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ANNOUNCEMENTS•
The Israel Information and Documentation Center (CIDI) rejects the inflammatory rhetoric of some members of the new Israeli government. The Jewish interest organization writes that a day after Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that he was a new government and that his conservative Likud party will govern with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties.
Prominent politicians from those parties have made several statements in recent times that concern many liberal Israelis. While Netanyahu stresses that he has formed a government for all citizens, Palestinians and the LGBTI community in particular often suffer heavily from his new coalition partners.
For example, the incoming security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir of the far-right Jewish Force party, said soldiers and police officers who shoot Palestinians should by definition be immune from prosecution. Along with Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist party—incoming finance minister—he is also in favor of annexing the West Bank. He has been convicted several times, including for inciting racism.
“Proud Homophobe”
Yet another of Netanyahu’s new coalition partners, Avigdor Moaz of the far-right individual faction Noam, wants – as a self-proclaimed “proud homophobe” – abolish, inter alia, Gay Pride in Jerusalem. With her idea that the LGBTI community is a danger to the family, she becomes head of the “Jewish National Identity” post in the Ministry of Education.
“This rhetoric is not representative of Israel’s democratic values, its role as a homeland for all Jews, and its relentless pursuit of peace,” writes CIDI, without naming specific Netanyahu’s coalition partners. “We are confident that this rhetoric will not shape the new administration’s domestic and foreign policies.”
Future CIDI director Mestrum says in an explanation that he refers to Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, for example. “For example, they have made statements against Arabs, Palestinians and the LGBTI community,” he says. “These are things that are not in line with the idea of being a beacon of freedom that people generally have inside Israel. There should be equal rights for equal citizens, and they haven’t always spoken out in favor of that.”
CIDI also writes that it is confident that Israel will strive to deliver on its promise of equality for all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, and that the government will continue to be committed to the prospects for peace.
Links with foreign countries
CIDI is by no means the only Jewish advocacy organization outside of Israel that views the new coalition with concern. Earlier this month, influential American Jewish organizations voiced their concerns. They fear, among other things, that extreme statements within the coalition will undermine the support of American Jews.
Mestrum also acknowledges these concerns. “The Jewish community in the Netherlands is obviously as diverse as the rest of our country, but I have certainly heard concerns from the Jewish community about what the coalition will bring about and also how that will affect ties with foreign countries.”
However, it underscores Netanyahu’s long service and former pragmatism. “I think he is also very aware of how Israel is viewed from abroad, he also said so. I assume that Israel will continue to safeguard the values under his leadership. If not, we will also speak against it.”
