The historic accord reached Tuesday between Iran and a United-States-led coalition of world powers has inspired strong and varied reactions across the world. Among these, the initial reaction offered by Israel’s Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has become a point of focus.
In particular, much attention is being given to his calling the Iran deal an “historic mistake.”
Now, nobody is surprised by Netanyahu’s position. Nor is anyone surprised by his bold pronouncement. Indeed, in an unprecedented breach of diplomatic protocol earlier this year, Israel’s leader tried to undermine President Obama’s foreign policy by speaking before Congress, an address secretly orchestrated by John Boehner. This move – having a foreign leader come before Congress to undermine a sitting President – was the height of chutzpah. And it was a move, his trying to scuttle the deal before Congress, which Netanyahu called an “historic mission.”Despite all this, Netanyahu now calling the Iran deal an “historic mistake” demonstrates even greater chutzpah. Not because of how his words apply to the Iran deal, but how they reverberate given his own rule.
See, the real historic mistake is Netanyahu’s continued embrace of Israel’s decades-old occupation and oppression of the Palestinians.
The real historic mistake is his continued support for Israel’s settlement enterprise and greater Israel aspirations, with construction rates in the West Bank at historic highs.
The real historic mistake is his explicit rejection of Palestinian statehood and a desire for perpetual occupation.
The real historic mistake is his blockading and brutal bombardment of Gaza, which killed over 2,200 Palestinians in 2014 alone and has left the territory in utter ruins.
The real historic mistake is his refusal to establish serious peace negotiations in deference to the politically-beneficial pursuit of perpetual conflict.
The real historic mistake is Netanyahu’s continuous reliance upon racist incitement against minorities and Arabs, contributing to an overall societal shift in Israel in which 95 percent of citizens view racism as prevalent.
And finally, the real historic mistake was Netanyahu’s arousing of extremist, right-wing entities in Israel against then Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, which contributed significantly (and some say directly) to Rabin’s assassination, which then led to Netanyahu’s ascension.
In short, Netanyahu’s entire political career has been an historic mistake. Which is what makes his pronouncement today regarding the Iran deal, which may end up bolstering Israel’s security, to be such a preposterous one.
Nay, pure chutzpah.
-ยง-
David Harris-Gershon is author of the memoir What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?, published recently by Oneworld Publications.
Follow him on Twitter @David_EHG.
This is an exercise by Harris Gershon to turn the Iran agreement into an Israel is evil issue. Firstly the agreement with Iran is only as good as their wilingness to complybwirh the terms. Secondly, I am no fan of Nethayahu, but placing blame for Rabin’s assassination on him is a new low for you. Thirdly, in the absense of a single Palestiniannpeace partner, there is no real hope for a 2 state solution. Free Tibet, free northern Cyprus, viva Isle Malvinas.
Yup . . . a lot of chutzpah . . . almost as much as saying that you “endorse BDS” and then, when faced with losing speaking engagements, claim that you never endorsed BDS and had only stated that the BDS tactics were “legitimate.”
Netanyahu loves Israel! Israel is surrounded by forces that want to destroy it. We’ll see if this deal works. I have hope but how can there be peace if the leaders of Islam won’t recognize Israel’s right to exist.
Harris Gershon maliciously removes context and history to demonize Israel and its leadership and to celebrate a deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a brutal theocracy that continues to execute gay men, imprison those who dare to dissent, engages in Holocaust denial, oppresses women, colonizes other countries and supports world wide terror. Netanyahu is not responsible for Iran’s brutal human rights record rather Netanyahu is responsible to maintain Israel’s security and development.
I don’t like Iran’s nastiness toward its people. Because I’m an American with a Christian background in an area where there are many Jews, I feel a kinship with Jews and their great religious and moral traditions, and their wonderful secular culture of foods, humor, philosophy, artistic talent, philanthropy and so much more. I also understand the trauma of the Nazi extermination campaign persisting in Jews’ minds.
ut Israel’s nastiness and destructive behavior toward the Palestinians distresses me no end.
What about its nasty support of Hezbollah ad their collective dream of destroying Israel?