Israel’s New Nazis

First, please note the image above.

It’s been floating around social media this afternoon and compares the wording of a draft Knesset bill of April 1985 with the Nazis’ Nuremberg Laws.

The bill was the brainchild of the late extreme right-wing Orthodox Rabbi Meir Kahane and does not make happy reading.

So let me make this clear:

· I did not emigrate from the UK to Israel almost exactly nine years ago to be ruled by racists.

· I am among many who expressed deep unease about the implications of the recently passed Nation State Law.

· Believe me, should any new Netanyahu-led coalition be voted into office on 09 April, the NSL’s wording – perhaps not racist in content but certainly illiberal by intent – will immediately be seen to be the tip of a mountain of legislation giving succour and credence to Israel’s legion foes.

· Major Israeli news sites like The Times of Israel and Ynet News reflect my own view.

· In short: Prime Minister Netanyahu is so anxious to hold onto personal power that he is behaving like an irrational demagogue, still attempting to manipulate public opinion in the face of the plain truth.

· My great fear is that should the Kahanists take power under Netanyahu that all accompanying racism in the Knesset will replicate the blatant crude antisemitism in the present Jeremy Corbyn-led UK Labour Party.

· Is this what Israelis want?

· Surely not!

© Natalie Wood (24 February 2019)