AS EVERYBODY knows, there are some basic similarities between the US and Israel.
Both are immigrant nations. Both were built by white settlers who carried out ethnic cleansing. Both glorify their huge achievements while keeping quiet about the darker sides of their past.
The elections in both countries illuminate another similarity: the ever-growing split between the various "sectors" of society. White male Americans rallied behind Romney, colored Americans and women behind Obama. Demographic factors played a major role. To some extent it was a rear-guard action by the dominant white male elite against the new majority of blacks, Hispanics, women and the young.
The split was exacerbated by the Tea Party fanatics. It seems that every few generations the American nation is afflicted by a new wave of insanity -- the anti-Anarchist hysteria after WWI, McCarthy after WWII, the Tea Party now. To its immense credit, America has a knack of overcoming these waves. But the Tea Party killed Romney, in spite of all his desperate flip-flopping.
Israel has a similar split. Society is divided into sectors, which cast their votes on sectoral lines: Whites (Ashkenazim), Orientals, Ultra-Orthodox (Haredim)), National-Religious, Russian immigrants, Arabs. The Likud is a party of Orientals dominated by white males. Lieberman's is the party of the "Russians." Together with the religious of various stripes they constitute a powerful coalition. Unlike Obama, the Israeli left has not been able up to now to build an effective counter-coalition.
We need an Israeli Obama, who will work with the US Obama for peace.
Before it is too late, please.
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