The 'Red-Green Alliance' and the Price of Ousting Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Dr. Eitan Lassry warns of a "Red-Green Alliance" between the progressive left and Islamists, observed in the West and Israel, which he believes can endanger national security and identity. He points to Israel's 2021 government, supported by the Islamist Ra'am party, as a concerning example. Lassry urges Israeli political leaders to clarify their coalition terms regarding security and national identity, posing critical questions about potential partnerships. He concludes that the pursuit of government change should not override fundamental national and security principles.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Dr. Eitan Lassry warns of a "Red-Green Alliance" between the progressive left and Islamists, impacting Western nations and Israel.
- This alliance, driven by opposition to the right, creates ideological paradoxes and fuels the rise of national right-wing movements.
- In Israel, the desire to oust PM Netanyahu could compromise national security and identity, exemplified by the 2021 government.
- The Israeli left is challenged to define clear coalition red lines on security, Zionism, and the state's Jewish identity.
- Lassry poses three critical questions for future alliances concerning security, national identity, and coalition power dynamics.
- The pursuit of government change must not override core national and security principles, Lassry argues.
Dr. Eitan Lassry analyzes the emerging "Red-Green Alliance," a tactical and ideological union between the progressive left and Islamist elements in Europe, the US, and Israel. He argues that this alliance, driven by a shared opposition to the right-wing, classical national identity, and strict immigration policies, creates an ideological paradox where liberal groups overlook extremist views. This phenomenon has fueled the rise of the national right in Europe and the US, with parties like France's National Rally, Germany's AfD, and the MAGA movement gaining traction.
In Israel, Lassry warns that the desire to replace the current government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could compromise national security, identity, and governance. He cites the 2021 Bennett-Lapid government, which relied on the support of Ra'am, an Islamist party, as a prime example of this concern. The right views this coalition as a dangerous precedent where a small party's leverage could undermine core national and security principles.
Lassry highlights Yair Golan as a key figure in this debate, questioning whether the Israeli left, including leaders like Golan, Eisenkot, Lapid, Bennett, and Lieberman, will define clear red lines regarding security, Zionism, and Israel's identity as a Jewish and democratic state when forming potential coalitions. He emphasizes that while not all Arab parties are monolithic, the left must be transparent about the terms of partnership, particularly concerning security decisions, counter-terrorism, the state's Jewish character, and government authority.
The article poses three critical questions for any future political alliance: commitment to security operations against terrorism, upholding Israel's identity as a Jewish and democratic state, and establishing transparent rules to prevent small coalition partners from wielding veto power on vital national issues. Lassry concludes that while the integration of Arab citizens is important, political partnerships that ignore extremist ideologies or create unstable dependencies risk severe national and security costs, urging voters to consider these issues when choosing their representatives.
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