Guest Column
CAIR from page 35
Indeed, CAIR incites, funds
and does much more
vis-a-vis terrorism.
Federal prosecutors in 2007 named CAIR (along
with two other Islamic organizations) as "unin-
dicted co-conspirators and/or joint venturers" in
a criminal conspiracy to support Hamas finan-
cially. In 2008, the FBI ended contacts with CAIR
because of concern with its continuing terrorist
ties.
hum .
On learning of the UAE listing, CAIR called it
"shocking and bizarre," then got to work to have
the U.S. Department of State protest and undo
the ruling. Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke
noted that the U.S. government, which "does not
consider these organizations to be terrorist orga-
nizations:' has asked for more information about
the UAE decision. The UAE minister of state for
foreign affairs replied that if organizations can
show that their "approach has changed:' they are
eligible to appeal "to have their names eliminated
from the list!'
Pressure from the Obama administration might
reverse the UAE listing. Even so, this will not
undo its lasting damage.
For the first time, an Islamist government has
exposed the malign, terroristic quality of CAIR —
a stigma CAIR can never escape. ❑
Daniel Pipes (DanielPipes.org ) is president of the
Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum.
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36
December 18 • 2014
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n Dec. 2, the Israeli gov-
ety has failed.
ernment collapsed, as
Netanyahu's leadership has
Prime Minister Benjamin
threatened Israel's security and
Netanyahu dismissed Justice
democracy, and significantly
Minister Tzipi Livni and
damaged its reputation
Finance Minister Yair
abroad – as illustrated
Lapid from his cabi-
by the present state
net. Tensions within
of U.S.-Israeli rela-
a
the coalition had sim-
tions, which grow more
mered for months,
fraught by the passing
with centrists Livni
day. The country needs
and Lapid criticizing
a viable alternative to
many of the govern-
Netanyahu; to achieve
ment's right-wing poli-
this, it is imperative
cies, most notably the
that Israel's fractious
"Jewish State" bill – a
center-left unite.
Noah Arbit
proposed constitution-
If led by a center-
al basic law that could
left prime minister
effectively deny equal rights for
(the two most likely candidates
Israel's non-Jewish minorities.
being Labor Party and opposi-
The Knesset dissolved itself
tion leader Isaac Herzog and
on Dec. 8, scheduling
Hatnuah party chair and
early elections for March
former Justice Minister
17. While the results are
Livni), the next govern-
far from certain (Israeli
ment of Israel will prove
politics are notoriously
infinitely more successful
unpredictable), it is clear
in ensuring the country's
that the stakes have
security, preserving its
never been higher for an
national character as a
election, as Israeli vot-
Jewish and democratic
Benjami n
ers will determine what
state, and improving
Netanya hu
type of state they want
its global standing by
– a Jewish and demo-
freezing settlement con-
cratic one that fulfills
struction in the West
the Zionist vision or one
Bank and pursuing a
that embraces extrem-
pragmatic peace with the
ism.
Palestinians and moder-
Disillusioned by the
ate Arab states.
stalled peace process
Polls suggest that in
and increasing secu-
the scenario of Herzog's
rity threats, the Israeli
Labor Party and Livni's
electorate is shifting
Tzipi Liv ni
Hatnuah party run-
undeniably to the right.
ning together on a joint
This trend stems from
party list, their com-
the widely accepted,
bined center-left bloc
but inaccurate, political
would garner more seats
paradigm that Israel's
in the Knesset than
right-wing safeguards
Netanyahu's Likud party,
security, while the left-
potentially enabling one
wing jeopardizes it by
of them to unseat him.
pursuing "two-states for Yair Lap id
But a unified party list
two peoples."
means little absent a
The actions of leaders
unified vision. Following
across political spectra
her dismissal as justice
have invalidated this
minister, Livni stated,
paradigm, and it is high
"The elections will be
time Israeli voters aban-
about whether there will
doned it. If the past five
be a Zionist or extremist
years under Netanyahu
country here."
Isaac He rzog
have shown anything, it
Herzog echoed her
is that the right's "strat-
statement at the Saban
egy" of ignoring the
Forum in Washington,
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and
suggesting that the mantra
internal cleavages in Israeli soci- "Zionism vs. extremism" will be
the dominant aphorism of their
joint campaign.
Obviously, Israel faces increas-
ing isolation on the global stage,
with the European Union – and
allegedly the White House –
mulling sanctions on Israel for
continued settlement construc-
tion, European parliaments
recognizing a Palestinian state,
and rampant BDS and anti-Israel
rhetoric on college campuses.
Unlike Netanyahu, who has
done absolutely nothing to
temper this hostility – and
everything to inflame it – a new
center-left government would
curtail it to the degree that it
depends on Israeli leadership.
Indeed, Livni will likely con-
cede leadership of the afore-
mentioned joint centrist bloc
to Herzog in exchange for his
pledge to appoint her foreign
minister, should he be able to
form a government. Livni served
as foreign minister from 2006-
2009 and is admired worldwide
for her pragmatic leadership;
and is thus perfectly equipped to
improve Israel's image abroad.
But it is the voters, not Livni
or Herzog, who will be the arbi-
ters of Israel's future. And the
time has come for them to reject
the fallacy that the left will
sacrifice security for a hollow
peace; rather, it is the right that
sacrifices Israel's reputation to
stymie peace.
Netanyahu's failed leadership
has created an era of hopeless-
ness in Israel. But Livni, Herzog,
Lapid and others can reintro-
duce hope to Israel. For, with the
existence of hope, everything
becomes possible – even peace
with the Palestinians.
This is not some exhibition
of naive idealism; the power of
hope to galvanize the will of a
people is potent and real – and
has always been at the heart of
the Jewish experience. As elec-
tions draw nearer and Israel's
future hangs in the balance, we
must take heart in the words of
"Hatikvah": "Od /o avdah, tik-
vateinu" – "our hope is not yet
lost." ❑
Noah Arbit of West Bloomfield is a
sophomore at American University in
Washington, D.C.