One ex-chief of Israel Security Agency, Yuval Diskin, joined the club of anti-Bibi/Barak speakers. Nothing new in our barely churning, but mostly stagnant political puddle. What he said is extensively quoted in this JP article, but could be roughly derived from this quote:
My main problem on this issue is that I don’t have faith in the current leadership of the State of Israel that has to lead us to an event as big as a war with Iran or a regional war. I might be saying very difficult things. I don’t believe in the prime minister or the defense minister. I really don’t believe in a leadership that makes decisions out of messianic feelings.Now I am not going into rights or wrongs of his opinion on Iran, this is not the subject of that post. The interesting part of the story is the response, obviously partly inspired by the offices of the two gentlemen Diskin describes so uncharitably. In addition to the linked above set of responses, I have got an earful of them on the radio this morning, and some of them are really mindboggling.
At least two of the VIP interviewed on the subject stated that Mr Diskin, due to sensitivity of his previously held post, cannot comment on personal traits of his superiors.
Meaning that there is possibly a security breach in Diskin saying that he doesn't believe in Bibi and Ehud. Like in "disclosure of a state secret"? Hm...
I vividly recollect an old Soviet-times joke about a man who was sent to jail for shouting on the streets "Brezhnev is an idiot". The verdict (but of course) was... see above.
Now, if I had a shekel to invest for future profit, I really wouldn't let Bibi, Ehud or both hold it for me, such is my regard for their general integrity. But is it a state secret?
6 comments:
I can't say that I was ever impressed by Bibi
I can say that my impressions are mostly negative. I even believe that I said so repeatedly in this here blog.
In all due respect, let the elected leaders do there job, you must admit, most of you would fold under the decisions made on a daily basis within Israel for her safety. You have no clue to the bribery for potential bombing locations directed to disrupting and ending Jewish lives within Israel on a daily basis these gentleman have to deal with, the bluffs, the near hits, and ones we stop. So, don't be so quick to judge from your living rooms and sofas in peace zones of full democracies, relatively.
It is so easy to judge these men from Western democratic angles, and this big mouth Diskin needs to be brought to Syria, where he could join Assad, and let CNN cover the welcome party, as he is dragged threw the streets, flesh and bones, on a burning flag pole with chants of Allah Akbar in the background being yelled. He has no respect for the ruling authority. Despite party differences, this shows us that Israel is no different, as in every other democracy, freedom of speech and expressions is legal and a right, so much for an apartheid state theory to all the haters. Israel, like any other democracy allows freedom of opinion even within the hallways of the Knesset.
Keep up the good work Israel, a Messianic concept is not to far fetched, and to Diskin, ask the Pope, he seems to think that a miracle from the sky will save Syria, and even us.
Daniel Moshe Johnson
Dear Daniel,
I wouldn't argue with expectation of a miracle that will save us all, by all means let it come.
As for the proposal to let our elected leaders do their job: I am not sure that somebody tries to interfere with their job. Criticizing a leader is part of the freedom of speech parcel, and we'll be in dire straits if this part is taken away - which was the main point of this post.
Bringing Diskin to Syria could shut him up indeed, but I would say that you don't want to see a repeat of Syrian situation here in Israel.
Best wishes.
Daniel Moshe Johnson responds:
Todah Rabah, Snoopythe Goon, I agree with freedom of speech, but shouldn't speech be limited if it does not align with freedom to express love and respect for thy neighbor, which is a fundamental aspect of which the land of Israel was established. And when I say neighbor, I'am referring to Jews among Jews, and of course the Arabs and Bedouins that arr residents. This bashing of the leadership resembles treason, with affairs of the state, public elected officials in and out of office should keep quiet on issues that may divide the Jewish state.This is not rocket science, we all have a right to opinion and expression, but we are talking about a senior government figure doing lashon hara in the public, a public that is siding with those who wish to abolish the State.All politicians should be banned from media if their speeches are anti-current governmental elected party at the time, or anti-ruling authority at all. The Torah says, respect the ruling authority...Shalom
Hm... indeed if we start measuring the public discourse by the standards of lashon hara, most of the newspapers and radio stations will be closed. With this I find it hard to argue.
However, freedom of speech explicitly includes speech that other people don't like - even hate sometimes. To reconcile this with lashon hara definition will be hard to impossible.
And that statement "This bashing of the leadership resembles treason..." is a beginning of a slippery road. It leads to autocracy and/or worse.
Take care.
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