Who is the "Common Israeli?"

כ"א לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ד

Livni: Bennett Speaks for 'Settlers' - Not the Common Israeli
Livni attacks Bennett over assessment of two-state solution on Israeli economy, claims he prefers 'settlements' over Israel.

Tova Dvorin, January 21, 2014

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni sharply criticized Economics Minister Naftali Bennett Monday, after the Jewish Home party leader remarked at a faction meeting that a Palestinian state would "crush" the Israeli economy.

"The Economics Minister must decide if he represents the Israeli people, or just the residents of isolated settlements," Livni insisted.

"In these trying times, when both left-wing and right-wing businessmen are deeply concerned about the future of the Israeli economy, the person in charge of that economy actually prefers to listen to extremist Rabbis," Livni claimed.

"The role of a responsible, Zionist leader is not to side with policies that isolate Israel and damage the economy and every Israeli citizen, but instead to push for a political agreement which could advance Israel's status in the international community, strengthen Israel's economy and security, and secure a Jewish, Democratic state."

Earlier Monday, Bennett had stressed Israel's need to maintain its borders and independence for economic growth, despite mounting pressure from the European Union and others to divide Israel in the face of boycotts.

During his speech, Bennett demonstrated on a map what the borders would look like if Judea and Samaria were given to the Palestinian Authority (PA), showing that the region provides access for missiles to fall on the center of Israel, especially the Tel Aviv area.

"Imagine if just one missile per day fell on Herzliya Pituah, what that would do to Israel's economy. If even one plane which was supposed to land at Ben Gurion Airport crashes (due to terrorism) per year, it would crush the Israeli economy," he elaborated.

"We have had economic pressures placed upon us - I'm not denying it," Bennett fired. "There may be a budding boycott movement, but why should we give away our land because of it? Why should we divide Jerusalem because of that?"

The European Union has been unrelenting in its criticism of Israel's construction in Judea and Samaria. The EU promotes boycotts of products made beyond 1949 Armistice lines, and has effectively redrawn Israel's borders to those lines in policies to its member states.

Recently, the EU has gone so far as to offer "unprecedented" aid packages to both Israel and the PA in the event that a two-state solution - and a withdrawal - results from negotiations.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Economic Minister Naftali Bennett does make a compelling counter-argument to Livni's co-dependent slobbering over goyshe (non-Jewish), economic threats, as well as the European Union's capitulation to bribery.

Unfortunately, it is the only argument that Livni and her ilk are willing to hear.

He even bridges his economic argument to maintaining Israel's territorial integrity.

Livni's complaint about Bennett preferring to listen to "extremist" rabbis is just silly. I WISH that he preferred to listen to "extremist" rabbis!

But, what really captured my attention in the report was Livni's description of the "common Israeli."

Settlers are not like the common Israeli, huh?

Well, it appears that the Arabs disagree with you.

PA President Abbas's vision for "Palestine:"
Israel's complete eradication,...including Tel-Aviv.

ALL "Israelis" are settlers. Why hasn't Justice Minister Livni gotten that yet??

Time and time again, survey after survey has described the average Israeli as...

1. Right of center, politically
2. Traditional, if not religious. And, by the way, more than half of Israeli fourth graders are now Haredi or Religious Zionist.
3. Against any territorial concessions.

So, who is not the common Israeli?

Well, I suppose everyone else,...and that includes Tzippy Livni.