What Benjamin Netanyahu has learned over the years is that if he is in political trouble the best thing to do is attack the Palestinians, or manufacture some crisis surrounding evil Islamic elements inside or outside Israel. As a survivor he has as little regard for the truth or facts as did Donald Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney or for that matter his friend Mit Romney. The present crisis unfolded as a means for Netanyahu to let off some steam against his favorite whipping boys, Hamas as a consequence of his displeasure at Obama's victory. This is his little message to American Jews saying, "See you voted for this!"
There is a greater need for Netanyahu and his war party to act with violence now. As Tobias Buck noted in an article in the Financial Times on November 17th 2012, Hamas scored a significant political victory with the arrival of the emir of Qatar to Gaza and the Arab uprisings have given its base hope that its election victories will be translated into crucial political capital with the new Obama administration. The Qataris promised $400million in building investments that would have also provided substantial economic power to Hamas.
The Israeli attacks have also another effect, there are upcoming elections in Israel and with the killing of Hamas leader, Ahmed Jabari, Netanyahu has gained considerable political leverage, in fact, Israeli newsreporter, Barak Ravid wrote on the Haaretz Web site that Mr. Jabari was Mr. Netanyahu’s Osama bin Laden. But a more sinister view comes from a reporter for Israel's Haaretz news. Nir Hasson states,
" Hours before Hamas strongman Ahmed Jabari was assassinated, he received the draft of a permanent truce agreement with Israel, which included mechanisms for maintaining the cease-fire in the case of a flare-up between Israel and the factions in the Gaza Strip. This, according to Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin, who helped mediate between Israel and Hamas in the deal to release Gilad Shalit and has since then maintained a relationship with Hamas leaders. "
See: http://www.haaretz.com/....
This would argue that Netanyahu is even more cynical and self-serving than generally thought, though that is hard to believe. If a peace agreement was near completion as is asserted, and if Netanyahu had information on its potential signing, then this murder of Jabari is Machiavellian indeed. Background on Netanyahu and the war party below.
The Financial Times reported on March 26th that about 1,000 demonstrators gathered in the streets of Tel Aviv to protest the rightwing war party of Netanyahu's threats of war against Iran. Saturday night the demonstrators marched through the streets to show that many Israelis are opposed to war and to an attach on Iran. Many of those interviewed argued that starting a war was contradictory to building peace and protecting lives of Israelis, as an attack on Iran can only result in more attacks on Israel. A survey byt Dahaf and Israeli polling institute, found that more than a third of Israelis oppose an attack on Iran under any circumstances, with only 42% supporting an attack but only if it was supported by the USA.
Meanwhile the Netanyahu government has been fighting of an increasing number of scandals, both financial and political. A recent general strike has placed the blame of increasing inequality in Isreal on the war party: http://www.dailykos.com/.... While a national commission has confronted the government with a clear plan to break up the ruling oligarchy and produce a free and open market : http://www.dailykos.com/...
Israel certainly faces many challenges, but the most threatening is from within. Citing a study of 34 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation for Economic Development (ECED) the publication Jewish World (http://sdjewishworld.wordpress.com/...) notes that the level of poverty in Israel today is greater than in Mexico. What is more troubling is a study of ECED nations that found After Turkey and Israel only Mexico have more young people between the age of 15 and 29 years of age who are not working or studying. This waste of human potential is shameful but is a consequence of the inequality and corruption that plague these nations. For Israel the situation is a dire as in Mexico where conditions are similar with crime syndicates battling for control of drug and prostitution turf and the markets for guns from America while the control of the economy is not so concentrated as in Israel, the political situation is paralyzed by the constant feeling of violence and uncertainty, as in Israel (see: http://www.dailykos.com/....).
The only way out of this vector of social stagnation for Israelis is to vote out of office all the members of the present parties and vote in new people who are not influenced by the money and threats of the oligarchs and crime families. This is a large order, certainly given America's election laws (the most recent Supreme Court decision allows unlimited contributions), would make such an effort near impossible, but an organized campaign for clean elections where contributions would be an issue could make a difference in a road to an open economy and greater opportunity.
Average Israelis are finding out that their government is not unlike those of the Arab states around them. Like the struggle in Egypt and Tunisia, Israelis have a government that has a democratic facade, but run by an oligarchy (http://www.dailykos.com/....). This powerful group of billionaire families rules the country through sham elections that are bought and paid for but give the image of freedom. While the average citizen struggles to get by, this rich elite have increased their control over the economy and wealth inequality has risen to historic heights (http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/....) compare with (http://en.wikipedia.org/...).
Today the demonstrations in Israel provide an opening for a new democratic future, but more than just that, Israelis can reach real brotherhood with surrounding Arabs in the struggle for liberty and gain a true place along side the people of the Middle East. The oligarchy has not allowed this kind of action in the past without challenge, usually by some convenient attack by terrorists (http://www.dailykos.com/...). The future can be won in the streets by organizing for freedom both from economic domination and from fear.
International criticism of Netanyahu's claims about Iran's intentions with nuclear development have focused on the failure of Israel to allow IAE inspections: http://www.dailykos.com/.... The people of Israel have an opportunity to turn the tide for peace and justice, the war party of Netanyahu stands in the way. Donations to these war mongers from Americans should be rethought and money instead should to sent to Israeli foundations who support a free and independent press.