Either Israelis or settlers

[Classical_Liberal]

Either Israelis or settlers

By Ari Shavit



Ten days after the Likud's disengagement referendum, one gets the impression that the settlers have not yet fathomed the tragedy they brought down on themselves with their victory. All too pleased with themselves, their delegates in the Knesset building behave as if they owned the place. Drunk with power, their proxies sit in Likud Party headquarters in Tel Aviv's Metzudat Ze'ev as masters of all they survey. They're enjoying their fresh achievement to the hilt, and the knowledge that their power has never been greater. Never before have they had such a stranglehold on the neck of the government.



At first glance, the settlers have it right: they revolted against the prime minister, and succeeded. They provoked President Bush, and survived. They conspired against the Israeli majority, and escaped unpunished. Middle-of-the-road Israelis accepted the violent act perpetrated against them with a bizarre equanimity.

Nevertheless, if truth be told, the settlers are mistaken. Bitterly mistaken. The prime minister will not forget; President Bush will not forget. Neither the rancher from the Western Negev or the rancher from South Texas are the sort of people who submissively wipe such spit off their faces. But what is even more serious from the settlers' point of view is that the Israeli majority on which the settlers' fantasies were imposed last week, now understands exactly who they are dealing with. The majority understands that the relationship between it and the minority tyrannizing it is one of ruler and subject.

Ze'ev Hever, better known as Zambish, is the individual behind the Pyrrhic victory of the settlers. He is a serious person. He is a man of deeds, not words. Over the past month, this taciturn, bearded man waged one of the most impressive political campaigns ever seen in these parts. It was he who charted the route, he who raised the funds, he who mobilized the troops. He that closed in on his soulmate Arik until ultimately handing him a stinging defeat..

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/426886.html