Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named one of Israel’s most racist politicians, Avigdor Liberman, as defense minister on Wednesday, May 25, solidifying his far-right parliamentary majority at the risk of antagonizing the international community and his own military – and clouding already slim hopes for a resumption of peace efforts and an end the occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Israel’s new Defense Minister Liberman during a meeting in September, 2014 (when he served as the country’s Foreign Minister in Netanyahu’s previous government) with the US Secretary of State John Kerry (Photo: Secretary of State)
Following the signing of the coalition agreement, Hadash lawmaker Ayman Odeh, leader of the Joint List, said, “Liberman is a fascist, who belongs to the fascists of the 1930s.” “Israel’s citizens should be concerned about the right-wing coalition that will lead us all to a very dangerous place,” he stated. “This is insistence on systematic racism by the government and a proof of the crisis in the political process in Israel,” Odeh said. “The inclusion of Lieberman in the government and as head of the defense ministry will be strongly objected to by the opposition parties in the coming months, and their criticism will be directed against Netanyahu personally.” he explained.
MK Odeh, echoing the calls of Hadash and the Communist Party of Israel, called upon the public to participate in a demonstration against the new far-right coalition that will be held on Saturday night, May 28, in Central Tel-Aviv. The invitation to the demonstration published by Standing Together reads: “It’s time to resist and build an opposition, build another way for Israel. We, citizens of this country, are heading out into the streets, no longer afraid. We will no longer cave in before an extremist government and the destruction of our society. The time has come to find another way! Stop racism and incitement! Prevent the next war! Offer hope for this country! Take off the gloves! Lift your heads high! Come! Saturday, May 28, 8pm, Magen David Square (Allenby St. corner King George Street).
The demonstration on Facebook (Hebrew, Arabic, English and Russian)
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