Weekly Commentary: Meretz Leader Calls to Free Those Attempting to Murder
Jews - Now What?
Dr. Aaron Lerner 16 January 2022

Last week Bedouin were arrested for engaging in violent action against Jews
in the Negev. Acts which could have easily ended in deaths.

Deputy Economy Minister Yair Golan (Meretz) visited the "protest test" of
the Bedouin leadership that 11 January and told them he would get these
Bedouin released. He then posted a message on Twitter for those detained to
be released.

Later Golan, without being specific, said he is against violence, but that
does not mean much. What we do have is him taking the position that Bedouin
arrested for what is dangerous violence should be released.

Warning: when someone says that they are against violence it is best to ask
what falls within the rubric of "violence".

As Marwan Barghouti told me in an interview back on 5 May 5, 1997, "I don't
think that stones are violence. It is peaceful to throw stones."

Barghouti's classification of stone throwing as an nonviolent protest wasn't
the exception, it was the rule.

I interviewed human rights activist PHRMG Director Bassem Eid, in English on
7 March 2001:

IMRA: As far as you are concerned, when you talk about non-violent
resistance you include throwing rocks?

Bassem Eid: Yes. Yes.

Back to Golan.

I have absolutely no expectations that Yair Golan will control his tongue.

After all, this is someone who forfeited his certain appointment as Chief of
Staff in 2016 by saying. in prepared remarks at a Holocaust Day ceremony.
that Israel of 2016 was like pre-Holocaust Germany of the 1930's!

If Deputy Chief of General Staff Golan did not realize or care about the
consequences of shooting off his mouth back when he was about to get the
ultimate military appointment I cannot expect politician Golan to be any
wiser.

Which brings us to the Meretz Party.

Under the coalition agreement, PM Naftali Bennett does not have the
authority to remove Golan from his Deputy Minister position.

Lapid can, but this could only happen if Meretz was willing to take the
moral high ground against violence and put Golan in his place.

Is is possible?

Here is an excerpt from my interview with now Meretz MK Mossy Raz back on 2
June,1999 Mossy Raz, when he was General Secretary of Peace Now:

IMRA: By the way, under the label of "violence" would you include stone
throwing?

Raz: Certainly. Certainly. By the way, in my eyes it is nonviolent to stand
in front of a bulldozer to prevent it from working.

IMRA: But if you then throw stones at the driver of the bulldozer?

Raz: Then this is violence without any doubt.

That is a pretty clear view.

For our society to thrive there can be no free pass for violence. Not
Jewish. Not Arab. Not anyone.

And politicians who see fit to violate these norms should face consequences.

If over twenty years ago Mossy Raz understood what "violence" is then
perhaps the Meretz Party today can put their house in order and arrange for
someone else from Meretz to take Golan's Deputy Minister position.

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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il