On the subject of Bill Clinton’s remarks on Russian immigrants in Israel being an obstacle to peace, we find that a generalization is neither sweeping nor wrong when you apply it to Israel (read: Jews).
The Telegraph, quoting unnamed “observers”:
Yet observers say there is little doubt that the wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union has shifted the Israeli political landscape to the right. Yisrael Beiteinu swept to third place in last year’s general elections on a platform that some critics said was racist towards Israel’s Arab minority. The party has criticised the latest round of negotiations with Palestinian leaders.
Some Russian-speaking voters said they saw Mr Clinton’s comments as a badge of pride that reflected their patriotism and their justified suspicion towards Palestinians.
Yes, that anti-Israel moment was brought to you by the U.K. Telegraph. Journalistic standards! You just have to love them.
“Yet observers say there is little doubt that the wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union has shifted the Israeli political landscape to the right.”
An influx of immigrants who had been oppressed by one of the most socialist governments in the world, and they move Israel’s politics to the right. Gee, ya think so?
Israel was far too socialist for far too long. Byproducts of that included the need for pull with bureaucrats to get anything done, as well as an unsavory corruption. I read about one Arab village that always voted for Shas, because whenever they had trouble with some idiotic or malevolent butreaucratic snafu a Shas MK would use his influence to correct it for them.