No subject

=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=
=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 February=
 12, 2009=20



=C2=A0=20



(For unlimited distribution)=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 (Excuse double posting=
)=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=20





=C2=A0=20

Post-election Thoughts=20





=C2=A0=20

It might seem incumbent on the media to master the complexities of the rele=
vant political system before covering an election in a given country. Howev=
er, there is a convenient short cut for lazy minds. You simply spread every=
thing along a left-right axis. This makes it easier to report developments,=
 though it may be totally misleading. The current nonsense is that the Isra=
eli electorate split into two camps in the recent elections, a right-wing b=
loc headed by Bibi Netanyahu (65 seats) and a left-wing bloc headed by Tsip=
i Livni (55 seats).=20





=C2=A0=20

Alas, there is no sizable left-wing block. But there is a right-wing block =
in Israel politics and it covers quite a bit of the map.=20



=C2=A0=20



The Results=20





=C2=A0=20

The Likud (27 seats in the new Knesset =E2=80=93 12 before) is a right-wing=
 nationalist party. Kadima (28 seats =E2=80=93 29 before) is a center-right=
 party (created and inspired by the right-wing militarist, Ariel Sharon.) L=
ieberman=E2=80=99s =E2=80=9CIsrael is Our Home=E2=80=9D (15 seats =E2=80=93=
 11 in the previous Knesset ) is a right-wing, crypto-fascist, racist conco=
ction. Labor (13 seats as against 19 before) is a right-wing, neo-liberal, =
Social Democratic entity. Shas is a right-wing fundamentalist clerical part=
y (11 seats, one less than in the previous Knesset). The National Unity Par=
ty (4 seats) is the most militant settler party on the right and the open p=
olitical heirs of Kahana; it splintered from a united list with the =E2=80=
=9CJewish Home=E2=80=9D (3 seats =E2=80=93 together they had 9 before). Jew=
ish Home, is a moderate right-wing pro-settler party. Here, you have before=
 you Israel=E2=80=99s the right block.=20





=C2=A0=20

On the left, the Hadash-Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (4 seats =
=E2=80=93 up from 3) and two other Arab lists (7 seats - unchanged), togeth=
er with Meretz, (3 seats, 2 down from the previous Knesset) represent the o=
nly formations which could be considered, by any stretch of the imagination=
, to be on the left. There were some important positive developments and ac=
hievements in the Hadash campaign. I hope to discuss them and the demise of=
 the Zionist left in a separate communication.=20



=C2=A0=20



Historical Processes and Current Developments=20





=C2=A0=20

The parliamentary picture is a direct result of long term processes and the=
 more recent developments in Israeli society. Many observers have noticed t=
hat Israeli society from its inception expressed two main characteristics. =
In many senses, it qualified as a liberal democratic capitalist formation. =
However, in its deeper structures and dynamics it tended to revert to its c=
olonial origins. Here, the battle to secure and expand the Zionist foothold=
 =E2=80=93 geographically and politically, went on continually, usually in =
the background, but often appearing at the center of events. It is the colo=
nial nature of Israel which figures increasingly in its political make-up.=
=20



=C2=A0=20



Groggy With Militarism and Racism=20





=C2=A0=20

Given the poisonous concoction of militarism and chauvinism that goes for d=
emocratic process in present day Israel, it would take more than a miracle =
for these elections to produce any government conducive to meaningful negot=
iations with the Palestinians. Of course, we do not completely disregard th=
e formal, but fragile nature of democracy in this country. But the substanc=
e of political life in this country is to convert Israel=E2=80=99s special =
relationship with the United States into a privileged strategic, economic a=
nd political formation and state-apparatus. These are the historical bounda=
ries of Israeli democracy that predetermine the outcome of elections and ot=
her political tensions.=20





=C2=A0=20

It was not necessary to be a seer to see that the latest murderous expediti=
on in Gaza had all the necessary components needed to push an already frigh=
tened and despairing Israeli electorate further to the right. Once again th=
e tedious well known scenario had to be played out. People actually believe=
 that a resounding military victory was frustrated and negated by the =E2=
=80=9Cpoliticians=E2=80=9D. In Lebanon before and in Gaza now, we were on t=
he verge of complete and total victory if we had been permitted to complete=
 the job at hand.=20



=C2=A0=20



The Battle for Regional Ascendancy=20





=C2=A0=20