trump and Netanyahu, the Palestinians now have a HIGH PROFILE, CELEBRITY ADVOCATE in the U.S. Government (Rashida Tlaib), and a SYMPATHETIC EXEMPLAR on the West Bank (Tlaib's 90 year old grandmother). The news networks are now reading Tlaib's articulate tweets about Israel's oppression of the Palestinians, and interviewing her sweet little grandmother on television. (Whereas, previously, the networks only showed the standard 'Palestinian porn' of angry young men throwing bottles and rocks at Israeli soldiers manning checkpoints.) Trump did everything he could to scuttle the two state solution, and ruin America's position as a (somewhat) neutral arbiter of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This has breathed new life into the two state approach by drawing attention to the plight of Palestinians. Congratulations, Donnie.
Meanwhile, bipartisan U.S. support for Israel is fracturing. The half of the country that votes Democrat hate Trump, and are angry that Netanyahu capitulated to Trump's request to punish his political enemies. That's easily the second strike for Netanyahu, as far as Democrats are concerned. The first big strike for Netanyahu was his attempt to submarine Obama's nuclear arms treaty with Iran by going around Obama, and running straight to the GOP House. The Democrats will more than likely control the White House, the House, and probably the Senate by January 2021, and Democratic support for Israel will be strained as long as Netanyahu is in charge. And Israelis know this.
Israel has an election in two months. Netanhayu barely squeaked in last time, was indicted for corruption, and was unable to form a coalition. In three months I suspect Israel will have a different government, and Netanyahu will be in jail. But that's usually what happens to people who associate themselves with Trump, isn't it?
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,836 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)He may have thought that looking like Trump's trained seal was a good look.
On the other hand, the Trump administration is about nothing if it isn't about mixed signals. Right up until Trump tweeted out his opposition to the congresswomen going to Israel, even Trump's press secretary had told the press that Trump wasn't taking a position, and thought that the MOCs should be allowed in. Netanyahu, surely monitoring the situation closely, may have felt like he was in a time crunch. So he provisionally forbade the MOCs to come to Israel, then relented on Rep. Tlaib, then put the added stipulation that she could visit Israel, but couldn't speak freely.
Rep. Tlaib saw the whole fustercluck for what it was: An attempt to bribe or bully her into a visit to Israel under terms dictated by Netanyahu. Instead of acquiescing or bargaining, however, she did an end run around Trump and Netanyahu by refusing to compromise her principles, which caught at least Trump (maybe Netanyahu, too, but I can't really say) totally by surprise. Both men wound up looking like impotent bullies, outsmarted by Tlaib.
nolabear
(41,991 posts)Hell make some fool comment every time. Trying to keep up with the twists and turns must be crazy making to people like Netanyahu, who think they can use him.
Eyeball_Kid
(7,434 posts)When he promotes two opposing policies, he immunizes himself from accountability for both. He can't be held accountable for one or the other because he can always switch sides at a moment's notice. This worn piece of cleverness can only work if the press doesn't do its job: pin him down with his contradictory statements. But this won't happen because ANYONE who challenges his alternate "reality" is shunned and verbally decapitated. So the press, a scattering of iconoclasts if there every was one, doesn't coordinate their questioning of Trumpy so that press reporters can take turns with questioning Trumpy for his mixed signals.
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)and power is getting some of those fringe right-wing groups to ally with him.
He certainly can't credibly move to the center or moderate at this point.
He's sorta all-in.
SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)Trump is more popular in Israel than he is in the U.S. Bibi's only play is to cater to the hard right in Israel. It's getting so there are fewer and fewer moderates there. Bibi took the country to the right, and it looks like they're staying there.
TheBlackAdder
(28,211 posts)zentrum
(9,865 posts)Moostache
(9,897 posts)You lay down with dogs, you get fleas.
Itch away Bibi...itch away!
True Blue American
(17,988 posts)From Israel talking about how the Government is mistreating the Palestenians and how he does not approve of what they are doing. He was very emphatic about how the right wing is hurting Palestinians and that it was not anti- Semite to be against what they are doing.
There is no John Boehner to invite Bibi to speak before Congress this time.
TrollBuster9090
(5,955 posts)...is a monolithic state, where everyone agrees with their government's treatment of the Palestinians. Whereas, in reality, Israel is about as equally split on the issue as the United States is. And, just like in the United States, the reactionary, right-wing parties hold a disproportionate share of the political power, and set the narrative that the international community sees. But it's not an accurate picture.
Historically, there was bipartisan support in the U.S. for Israel, regardless of which party was running the government. Thanks to Netanyahu's short-sighted policies, he's caused a re-alignment of Israeli conservatives with American conservatives. That can only stand for so long, until there is a re-alignment of Israeli liberals with American liberals. And that will be interesting!
True Blue American
(17,988 posts)Is so weak he could not form a Government, he is under indictment. He once bragged that no one would indict him. Guess they have a few honest Prosecutors in Israe.
riversedge
(70,299 posts)about. I see nothing posted nor do I see it in the news...............
Last night, our members disrupted a Trump rally in NH to call out his racism & support for Occupation. We chanted "Jews will not be used" and held signs:
"Jews Against the Occupation"
"Trump is #BadForTheJews"
"Jews Against White Nationalism"
RELEASE: http://ifnotnowmovement.org/2019/08/15/ame
Link to tweet
?s=20
Sophie Ellman-Golan
@EgSophie
Kick em in the ass Trump supporters say about Jewish women calling out Trumps antisemitism.
Id love to know what @GOPChairwoman
and @Liz_Cheney
have to say about this. I wonder what @realDonaldTrump
has to say about it.
RT if you want to know too.
Link to tweet
?s=20
IfNotNow
🔥
@IfNotNowOrg
·
11h
Replying to
@IfNotNowOrg
While Trumps violent rhetoric incites attacks against Jews, people of color and immigrants, the right weaponizes antisemitism against progressive women of color to divide our movements and distract from the GOPs own violent antisemitism. But Jews will not be used.
Link to tweet
?s=20
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)One of these days, the media and politicians (and everyone else) will stop using the anti-semitism label for those who hate Jews. If you're an anti-semite, then you basically hate every person who lives in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates etc.
RockRaven
(14,998 posts)Netanyahu decided to engage in overtly partisan interactions with the US federal government. Nobody forced him to behave thusly, least of all Trump. His recompense will be 100% earned by his own actions and decisions.
True Blue American
(17,988 posts)Started his hate party while Obama was in office. That is why Boehner invited him to speak to Congress. He wanted to embarrass President Obama. The President kept Bibi at arms length. He knew what he was.
Boehner did a fine job didnt he? Resigned ,lost the House. Like most hate mongers it only carries you so far. The Freedom Caucus showed what fools they really are. About all they have left is Gym Jordan, Mark Meadows, Scalise and Gaetz. The impotent, screeching 4.
Life_Long_Democrat
(81 posts)Netanyahu is an extreme right winger. Israel needs more moderate leadership.
hlthe2b
(102,357 posts)regnaD kciN
(26,045 posts)I hope you're right. Unfortunately, I've seen enough Israeli elections since Rabin was murdered to be pretty sure the safe bet is on Netanyahu retaining power with "a stronger than expected showing"...as seems to happen every time.
comradebillyboy
(10,175 posts)That might give some indication of how it's going over in Israel. I don't think the views of American Democrats or even American Jews has much impact on Israeli politics any more.
Takket
(21,625 posts)there is an article about it. they seemed pleased that the Dems still showed up despite the uproar over Omar and Tlaib.
comradebillyboy
(10,175 posts)I'm really not surprised. Thanks for the link.
TrollBuster9090
(5,955 posts)...they have a population of 9 million people, and there are probably 10 million newspapers, and 20 million Op/Ed columns. They're very big into political and philosophical debate over there. I love it.
regnaD kciN
(26,045 posts)Curious to see how the leftist Haaretz is covering it.
BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)especially when it is so close to their next election.
comradebillyboy
(10,175 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)Netanyahu could not form a coalition because the Blue/White coalition won enough seats on the Left to act as a block, and Bibi could not get some of the very extreme right parties onboard to throw back the Blue/White challenge. Labor did poorly in the election and was not much of a factor. There are some rightwing parties there that make Bibi's Likud party look like cubscouts, their objective it to force all Palestinians out of Israel proper, send them to Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
The right parties have so much power because over the last two and a half decades, the birthrate of children to ultra-nationalist and zionists greatly swamped the birthrate of less religious Israelis.
dchill
(38,532 posts)TrollBuster9090
(5,955 posts)The shortest distance in the universe, is the distance between Trump's nematode-sized brain, and his thumbs on Twitter. Thinking about how it might affect Netanyahu was light years ahead of his thinking. What I DON'T get is why Netanyahu apparently didn't think it through, and realize that this scenario was a strong possibility.
dchill
(38,532 posts)...is a pretty safe bet, considering the subject. My guess is that Netanyahu felt cornered. I hope so.
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)will. nt
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)the region that means billions $$. and the trump circle is right in there. bibi could jump right in.
BannonsLiver
(16,448 posts)Are Israels elections as flawed as ours?
denbot
(9,901 posts)He'll back into another even bigger shit storm with another odious strongman, and all will be forgotten until his next fuck up.
This is like Groundhog's Day, but in an alternate universe populated entirely by assholes.
MontanaMama
(23,337 posts)Everything tRump touches dies. No exceptions.
still_one
(92,394 posts)destroyed their political careers
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)and Iran retaliated. Israel was working with the US to hamper Iran's uranium enrichment program by infecting the PLCs controlling the centrifuges. Israel got impatient and ramped up the virus, which Iran then discovered. Iran retaliated, hacking into banking systems and infrastructure.
Under Netanyahu, Israel looks out for Israel, not the US, even when they are supposed to be in partnership with us.
Hulk
(6,699 posts)I have nothing against the Israeli people at all. I wish them well. But I absolutely HATE this mother fucker, and wish anything bad to fall on his fat head continually for the rest of his days. A worthless, lying, evil son of a bitch if ever there was. His actions in the past ten years have made it really difficult for me to have ANY empathy for the Israeli people. He is shear evil.
Kid Berwyn
(14,953 posts)Seems like ages since Bibi was addressing Congress as a GOP to knock on Obama.
Mc Mike
(9,115 posts)B Stieg
(2,410 posts)All these "strong men" need to be voted out, everywhere!
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)yellowwoodII
(616 posts)The way that Trump damages ours
MasonDreams
(756 posts)I don't want to repeat but I only have time for a very quick glance at the responses. All I see is bebe and the orange clown at a cursory glance. Why are we typing thier names?
For the love of Allah, please give credit where credit is due. The Democrats !! The Justice Democrats, elected by the people, funded by the people, popularized by the,,, NOT bought and paid for media TYT. Three cheers for Talib ! The Fab Four or whatever others call them? are the only tommorow morning the Democratic party has. $$$ can't vote, you need people for that. Our brutal foreign policy needs to change, but who is brave enough to say it? Who is braver still to act?
calimary
(81,464 posts)And yeah, like that recovering republi-CON Rick Wilson said on the cover of his book: "Everything trump touches dies."