US Jews don't Need or even want Bibi on that Wall

Two important pieces on the state of Israeli politics, and the state of Israeli-Diaspora relations.

First, The Week makes the same point we've been making about Israeli politics. There is no left.

On the contrary, the most far-reaching consequence of the 2019 Israeli election may well be that it verified, beyond any reasonable doubt, that there is functionally no left left in Israel. It has become a country with a center, a right, and a far right, but no electorally viable left to speak of.

Second, the day before the election Haaretz wondered who US Jews would pick, Bibi or Gantz. The answer is Gantz. The author goes on to blame Netanyahu for the schism. We blame Obama, who loathed Bibi and browbeat the Israelis for eight years. Also, American Jews.

One last time, Israel's muscular ethno-nationalism, from the nation-state law which declares the land of the Jews to be the nation of the Jews, to Bibi's alliance with the religious right wing, to the IDF's disproportionate response, American Jews are embarrassed by modern Israel.

It's almost exactly like the difference between being stationed at the Washington Naval Yard, and being stationed at Guantanamo Bay* 

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis eat breakfast three hundreds yards from Palestinians who want to kill them.

Us Jews are Sam Weinberg and the Israelis are Nathan Jessup. 

*Do we really have to explain the reference?