Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received rare criticism from the US largest pro-Israel lobby, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), after he promised the racist Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party with an election alliance.
“AIPAC has a longstanding policy not to meet with members of this racist and reprehensible party,” the Committee said in a tweet.
Otzma Yehudit is a new political party formed by longtime followers of Meir Kahane and is now seeking election to the Knesset.
The Committee described views of Otzma Yehudit as “reprehensible”, adding that: “they do not reflect the core values that are the very foundation of Israel,” echoing comments of American Jewish Committee (AJC).
Netanyahu and other Likud members were shocked by AIPAC’s statement given that it is the largest lobby group in the United States and includes all non-left US-Jewish organizations. The Committee is a key supporter of Israel and defends its policies and governments.
AIPAC usually avoids opposing the Israeli government even if it disagrees with it and always focuses its efforts on strengthening Israel's standing in the United States and the world.
Every year, AIPAC holds a huge conference of 20,000 delegates representing the wealthiest Jews, all right-wing Jewish organizations and representatives of Jewish organizations of both the Republican and the Democratic parties. The conference is more of a huge support rally for Israel with the participation of its top leaders.
Netanyahu responded to the Committee’s criticism without referring to it. He considered the criticism a “leftist attack” and accused it of “a hypocritical double-standard.”
“It is absurd that they rule out encouraging mergers on the Right but consider it legitimate to ensure that inciters and spies against Israel enter the Knesset.”
Netanyahu also noted that in 1999, then-candidate for prime minister Ehud Barak participated in the same rally as Northern Islamic Movement head Sheikh Raed Salah, who was later convicted of incitement.
The PM said: “representatives of Labor and Meretz voted for Azmi Bishara who spied for Hezbollah, so he can enter the Knesset.” He also argued that Isaac Herzog acted, when he was leader of Zionist Union, to sign a vote-sharing agreement with the Arab Joint List.
“Herzog worked to reach a vote exchange deal with the Joint List and said that Arab MKs are legitimate in the government.”
In turn, Otzma Yehudit party called on AIPAC members to do the right thing and return home to Israel before they involve themselves in elections.
“When they arrive here, they will be able to be partners in the crucial and existential decisions of those living in Israel, and we will be happy for them to make decisions together with Israel's citizens."
The statement concluded by addressing the Israeli voter warning that AIPAC's opposition stems from one thing: “They insist on seeing the rise of the Israeli left and they will be happy if the government gives land and weapons to its enemies."
Head of Blue and White Party Benny Gantz indicated that the rare reaction by AIPAC, an organization that does not usually touch on internal Israeli politics, proves that Netanyahu has once again crossed ethical red lines just to keep his seat.
Gantz noted that Netanyahu caused serious harm to “Israel’s image, Jewish morality, and our important relationship with American Jewry.”
AJC had previously issued a statement saying that it does not normally comment on political parties and candidates during an election. “But with the announcement that Otzma Yehudit (“Jewish Power”), a new political party formed by longtime followers of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, is now seeking election to the Knesset, we feel compelled to speak out.”
AJC said the party’s views are reprehensible and do not reflect the core values that are the very foundation of the State of Israel, warning that it might gain enough votes to enter the next Knesset, and potentially even become part of the governing coalition.
“Historically, the views of extremist parties, reflecting the extreme left or the extreme right, have been firmly rejected by mainstream parties, even if the electoral process of Israel’s robust democracy has enabled their presence, however small, in the Knesset.”
AJC concluded by reaffirming its commitment to “Israel’s democratic and Jewish character, which we hope will be the ultimate winners in every election cycle.”
US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt also tweeted saying: “25 years ago Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Palestinians and wounded 125 in a universally condemned attack in Tomb of the Patriarchs/Sanctuary of Abraham. I pray our separated peoples can reconcile as Isaac & Ishmael did before they jointly buried their father Abraham at that holy site.”
During the 1970's, Rabbi Meir Kahane formed an extremist party which called for Arabs to be expelled from Israel. Before coming to Israel, Kahane was the leader of the militant Jewish Defense League in New York City. His party had a history of harassing Israeli Arabs.
When Kahane was elected to the Knesset in 1984, despite widespread opposition, legislators responded by walking out of the parliament en masse whenever he rose to speak. American Jewish groups also frequently spoke out against him.
Both Likud and Labor parties agreed that Kahane was unfit to serve in Israel’s parliament. Likud Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir once called Kahane a “dangerous character.”
Kahane was suspended from the Knesset for swearing at an Arab member and waving a noose at him.
