Avigdor Lieberman in his own words
Writing in The Jewish Week, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman responds to those who call him a bigot and an ultra-nationalist:
I stand at the head of the most diverse political party in the Knesset. Four out of our first 10 Knesset members are women. Three out of our first 10 have a physical disability. Hamad Amer is a pillar of the Druze community. Anastassia Michaeli is the first convert to enter the Knesset. And David Rotem is a religious Zionist and obviously sees Yisrael Beiteinu as supportive of religious Jews. I find it a bit rich to be called a bigot.
Moreover, Yisrael Beiteinu has no objection to the nonviolent expression of opinion. It is violent speech that forms a clear and present danger that we refuse to tolerate. I am thinking of the Arab mayor of the Israeli town of Sakhnin who said during Cast Lead, “I call from here to the people in Gaza and say: Don’t be afraid, don’t give up, block them with your blood in order to build the state of Palestine, whose capital is Jerusalem. ... Long live Palestine, whose capital is Jerusalem, and long live the shahids [martyrs].”
Another label that has been thrust in my direction is “far right” or “ultra-nationalist.” I want the State of Israel to remain a Zionist, Jewish and democratic state. There is nothing “far” or “ultra” about those ideals. I also advocate the creation of a viable Palestinian state.
I welcome the contribution of minorities to Israel’s flourishing. We do not ask Israeli Arabs to share in the Zionist dream. We are asking them to accept that Israel is a Jewish state — the only one in the world. It is also the only democracy in the Middle East as well as the most advanced in terms of technology, health care and education. If those who strive to topple the state with terror and violence would instead focus on improving daily life, education, infrastructure, and health care, we could all move on to better lives for everyone.
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As I recall, Mr. Public, we had to recite daily the following words when I was in public school in the US. :UI pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, One nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all” The words “under God” were added later, after I had graduated high school. Why cannot Israel have something similar.
The difference, Jackie Cappiello, is that there are no penalties for not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in the US. We don’t take away your citizenship, nor do we move those who do not take the Pledge to another country.
Nor do we run around shouting, “Death to Arabs “ as the Liberman fascists do.
And, Jackie, if you are a citizen of the US, you are an excellent example of how liberal we are compared to what you are and want to be.
Three score years ago, our forefathers brought forth the reborn nation, Israel, in its ancient homeland, A house divided cannot stand. That nation of the Jewish people, by the Jewish people, and for the Jewish people shall not perish from this earth. So said Father Apraham - Abraham Lincoln. Am Isrrael Chai
Avigdor, carry this banner high!
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John Q. Public
02/26/09 01:20 PM
Actions speak louder than words. One should remain skeptical of a man who has said he wants people to take a loyalty oath to Israel. You cannot force loyalty down peoples’ throats.