Comments on: Why I’m voting for Otzma Leyisrael

By: Judy Dorevitch Simon

Judy Dorevitch Simon — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:22:04 +0000

I hate when people talk about "wasted votes" etc. In the US, almost half the people (150 million people or so) vote for a person who ends up not in the governemnt. Isn't voting about expressing your opinion about who would be good for the country?

By: אדם דוד מרקס

אדם דוד מרקס — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:06:28 +0000

It is not simply supporters who praise Baruch Goldstein. Itamar ben Gvir is on their list:

http://youtu.be/gT515UzzaSg

If you want to vote for them, that's your decision. But know the type of people for whom you are voting.

By: Varda Epstein

Varda Epstein — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:48:26 +0000

I hear you. But I'm worried they are provocateurs, especially after that recent PA flag-burning stunt. Also, their following is so marginal it would be a throwaway vote.

By: Anastasia Klein

Anastasia Klein — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:13:40 +0000

Paul Gross: why don't you care about JEWS being expelled from their homes? or JEWS being attacked and stoned by Arabs.. Meir Kahane of Blessed Memory would explain it better to you.

By: Ilan Toren

Ilan Toren — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:03:04 +0000

What are the objectionable characteristics of fascism. One that comes to mind is the centralization of authority and totalitarianism. Should a government have the authority to remove people from their homes en masse by force? Having been in Israel during disengagement I think that Israel certainly went over the line from a democracy t o a totalitarian system. Arresting people on the way to protests, biased enforcement of laws to prevent people from showing dissent in public, and most importantly the confiscation of property and forced removal of people from their homes. That the Supreme Court OK'd it only shows that the protections to civil rights can be politically overridden just as it was in other totalitarian/fascist systems. Would Ben Ari turn around and use the same system that Sharon used but against Arabs? As likely as if Meretz would gain power and do another expulsion against Jews? I don't worry about either fringe per se, but rather look to the behavior of the larger parties.

By: Yonaton Behar

Yonaton Behar — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:13:56 +0000

The good professor, Aryeh Eldad, — unlike his father — has given-up on Israel's claim to 'Shtei Gadot La'Yarden', claiming that Jordan is the Palestinian state. Who gave him the right to do so? Not kitzoni enough for me!

By: Yonaton Behar

Yonaton Behar — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:13:56 +0000

By: Levi Kofman

Levi Kofman — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:18:22 +0000

Your silence is deafening.

By: Levi Kofman

Levi Kofman — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:16:38 +0000

Seeing that you are both evasive and unable to engage in honest discussion, I'll throw one more spanner in – historically the most extreme form of fascism gained notoriety for persecuting Jews and gays. Fatah is known for being viruently and voilently anti-Semitic and incite voilent hatred against jews in their media, schools and mosques. They even executed Arabs who alledgly sold property to Jews. They also imprison, torture and execute gays and are misognist – they give men who engage in so called "honor" killings of women and young girls a slap on the wrist. Would it be fair to call Fatah and Abu Abbas Fascist? Would it be also fair to call people (including Israelis and Jews) who tout Fatah as a "moderate" "peace" partner, fascist? Would it be fair to call people who support Jews getting thrown out of their legally purchased homes (where they had receipts to prove that they purchased the homes and even had full government support to settle there), fascist? Food for thought.

By: Levi Kofman

Levi Kofman — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 04:39:37 +0000

given the challanges and dangers that israel faces, the fact it is a small country surrounded by countries and terrorist entities commited to it's destruction, given that there are knesset members who openly side with enemy and that 1 knesset member of balad was caught spying for hezbollah when that organisation was pounding the north with missiles…i find your assertion that they are less of a threat truly mind boggling. I posed similiar questions to a thread started by paul gross and found that paul et el have so far been evasive. To your credit you seem to be more honest and open. Whats your view on fatah? Are they fascist, extreme or racist? I'm looking forward to an open and honest dialogue.

By: Shani Tzoref

Shani Tzoref — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:10:32 +0000

i think this is an informative account of one candidate's struggle to advocate free speech and to practice tolerance towards the opinions of others, weighed against the obligation not to tolerate intolerance and the smothering of free speech:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/11/netanya-s-undemocratic-elections-panel.html

By: Shani Tzoref

Shani Tzoref — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:08:03 +0000

Levi, i was not passing judgment on which parties should or should not be banned, at which times, and the particular criteria involved.
I was observing that I approve of the fact that one factor in evaluating the danger of hate speech in Israel, in addition to the nature of the message, is the power of the person to act upon the message. This is the reason that I find Zoabi to be less of a threat than the anti-arab candidates. Even though her rhetoric is offensive and racist, all evidence points to the reality that arabs don't have much power to follow through on such rhetoric in the Knesset. I have not seen any anti-Jewish legislation proposed or passed in this past Knesset. I have seen proposals for laws motivated by anti-Arab sentiment.

By: Levi Kofman

Levi Kofman — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:28:24 +0000

right. So the term "fascist" then is not applicable to and/or does not define what a party like otzma is after all?

By: Sarah Goldberg

Sarah Goldberg — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:13:08 +0000

I think we've covered the bases. I explained that fascist/non fascist is not the most important dichotomy when discussing political parties.

By: Tim Upham

Tim Upham — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:10:16 +0000

Otzma Leyisrael does not embrace Jewish values at all, only Jewish extremism. You do not fight extremism with extremism. How does that make Hamas look foolish? No it just makes Otzma Leyisrael look foolish as well.