Video: Ali Abunimah and Paul Jay on Israel’s election

I talk to Paul Jay of The Real News Network about the outcome of Israel’s general election. Does the re-election of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu help or hurt Palestinians?

As I wrote in a post this morning, “Why I’m relieved Netanyahu won,” I argue that Netanyahu’s victory is – relatively speaking – a less bad outcome for Palestinians than some might assume.

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It has already started exactly abunimah has predicted. The white house statement that was issued is of a tone we aren't used to. He spoke about the divisive rhetoric and also that they will re-explore the peace process in the middle with this new admission that a palestinian state not be created. Do you think we should be hopeful?

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I think you should always be hopeful but I think you should always have a "plan B". Rhetoric doesn't count. We have to see if we conduct business as usual in the UN as far as exercising our veto authority. We've got to see if we release all Palestinian money that is due. And we've make sure that if we're (US) is involved in any other peace process, that we send a negotiator that will hold Israel's feet to the fire.

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It is unfortunate that "the left" always goes for the more "liberal" candidate hoping that for some magical reason justice and peace will get a better deal from them. In fact, as the history of the Labour Party makes clear, as Obama's track record on Palestine and elsewhere makes clear, all these liberal's accomplish is to confuse us. Now we have an Israeli PM who has been absolutely clear that he has no interest in a Palestinian "state" on his watch, his racism is well documented, as is his position on Iran. Indeed, his willingness to confront a US president before the Congress has got to have sent shivers down the spines of any number of European leaders will be next in Netanyahu's sites they deserve the lesson. His electoral victory may be the first concrete event to make us all consider the need to support a one democratic state solution as the only anti-apartheid position.

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When one comes out and finally lays it out on the line what was hidden for so long is a great breath of fresh air...Remember Mossad's slogan; By Way of Deception, Thou Shalt Do War." And even more important- Politics...

Ali Abunimah

Co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of The Battle for Justice in Palestine, now out from Haymarket Books.

Also wrote One Country: A Bold-Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse. Opinions are mine alone.