'Say 'nyet' to Lieberman,' leftist U.S. Jews urge Kadima, Likud

Reflecting the official position of the new administration which is careful not to interfere with the delicate issues of the domestic policy in Israel, major Jewish organizations in the United States have chosen to keep silent amid the uncertainty of the recent Israeli elections.

But a few left-wing Jewish activists have been busy, taking little time to rest in between demonstrations against Israel's policy toward Gaza and the prospects of Avigdor Lieberman's joining the ruling coalition.

Two Massachusetts professors, Dennis Gaitsgory, a mathematician from Harvard University, and MIT Professor Josh Tenenbaum launched an online petition entitled "No government with Lieberman," calling on the next Israeli prime minister to cease courting the Yisrael Beiteinu leader.

The petition is addressed to the leaders of Kadima and Likud, the two factions with the best chance to cobble together a coalition.

"As friends of Israel and supporters of Israeli democracy, we say: Don't do it!" the petition reads. "Through his platform and his rhetoric, Mr. Lieberman threatens Israeli society with the darkness of race-baiting, demagoguery and ultra-nationalism.

"We respect the right of Israeli citizens to elect their own political leaders. Yet as supporters of a democratic state, we cannot remain silent at this crucial time.

"We remember too well how democracies in the 20th century were brought down by anti-democratic leaders who came to power through popular elections". They add, that "granting Mr. Lieberman a senior ministerial post would endanger the foundations of Israel as a democratic state and delegitimize it in the eyes of the world. Such a government would be one that even Israel's friends would find increasingly difficult - if not impossible - to identify with or support".

The petition lists some of Lieberman's controversial campaign slogans and positions regarding the Arab citizens of Israel, including his elections "ace" of calling for Arab citizens of Israel to sign an "oath of loyalty" to the state or be stripped of their citizenship.

The call to exclude Lieberman comes alongside another petition by the California-based Jewish Voice for Peace, which calls on President Obama to urge Israel to lift the Gaza blockade and to initiate a dialogue with the Islamist organization.

"We are Americans who voted for you and we are Palestinians and Israelis a world away," the petition reads. "We are the women, men, and children who are suffering every single day in Gaza and Israel and we are the people who seek to heal their suffering. We are mothers of soldiers and children of refuseniks."

"Press for an end to the blockade of Gaza, so that the people there can have food, medicine, fuel, and basic necessities. That is the only way that they can live, thrive, and rebuild their economy."

"Talk to everyone, including Hamas. The late Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban said, 'You make peace by talking to your enemies.' This holds true today. Even a majority of American Jews support negotiations even with Israelis "worst enemies."