There's going too far, and then there's going way too far. Israel leaped over this line when it warned EU nations that its criticism would jeopardize Middle East peace prospects, particularly the EU's possibly catalytic role. The EU head of external relations said that Israeli-EU ties pivoted on a two-state solution, and criticized Israel for rejecting it outright. The new ultranationalist foreign minister of Israel, Avigdor Lieberman, was all too quick to attack, signaling for many a radical change inside the country and out.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's far-right (note: we are talking about Israel here) government PR machine told reporters the EU's stand was "very militant." Yeah, critical dialogue between and amongst state leaders is just like invading surrounding territories, encroaching upon settlements, treating self-created native enemies worse than animals, etc. And so, a high-profile meeting to prepare for the next round of peace negations was postponed, setting them up to fail. The blackmail into silence is for now a success. But is this censorial move indicative of Israel's new ruling party's strategy or evidence of a more systemic problem?
The EU is part of a negotiating block quaintly called the "Quartet," along with the US, Russia and the UN. Aside from the fact that making and maintaining international peace is in the constitution of only one of these bodies, the UN, there seems to be vital interests that are excluded. Namely, Arab and Muslim states whose support of Palestinians, though inconsistent, will be vital to any solution and most pressingly to a two-state one. Add to this Israel's obstructionist position that Iran's nuclear plans must be halted before negotiations restart for the Nth time, and it becomes clear that major players are missing from this high-stakes poker game for peace. This, even more than silencing the EU, may be Israel's most victorious and dangerous censoring so far. Who is really being militant?
Stifling debate and criticism is usually one of the first signs of a totalitarian regime in the making, and certainly of one that has already taken power. The striking thing here is that usually this kind of blackmail-censorship is done domestically, whereas Israel is trying to be totalitarian in this sense internationally, albeit only insofar as it concerns itself. That the ultimate victims are peace prospects, including Israel's own, is all the more unfortunate as it is by their own militancy. If these current events continue creating the future, then the world will either have to say enough is enough or deal with the rise of another right-wing totalitarian regime with people they hate within their borders.
