Salon.com: Israel's Rising Right Wing

[Faryn Balyncd]

Israel's Rising Right Wing

By Gregory Levey

One of this year's nominees for Israeli TV's "Man of the Year in Politics" award doesn't speak Hebrew. He has vast wealth and a shady past. He was once a circus worker. He isn't even a politician, at least not yet.

But over the past several years Arcadi Gaydamak, an enigmatic Russian-Israeli billionaire, has managed to become a widely influential figure in Israel. And he is now at the center of a right-wing political alliance -- featuring Israeli über-hawk Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu -- that could dramatically influence the country's direction. If the rising alliance takes power in the next election, it could push Israel toward military confrontations with Iran, Syria or Hezbollah, while extinguishing any remaining flickers of hope in Israel's peace camp regarding the Palestinians....

..................



http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/10/09/gaydamak_bibi/index_np.html

[nightrider767]

1. A Right Wing Rasputin.

That's all they need. I've always considered them rather hawkish as things stand now.

Will this lead to the "final battle"?

[xchrom]

2. recommend

[Poll_Blind]

3. k&r! n/t

PB

[AntiFascist]

4. K&R, this article is very revealing....

I wonder how strong the ties are to the Russian mafiya ("wanted for illegal arms trading in France", "a lot of his supporters are Russians, they're not really familiar with democracy")? How many American political leaders profit from this?

[NoGodsNoMasters]

5. The Israeli government...

..Doesn't need to be any more violent than it already is. They hold thousands and torture them without charges, even now they are demolishing palestinian homes and choking off vital water, and shooting into refugee camps and medical encampments. There is a resolution for peace that even Hezbollah and Hamas will accept that allows prosperity for both sides, most of the Un is behind it but the US won't consider it. Our government has consistantly supported the most violent and extremist side of Israeli politics, it's way past time for a policy change.