By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM –Amotz Asa-el is a respected Israeli journalist. Soon after the speech by Israel’s Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan in which the latter alluded to tendencies in contemporary Israeli society reminiscent of those that led to the rule of Nazism in the 1930s, Asa-el wouldn’t comment on whether the general was right or wrong. He argued that, as a servant of the state, Golan shouldn’t have commented on social and political events in his country, because he’s neither entitled nor qualified to do so. Others have been more explicit. Even some of those who say that they agree with Golan, believe that it wasn’t for him to speak the way he did.
We know that Prime Minister Netanyahu (Bibi) doesn’t share Golan’s expressed opinions, but he did say most emphatically when he censured the military leader that the general was wrong in substance and that to speak as he did on Holocaust Memorial Day was extremely inappropriate.
At the time, Defense Minister Moshe (Boogie) Ya’alon, the general’s political boss and himself a former chief of staff, came out strongly in support of Golan. It wasn’t clear at that time whether Ya’alon spoke out of loyalty to the Israel Defense Forces or as a rejoinder to the prime minister.
This has now become easier to speculate about. While the prime minister and others seem to have wanted to forget the incident, Ya’alon has returned to the subject and in a strong speech defended the right of leaders of the armed forces to speak their minds on issues that should concern the nation as a whole. Netanyahu reacted strongly even before Ya’alon finished speaking and summoned him to a “conversation.” It’s Bibi against Boogie. The outcome was a “reconciliation” for PR purposes only.
Why has Ya’alon returned to the subject? It may be due to his propensity to speak his mind without consideration of political and diplomatic consequences. He’s known for that. Not long ago, for example, he described US Secretary of State John Kerry as “obsessive” and “messianic.” But in this case, there may be more to it than just a loose tongue and a short temper.
The Israeli media have much to report at present about the prime minister’s attempts to widen his very narrow coalition by bringing into it other parties. All concerned have confirmed that he has been negotiating with the leader of the opposition Isaac Herzog. However, the opposition to joining the coalition within Herzog’s own party is very strong. There’re those who say that if he becomes part of the Netanyahu government – with the reason or the pretext that his presence will promote peace with the Palestinians – he will split, perhaps even destroy, Israel’s Labour Party. (Whatever happens, Herzog’s days as the leader of that party seem to be numbered).
Nothing of this, however, would affect Ya’alon, because Herzog doesn’t want to be defense minister. But Avigdor Lieberman (Yvette, as we’re on nickname terms) craves that portfolio. (If he gets it he’ll have even greater opportunities to cause havoc in Israel than when he was foreign minister.) Netanyahu is said to be negotiating also with Lieberman. Whereas the entry of Herzog would render other ministers unemployed, Lieberman would take away the defense portfolio from Ya’alon.
Lieberman’s views are very much in the range of those that General Golan so strongly deplored. Ya’alon’s support of Golan may be because he shares Golan’s outlook, but it may also be a way of telling something to Netanyahu and to Lieberman. Time will tell.
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Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Now residing in Israel, he may be contacted via dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)