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The Most Foolish Story about Israel Ever Published in the New York Times

(Commentary) Jonathan S. Tobin - According to the New York Times, Israelis have been inspired by their counterparts in Tunisia, Egypt and Syria to demonstrate against their government's economic policies. Not only is there not even the faintest connection with Arab efforts to overthrow authoritarian tyrants, the idea Israelis needed Arab inspiration to generate protests against the government of the day is simply absurd. Anyone who has spent even a small amount of time in Israel can tell you that street demonstrations, protest tents or movements based on dissatisfaction with the status quo are a staple of the country's political culture. In my visits I am hard pressed to remember a time when there weren't protests of some sort going on. The political culture of Israel is inherently anarchic. Protests, strikes and all forms of public disagreements are not exceptional, they are ordinary. The notion that Israel has anything to learn from the fledgling Arab attempts to hold their rulers accountable is laughable.
2011-07-22 00:00:00
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