Tag: Tikun Olam

The ranks of Israeli politicians are replete with those advocating ethnic cleansing, apartheid and even genocide. As I’ve written here, a Likud MK called for building death camps for “Arabs.”  The leading candidate to run the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum, Effi Eitam, has said of Palestinian MKs:

“The day will come when we will expel you [to Gaza]”

“We should expel the vast majority of Arabs from Judea and Samaria, we can’t have all these Arabs…”

Regarding Lebanon, he said: “Simply slaughter Civilians? Yes, that is the equation.  It’s cold, it’s cruel. But that is it.”

I suppose there could be no better candidate for a museum commemorating Nazi genocide than someone who advocates genocide.  Every time someone hears him talk about the Holocaust. they will be reminded of his own genocidal rhetoric.  Seriously, it is a grave insult to the 6-million to appoint a former IDF general, a cruel, vicious brute to safeguard their memory.  But that is par for the course for this state birthed in the crucible of Nakba and continuing it to this day.

… Genocide does not happen suddenly. It evolves from lesser crimes and gradually grows into a monstrous hate capable of exterminating tens of thousands or millions, depending on circumstances.  For this reason, I’m not satisfied with the word ‘apartheid’ alone.  While it is an accurate portrait of current reality, it is not sufficient. As I’ve written, we must speak about genocide.  Its most extreme form is the extermination of the people.  But genocide also encompasses incitement to genocide; attempts to erase culture, language and traditions. These are all genocide.  Israel qualifies on all these counts.  It assaults Palestinian NGOs, destroys thousands of homes, steals land, demolishes schools, bombs universities, power plants and sewage treatment facilities.  All this is genocide.  That it has not yet exterminated tens or hundreds of thousands is no comfort.  That may yet come, considering the venomous hatred of the Judeo-Nazis above.  In the meantime, genocide remains a potent and accurate term.