There are some words whose mere mention warms every Jewish
heart. One of the them is the word achdus (unity). It
is the antithesis of hatred and competition, divisiveness
and mudslinging. It symbolizes an ideal situation of
cooperation, equality, trust and mutual understanding. Do we
need any more than that in these terrible days?
However, when achdus falls into the hands of the
politicians, a red light immediately begins flashing and the
suspicion arises that the mention of this word by
politicians was meant only for petty political needs. This
is not so much because of the nature of the rank and file
politician, but rather because politics, by nature, is the
total opposite of achdus. What is politics, if it
isn't hatred, rivalry, divisiveness and mudslinging? Where
else but in the political system does a lack of trust and
bitter, uncompromising strife exist?
The call to national unity that has been issued in recent
days in the Israeli political system by top ranking members
of the Labor Party might have on the surface created a
rather trustworthy impression. After all, it has been
accompanied by good and strong claims such as the futility
of conducting election propaganda when every day Jews are
being wounded, lo oleinu in the initfada.
As the chairman of the Labor Party, MK Ofir Pines aptly
said: "Is it appropriate to deal in election propaganda
which is purely mudslinging and the denigration of one's
fellow, at a time when Palestinians are firing on houses in
Gilo?"
These logical and just claims, on the surface, may arouse
the suspicion, albeit even the slightest of the slightest,
that such calls for unity stem from a genuine desire to
raise the political system in Israel to new heights. Perhaps
they truly hope that they can bring together all of the
disparate forces on the Israeli political scene in order to
grapple most effectively with the Palestinian threat.
Maybe at last the impotence in the face of the threats has
led the politicians to wake up from their illusions, and to
understand that it is time to eliminate the rivalry and to
band together around those ideals which unite Jews
everywhere. Perhaps a new era is dawning in which the
political system will begin to re-examine its ideals and
approach.
However, all of these nice words aren't worth the paper
they're printed on. Why? Because none other than MK Tommy
Lapid is the usher who will lead the achdus
campaign.
It is ironic indeed that such an unpleasant creature, who is
the utter symbol of hatred, bickering and animosity, was the
one who coordinated the achdus efforts. This
constitutes the best proof that it is not achdus
that interests them, and that all their talk merely
signifies the desperate attempt of a small politician to
cash in on the current state of emergency.
There is no better example of two antithetical ideas than
"hate-ridden Lapid" and achdus. Israeli politics have
already gone through many incarnations, and have scored many
"achievements" in the maneuvering ability of its members.
The cynicism which prevails in the political system in
Israel, has been well-known for a long time. But the
rallying of the Shinui movement around the banner of
achdus is record breaking.
The avowed aim of this party, unlike other parties which are
also involved in the persecution of religon, is to stop the
chareidim. Since Shinui entered the political arena, various
elements in the political system and the media have over and
over again said that its anti-chareidi platform is
reminiscent of Nazi propaganda. Shinui's antipathy for
anything with an authentic Jewish flavor arouses the
revulsion of many non-religious Holocaust survivors. Shinui
members' crass and brutal expressions against chareidi Jews
have reached heights (or depths) that until now have been
unkown even in the Israel political system.
When precisely these chronic fight-pickers bat their self-
righteous eyes in the public battle for the sake of
achdus, there is no longer a need for any explanation
regarding what must be done to prevent the advent of the
achdus they seek to achieve.
It is possible to understand the personal distress of Ehud
Barak, and even to understand the political considerations
which guide Ariel Sharon. But in no way at all is it
possible to understand collaboration with a political
activist whose natural place is in the current Austrian
parliament.
The very act of holding discussions constitutes a major
achievement for him. It presents Shinui as a legitimate
element, and this should be prevented at all costs.
One doesn't have to be a big politician in order to
understand that what is motivating Lapid and his party is
not the aspiration for unity but the longing for the
legitimization they so lack. Even if it has a not so
negligible number of MKs, Shinui is still considered a fly-
by-night party, which isn't worth a thing, and does nothing
but spew hatred and strife.
Meretz also underwent a similar process. Who doesn't recall
how only a few years ago, Meretz was still considered a
political body outside of the consensus? The "values" it
represented blocked all of its chances of joining any sort
of coaltion. The Labor party of those days understood that
it is forbidden to give a party with "values of freedom and
culture" like those of Meretz any sort of governmental
authority.
For that reason, Meretz occupied the benches of the
oppositon on a permanent basis. But then a certain type of
political pattern was formed (now is not the place to expand
on this point), which helped Meretz to break through the
barrier of legitimacy which had until then barred it, and
even to gain control of the Education and Justice
Ministries.
Lapid wants to undergo such a process too, by means of the
cynical rallying around the banner of achdus. His
efforts to achieve unity are meant to pave a path for his
receipt of legitimacy. If the idea to establish a unity
government failed so that Lapid's detestable image would
remain unaltered, then dayeinu.
