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Peretz's binoculars
By Gideon Levy
Tags: Gideon Levy

Click here for more articles by Gideon Levy

Amir Peretz again was caught in failure. Nimble media photographers managed to catch the defense minister looking through binoculars whose cap was still on. True, publishing the picture is a legitimate journalistic act. But when the picture is spread across the front page of the two most widely circulated newspapers and is part of a long, systematic campaign to portray him as ridiculous, one must ask: Why? Does the defense minister deserve such heaps of ridicule? Do we similarly disparage other leaders who are no lesser failures - the prime minister, for example? The main reason for the mockery - to be distinguished from legitimate, deserved criticism - is rooted in dark places: The problem is in our bigoted binoculars.

Peretz has failed as defense minister so far: He led the Israel Defense Forces into the most unnecessary war in Israel's history. He is not the only one to blame, and certainly not the first. The prime minister and chief of staff are more responsible, but no one ridicules them. Peretz is also justifiably an object of unprecedented disappointment for the left: Nothing remains of the Peace Now man we knew. Since he was appointed, Peretz has not done a thing to advance peace, uproot settlements or even significantly ease the occupation. But the left is not leading the mudslinging campaign against him. Rather, it is coming from other circles - his party, Kadima and the IDF. But they have nothing to complain about. Unfortunately, Peretz is no different from them.
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Besides this futile war, it is hard to distinguish errors Peretz has made, only a lack of bold decisions. But, as noted, they are not attacking him for this. The insecurity and inexperience that characterized him at the beginning of his term are disappearing, and he succeeded in appointing a chief of staff to his liking. He is given no credit for being one of the only top figures who is not under criminal investigation, or for the fact that he lives in Sderot, far from the web of capital and power. We still prefer the fluent macho with the cigar, even if he is corrupt, to the inarticulate labor leader.

The dirty campaign being waged against Peretz originates from the prime minister's bureau, his party colleagues and the IDF. At the end of the week, some in the Labor Party were already warning that Peretz "is stealing the party again." Stealing the party? In what way did he sin? That he succeeded in signing up 25,000 members? Aren't these the rules of the game? But in Peretz's case, it is permitted to call him a thief. Would people be complaining like this about Ami Ayalon or Ophir Pines-Paz if they had succeeded in recruiting a similar number of people? The ridicule by the top IDF brass is infuriating: Before slandering the defense minister, the generals should first complete the reforms needed in the IDF. He "does not understand security"? And what about their ongoing failures? Peretz is certainly not responsible for the army's situation, which became apparent during the war and is evident daily in the occupied territories.

Indeed, let's call a spade a spade: The mockery of Peretz derives from racism. There is no other way to explain the systematic ridicule of his character: his English, his awkward pinning of ranks on the chief of staff, and the covered binoculars. This could happen to anyone, but we laugh at him. So let's remove the mask: Unlike many Mizrahim, Peretz remains a Moroccan who did not become Ashkenazi in his personality, mustache, mannerisms, diction or place of residence. Unfortunately, he discarded the mantle of the man of peace from Sderot, but he never switched the mantle of his ethnic origin. And he is paying for this now. The problem does not lie in his binoculars, but rather in our binoculars. The ethnic demon is still here, alive and kicking, this time at Amir Peretz.
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Disturbing trend
Jewish Agency says Anti-Semitic acts in Jan. 2009 triple last year's records.
After the war
IDF gains in Gaza have softened Israel's stance on Shalit deal.
  1.   and that`s what they do to their own kind! 10:18  |  aristocrat 25/02/07
  2.   Sorry Amir Peretz, but you should trim your moustache...... 10:22  |  Swiss (Dino) 25/02/07
  3.   Rose Tinted Spectacles Gideon........ 10:33  |  Mary 25/02/07
  4.   there is much truth in levy`s column 10:35  |  shamash 25/02/07
  5.   swiss dino, mustache 10:57  |  JG 25/02/07
  6.   our great disappointment 11:13  |  Leon Rosgarten 25/02/07
  7.   # 5 JG I am not joking !! 11:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 25/02/07
  8.   Levy is racist 11:44  |  MarkC 25/02/07
  9.   Shaul Mofaz is... 11:48  |  Avi Yerushalmi 25/02/07
  10.   D M Peretz open to ridicule #1 11:53  |  chaim 25/02/07
  11.   Gidion Levy #2 11:59  |  chaim 25/02/07
  12.   Racism is the reason for the mockery of George Bush 12:14  |  Richard 25/02/07
  13.   They are all racist 12:25  |  Daniel 25/02/07
  14.   At least they solved the problem 12:41  |  Miche Norman 25/02/07
  15.   I guess the BBC is racist too. 12:43  |  SystemF 25/02/07
  16.   Levy: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar... 12:46  |  David Teich 25/02/07
  17.   PERETZ MAYBE A GOOD MAN BUT NOT A GOOD DEFENCE MINISTER 12:49  |  REUVEN 25/02/07
  18.   The best thing about Israel is 13:05  |  Andreas 25/02/07
  19.   Terribly wrong article! 13:07  |  S 25/02/07
  20.   racism!!! 13:38  |  michael cohen 25/02/07
  21.   Slapstick comedy 13:53  |  Ehud 25/02/07
  22.   Peretz 14:18  |  Lee R 25/02/07
  23.   Out of context 14:18  |  Charlie Benlolo 25/02/07
  24.   Peretz is unfit to be where he is - that`s all, Gideon! 14:21  |  DW 25/02/07
  25.   telescope and (Dukakis) tanks 14:22  |  lee r 25/02/07
  26.   Mr G Levy 14:23  |  Berrouria M 25/02/07
  27.   COME OFF IT!! 14:52  |  Ian 25/02/07
  28.   Olmert is not a fool or out of his depth but Peretz .. 15:19  |  redmike 25/02/07
  29.   #15 "you guess the BBC is racist"? One of the worst ! 15:25  |  redmike 25/02/07
  30.   MOCKING FOOLS 15:30  |  B 25/02/07
  31.   I must confess; I feel that Peretz is more ridiculous than others 15:31  |  Uzi 25/02/07
  32.   Laugh Away Israelis ! 15:35  |  Klaudia 25/02/07
  33.   The most unnecessary war in Israel`s history, but.... 15:35  |  Fritz 25/02/07
  34.   Kadima binocular 15:40  |  Ralph 25/02/07
  35.   LAUREL AND PERETZ !! ANOTHER FINE MESS OLMERT 15:44  |  paul harris 25/02/07
  36.   Shame on you Gideon Levy 16:14  |  Sharron 25/02/07
  37.   Another big lie 16:20  |  Nechama 25/02/07
  38.   Levy defends Peretz so Israel will have no Defense 16:41  |  McQueen 25/02/07
  39.   the article`s racist 16:44  |  dierre 25/02/07
  40.   We have our Clinton, our Levinsky and...our stupid Bush 17:09  |  Alain 25/02/07
  41.   Say It Isn`t So 17:20  |  Tony Anthony 25/02/07
  42.   Shabbat with Moroccon racists? 17:20  |  FOX 25/02/07
  43.   Peretz is a security risk 17:26  |  Jonathan S 25/02/07
  44.   DINO #7 RELAX BABY 17:26  |  FOX 25/02/07
  45.   Gideon Levi (as well as Amira Hass) is a traitor. HAARETZ: Don`t 17:29  |  Vittorio 25/02/07
  46.   Pure dumbness ... and you, Gideon support it! 17:29  |  Lee 25/02/07
  47.   when there`s nothing else to say 17:52  |  Bruno 25/02/07
  48.   the photo 17:53  |  dierre 25/02/07
  49.   HEre is a Palestinian take on Peretz and Israeli media 17:55  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 25/02/07
  50.   Incompetance is the reason for mockery of Peretz! 17:56  |  Niall 25/02/07
  51.   # 44 FOX, don`t worry, be happy..... 18:13  |  Swiss (Dino) 25/02/07
  52.   Racism 18:14  |  Brod 25/02/07
  53.   Interesting article 18:34  |  Frederique 25/02/07
  54.   Mr Lewy G 18:54  |  Manoushka 25/02/07
  55.   Put the man where he can show his talents 19:32  |  Sam 25/02/07
  56.   As I recall . . . 20:07  |  hardball 25/02/07
  57.   Racism 20:45  |  Richard 25/02/07
  58.   Why? Gideon Levy has far greater vitreol for Peretz 21:03  |  Jake 25/02/07
  59.   Peretz - Think of his as a shoemaker 21:06  |  * BEN JABO 25/02/07
  60.   `European` Gideon Levy is more Arab than Peretz 21:07  |  Jake 25/02/07
  61.   #56 Hardball`s recollection 21:12  |  * BEN JABO 25/02/07
  62.   Levy is a racist 21:20  |  Gene 25/02/07
  63.   @6, leon as always i like your post. bravo@!!!! 21:29  |  vladimir 25/02/07
  64.   Levy the Ludicrous 22:01  |  Yonatan Netser 25/02/07
  65.   dee-fence miniature 22:39  |  m.shen 25/02/07
  66.   # 49 Abu Firaz Al falestini 22:41  |  Abushanab 25/02/07
  67.   Not racism 22:47  |  Peter 25/02/07
  68.   Levy = Self Hating Piece of Garbage 23:21  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/02/07
  69.   WHAT ABOUT MEDIA MOCKING OF KATSAV BEFORE BEING PROVED GUILTY ?? 23:37  |  Bill. 25/02/07
  70.   Levy is a racist 23:42  |  Gene 25/02/07
  71.   LOL Levy is a joke 23:57  |  rich 25/02/07
  72.   Amir. 00:03  |  sandra chitayat 26/02/07
  73.   Peretz and Levy are both morons 00:13  |  Igor 26/02/07
  74.   Gideon Levy 00:21  |  Bamber G 26/02/07
  75.   Hey Gideon, does the mockery of YOU derive from racism as well? 00:45  |  sk 26/02/07
  76.   So True 00:55  |  Leslie Lyshkov 26/02/07
  77.   People see around them what they are inside 02:23  |  Freud 26/02/07
  78.   No, Leslie, Jews died in 1929 Hebron massacre because of Arabs 02:26  |  Jake 26/02/07
  79.   Peretz IS NOT QUALIFIED, should be replaced, NO DELAY WHATSOEVER 02:30  |  Pavel 26/02/07
  80.   Peretz 02:59  |  paul 26/02/07
  81.   Great article & accurate analysis - Racism indeed exists in the 04:36  |  Smadar 26/02/07
  82.   Racism? Maybe. High school dropout? Probably. 05:38  |  DRDNT 26/02/07
  83.   israel dont do this mistake again. never 07:42  |  joseph saade 26/02/07
  84.   Thanks again, Gideon Levy 08:02  |  Dutch 26/02/07
  85.   Mr. Levy - Reality check 08:16  |  Seth Greenberg 26/02/07
  86.   LESS ARAB, MORE JEW-LOOKING 08:39  |  indrajaya 26/02/07
  87.   Abu Firas,#49, palestinians must learn Israeli politics 08:56  |  Voice of Reason 26/02/07
  88.   Gideon is right about racism..... 09:14  |  Joe Right 26/02/07
  89.   The imbecile moronic mental midget twins Peretz & Gideon Levy. 09:49  |  Joseph 26/02/07
  90.   #61 ODDBALL - Which office are u talking about 15:07  |  * BEN JABO 26/02/07
  91.   Why are you all so hard on Gideon Levy and Peretz? 15:13  |  Shofar Blower 26/02/07
 Read & React
Livni: Israel should strike Hamas again to halt arms smuggling
Responses: 44
Amir Oren: 'Decisive' Gaza offensive merely rehearsal for next crisis versus Iran
Responses: 8
Netanyahu: Likud-led government wouldn't build new settlements
Responses: 36
Akiva Eldar: Saudi plan offers Israel united front with Arab states against Iran
Responses: 10


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