ANALYSIS / Gaza flotilla uproar exposes Knesset as sinking ship of fools
For the first time in its history, the Knesset came dangerously close to fisticuffs, with only a small step separating an exchange of words and an exchange of blows.
By Yossi SaridNow that around 10 members of Knesset were ejected from the plenum on Wednesday- an unusually large number - we are left with no choice but to consider the possibility of expelling all 120 MKs and dissolving the parliament. This subpar Knesset has no recourse but to head to new elections so that a new parliament can be constituted. This is only on condition, however, that the public will (for a change) be discriminating enough to oust the riffraff. Truth be told, though, the chances of this happening are slim.
Today many citizens will surely tsk-tsk and say things like, “Oh, what a Knesset we have, it’s unbelievable.” Or: “They should be ashamed of themselves over the poor example they are setting.” However, it would behoove the citizens - both Jews and Arabs - to remember that it is they who sent the MKs to the Knesset out of their own free will and gave them the right to represent them.
There have been stormy sessions in the past. It’s not a big deal, since our house of representatives is not the House of Lords, and many of those unruly sessions occur during the most tumultuous periods of our lives, moments that whip up a frenzy. But a session like this has not been seen before. MKs rampaged as if they were under the influence of drugs, hollered like a crane with a fish stuck in its throat. As though in the throes of hysteria, they stood up and sat down, sat down and stood up again, the better to hurl epithets. They scampered around as if they had forgotten their Ritalin at home.
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Israeli Arab MK Mohammad Barakeh during a Knesset plenum on June 2, 2010 dealing with the Gaza flotilla raid. |
| Photo by: Tomer Appelbaum |
For the first time in its history, the Knesset came dangerously close to fisticuffs, with only a small step separating an exchange of words and an exchange of blows.
Reports from the scene spoke of an escalation. This is a mistake. This wasn’t an escalation, but a descent straight down to the bottom. The Knesset jumped headfirst into the public swimming pool, which has long been drained of goodwill and confidence.
I have never harbored any sympathy for MKs whose stock-in-trade is provocation. Without it, who would know that they exist? Hanin Zuabi boarded the ship to grab center stage, and Miri Regev sent her to Gaza by employing colloquial Arabic because she too wants to live the good life and grab a few crumbs from the grown-up table.
If only they could surmise how similar they are to one another, and how Anastassia Michaeli is similar to both of them. If they only had more self-awareness they would have spared us those images.
I am all for MKs who neither spit or whistle, who don’t tear up documents at the podium and don’t use props. I’m all for MKs whose megaphone - whether at sea or on land - is their ability to speak their mind eloquently and convincingly. A bit of humor wouldn’t hurt either, especially if it’s of the self-effacing kind.
Don’t think for a moment that the vitriol on either side was born of genuine outrage. Everything was pre-planned and calculated to gain the public’s adoration, whatever the constituency.
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I believe the international community should punish the extreme Israeli government. Palestine has been existing for 5000 years and was invaded by lots of nations; came and left. I believe Israel is putting an end to its existence in Palestine.
bur logic article. Thank you
With Arab and Leftist subversion in the government perhaps finally the Kenesset is waking up from the failed liberal dream of land give-aways and security compromises and finding themselves in a nightmare of discovering the world never changed from WWII. Now it's only worse.
Disssolving the Knesset just shows that you dont like the current govt. The fact that the Knesset is a stage for acting out pee wee fantasies can be solved if they put their house in order. If Knesset members get personally fined for unruly behavior by a court, then youll see some changes.
enciting left wing haters of israel. these arab Mks should be thrown out.
#2, Turkey by allowing the use of it's flagged ships sailing from Turkish ports to break the Israel blockade could be considered an act of war. Mr. Sarid, your use of words is faulty. A crane with a fish stuck in it's throat could not utter a sound. Not a very good article. You tried to be cute but failed. Better luck next time
In the early days of the state the cream of the crop went into politics and the military - it made sense then. Today the best go into business, professions, or leave. The dull witted, the character deprived, the psychological damaged go into Poltics -sad
Quickly before it destroys Israel co,pletely.
... and the worse part is: The Israelis are supporting those Arabs Agendas. No matter what, those MK, should be fighting in unison for Israel. Everyone knows that if Israel was dissolved tomorrow, those MK, would be Heroes and they would be the happiest people on the Planet. Those MKs should be kicked out altogether for Treason. They are not playing the democratic card, they are abusing it. Wake up Israel
I think you are headed toward civil war.
Isn't this textbook Leftist thinking? The Left presumably stands "for the people", except when the vast majority of those people oppose ridiculous Leftist attitudes. At such times, the Leftists show what they really think of the people: That the people are ignorant, "non-discriminating" simpletons. I don't think Israel needs such elitist thinkers in its Knesset, any more than the US does in the White House. I hope that in the next election, the people are "discriminating" enough to reward Beilin in kind for his openly despising them.
It was a criminal act all the way. Shame on you ISRAEL.
I thought the people of Israel were above this kind of behavior. Jesus Christ once said a house divided against itself can not stand. The people of Israel had better get their representative house in order or the nation will suffer the consequences.
The Israeli attack on the ship killing 9 is the greatest sea battle since the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941.
As they are both worthless same for Barak. I have a feeling that Turkey will end up declaring war on israel unless things change very very soon. Watchout.
How can you blame the electorate, when the MK's are elected on a list made up in a party backroom? And to whom are they accountable? Not the voters, that's for sure. Time to change the electoral system.