Look at Trump. The total self-confidence of the Leader. The cult of brutal power. The unbridled nationalism. The incitement against minorities. The contempt for the political establishment (of both parties). No funny little moustache, but funny orange hair.
Since fascists claim to glorify their own nation as against all other nations, it could have been assumed that the fascists of different nations are enemies of each other. But in practice there is such a thing as a fascist international. Fact: the French fascist leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who has been thrown out of his party's leadership by his own daughter because of his unbridled extremism (and anti-Semitism), has congratulated Trump, and so has the former leader of the American racist Ku-Klux-Klan. Trump has disavowed neither. Indeed, when he was caught quoting a line much beloved by Benito Mussolini ("Better to live one day as a lion than a hundred years as a sheep") Trump did not apologize. (Mussolini the lion himself begged for his life before he was executed by Italian partisans.)
In this light one must judge Trump's attitude towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On first sight, it looks refreshing. All the other candidates of both parties grovel before Binyamin Netanyahu in abject submission, begging for handouts from the divers Sheldon Adelsons. Trump does not need the Jewish money. So he says the sensible thing: that he wants to remain neutral in order that as President he will be able to act as a neutral mediator.
Sounds good. But it sounds different coming from a KKK-sympathizer.
ALL THIS puts Binyamin Netanyahu in a quandary. What to do?
He detests Hillary Clinton, as he detests all Democrats. True, many years ago, as First Lady, Hillary once came out for a Palestinian state side by side with Israel. At the time, I organized a demonstration of support for Hillary in front of the US embassy in Tel Aviv. The marines did not allow us to approach. But since then much water has flowed down the Jordan river, and so has much money from Chaim Saban and other Jewish billionaires. Now Hillary grovels like the rest.
Netanyahu is a devout Republican. He would be very happy with a President Rubio or a President Cruz. But a President Trump? An anti-Semite? An Arab-lover? Well, stranger things have happened.
According to the Oxford dictionary, a trump is not only a card of the suit which ranks above others, but also a deafening sound. "The Last Trump" is the trumpet blast that will wake the dead on Judgment Day.
Let's hope American voters wake up before that.
IN THE 1960s, an aide ran to the then Prime Minister, Levy Eshkol.
"Levy, a terrible disaster," he cried out. "There is going to be a severe drought!"
"Where? In Texas?" Eshkol inquired fearfully.
"No! Here in Israel!" the aide answered.
"So what do we care!" Eshkol replied, relieved.
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N.B.
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