Peres must stop destruction of Israeli democracy
In light of their actions regarding the Boycott Law, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin has been revealed as Israel's honorary president; Shimon Peres, as its shameful one.
By Gideon LevyIn the summer of 2000, half the country (including this writer) wept over Shimon Peres' loss to Moshe Katsav in the presidential election. In the summer of 2007, Reuven Rivlin wept over his loss to Peres. In the summer of 2011, it seems that Rivlin, now Knesset speaker, has taken on the role that should have been Peres'.
On Friday, Rivlin published a courageous article in Haaretz against the Boycott Law, while President Peres mumbled something about "waiting for the High Court to decide." Rivlin has been revealed as Israel's honorary president; Peres, as its shameful one. The man from the right wing dared do what the man supposedly from the left did not. In the test of courage and honesty, the highest test of any elected official, Rivlin defeated Peres by a resounding knock-out.
Peres and Rivlin both hold high office. Both must be "statesmanlike" and "unifying"; both can hide behind that attitude and take no controversial stand. Peres has held fast to it and says nothing; Rivlin, straightforward and brave, is prepared to speak his peace at almost any price. Peres is more beloved and admired than Rivlin, but the highest praise should go to the speaker of the Knesset.
Rivlin will pay the price for his sharply worded article. The Likud man who writes about the shameful law his party initiated, "woe betide the Jewish democratic state that turns freedom of expression into a civil offense," and, "I stand ashamed and mortified before my mentor, Jabotinsky," will pay the price at the polls in the primary. That did not deter him. Peres, who has far less to lose - neither a primary nor the Likud Central Committee - preferred to curl up in his silence, or, as some would say, his cowardice.
It is not difficult to guess what Peres thinks about this anti-democratic means of silencing people. One does not have to be a Peres-ologist to know what he will yet say behind tightly closed doors about this insane piece of legislation. But his heart is, as usual, just as tightly closed. Such remarks therefore have no significance at all. Peres is judged only by what he says publicly, and his public remarks are empty, despite all the "presidential conferences."
A president must indeed be above the people. He must not intervene in every single controversy. But the debate over the Boycott Law is not just any controversy. It has to do with the future of government and society in Israel. A president who has nothing to say about that is not a president. A president who is silent under such circumstances is collaborating with the bullies of the right-wing. If there is one law about which a president must, absolutely must, speak up, it is this one. If there is one matter over which he must not remain silent, it is this one.
If Peres still has a role left it is to try to stop the destruction of democracy. This is not even a fight for peace and against the occupation, about which Peres also whispers behind closed doors. This is the core of cores. But Peres is waiting for the High Court to decide. Perhaps there, the courage will be found that he lacks.
Rivlin is ashamed before his mentor, Jabotinsky; Peres should be much more ashamed before his mentor, Ben-Gurion. And definitely, publicly so.
In the winter of his life, Peres has become a walking legend. We may be happy for him. I saw him on Thursday at a reception in honor of Bastille Day at the home of the French ambassador to Israel, Christof Bigo; Peres was gracious as usual, eliciting waves of empathy and laughter, amazingly vital, flirting charmingly with his translator.
But that is not enough; certainly not in these dark days. It is precisely this later Peres, the beloved and the admired, who has endured so much shame and and humiliation in the past, precisely this Peres, who can finally emerge from his cowardice and speak his peace about what the right wing is doing to this country, which he helped establish. But no, Peres remains Peres: lofty in the office of president, he leaves this fateful work to Rivlin and the High Court, so as not, perish the thought, to anger MK Zeev Elkin, initiator of the Boycott Law. How did Rivlin put it? Woe betide us.
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Whatever makes Gideon Levy angry is probably good for Israel. Anyone who cares about Israel being safe should probably celebrate anything that makes Levy mad.
I agree with every single word that Gideon Levi wrote. Shame on Peres for hiding behind the High Court of justice, is that our President? So sadly YES. I deeply reget putting my money on buying his Book "The New Meddile East". He should write a new book - "How to Hide in Every Corner".
But inevitably, Poloticians publicy support initiatives the would rather see fail, While diverting attention from issue's they support It is not unknown for a law-maker to condemn legislation that they intend to push forward; Behind closed doors
The Knesset passed this law and whilst it may be controversial until the HIgh Courts say its otherwise its legal. If its legal then the president has no business overruling legislation just because its controversial. Peres is not there to overrule controversial legislation but anybody who objects to this law has the right to refer it to the HIgh Court and its they who will have the final say on the matter. There is a legal process.
Earth to Levy. Peres is a total nobody, who has no power. Over the decades, he has done irrepairable damage to the Jewish people, with his insane views. Not to mention, he allowed the Arab enemy to walk all over and crap on him. His day has long passed. Time to put him out to pasture, for good. He is an untrustworthy scoundrel. The electorate sent him many messages, by soundly defeating him in the polls. Yet, he always went against the will of the people who defeated him. WHERE was that violation of democracy. Levy, you live in la la land, thinking that Peres is worth anything.
In you're logic stands the democracy over all. What would you do, if there is something true in Judaism, if HaMalekh HaMaschiach would arrive in Israel ? Would you do so as if you are able to look through him and ignore him, or would you be one of the lot of people , who would like to cruzify him ? Anyway, in which of this ways, are you a jew, and in which way do you have a right to live in the holy land ? You have only a right to stay and live in the holy land, on the day when Moschiach is sitting on the throne on the temple mount. I hope that one day a Messiah will arrive, everyday i look to heaven and hope he is falling from the sky.
Apparently some Israeli politicians take the easy way out. Just like the American congress, the American media, and many businesses in America and the EU, Peres has found it to be in his own interest not to speak out against the Israeli government no matter how outrageous they become.
...Rivlin in this drama. But yes - Rivlin´s article was brave and strong. And yes - Peres should add another piece to his great legacy. He should defend and safeguard, in a grand speech or a major article, the values and ideals of our democracy. That will make him one of our giants. But if he persists in being silent about the worrying and nationalistic tendencies in Israel today, then his legacy will be tainted. That would be such a shame.
you are 100% right
speaker rivlin's concern that the high court might be intimidated is profoundly troubling. the independence of the high court must be maintained. the court is the ultimate arbiter of any law's constitutionality. the president cannot interfere in such matters.
"Courage is the most important virtue because it makes all other virtues possible." -Churchill. Courage is the rarest quality in politicians. I congratulate Mr. Rivlin for displaying it when it was so appropriate and so needed. Yes, I fear he will pay a price for it with that totalitarian knesset. But I hope he continues to display it as it will become more and more necessary with these oppressive, racist, warmongering and hatemongering MKs.
It is a shame to see a man lose his legacy. Peres, once a great statesman, is irrelevant and is just another individual who wants to live in his past glories. As President, he can't do that. I have lost all respect for this man! He is indeed a coward. Well put Gideon!
Just as Moses broke the tablets of the law when he saw the Israelites engaging in unruly behavior. when he came down from the Mount... And of course , there was Jesus of Nazareth who threw the money lenders out of the temple..... Or as JFK threatened to break the CIA into a thousands pieces for getting him involved in the Bay of Pigs.... Better still, how about Martin Luther King, Jr. who wrote a law that favors one side over another in an unfair law...in his letter from a Birmingham Jail... ( See the URLs below....) Peres can take his pick today...Dutch http://www.helium.com/items/811404-literary-analysis-letter-from-birmingham-jail-by-martin-luther-king-jr http://dreamnepal.blogspot.com/2007/05/analysis-of-letter-from-birmingham-jail.html
If he had truly been courageous he would have stayed and voted against the bill, not been absent for the vote. "All that is required for evil to win is for good men to do nothing". And missing the vote was doing nothing.
It's safer to entertain a French ambassador than to address a huge issue like the Boycott Law. It's always safer to obfuscate the responsibility and pass the moral/ethics (oh, sorry, state security) debate on to a few wise men. And all this deference to somebody who evidently should be confined to invertebrates section of local political classes! Enter a new savior and guardian of democracy - Rivlin. "Woe betide us"????????? Where were these newly found heroes for the last 3 years? In the bunker? Or have they just shaken form their slumber? Nothing that is happening here today is an accident. Everything is an effect. The cause is all plain to see if you dare looking.
you can fight this law and make life hard for plaintiffs and judges(overstrained already).however,since the state's unlimited resources are against you(undeclared),you would need a whole lotta money,to employ many top class lawyers,in many legal materia.you could,as an example, challenge the legality of settlement
What might Peres ACTUALLY do? Gideon Levy once again shows just how feckless the Israeli left has become. He, as all others, waits for some hero riding a Unicorn to sweep down from heaven and relieve them of responsibility to act, and to overcome their cowardice and submission.
Peres has been the opposite of silent as he goes around the world advocating policies contrary to that of Israel' elected Knesset leadership
a rare occurrence.