Likud MK gives a nod to his role model: “McCarthy was right”

By Ami Kaufman December 4, 2011 | Edit

Likud MK Ophir Akunis defends his aggressive anti-democratic legislation in Channel 10 interview: “Joe McCarthy was right about everything”

It’s amazing how just a few words of criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who voiced fear for Israel’s democracy and women’s rights yesterday, can really make some people show their true face, as you’ll see below. Likud MK Ophir Akunis was interviewed today on Channel 10’s “London and Kirshenbaum.” If it were up to Akunis, who helped propose the law to limit funding for NGOs and is a very close ally of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, an Israeli McCarthy probably wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Our best friends, whether it’s Germany, or if it’s America … decision makers are coming to us and telling us: “do us a favor with this law …get a grip on what’s going on with you guys” Is there any amount of listening that those countries deserve? First of all, Nadav, I’m from the school of thought that says it’s always good to have a certain amount of listening …certainly to the United States of America, …also for Germany and other European countries. There were laws that were much more aggressive, Moti, you know …. let me give you an example… you don’t know, I don’t know what you don’t know actually… -Yes, in America there were indeed aggressive laws, There was the period of McCarthyism in America, We know a lot of periods like this -You know, it’s interesting, he was right about everything. — Come on, he was right about everything…– It’s a fact, there were Soviet spies! Of course, there were Soviet spies! Sure!Elia Kazan the director was a real Soviet spy! I’m telling you, there were Soviet spies

Just a few hours later, by the way, Akunis’ colleague in the extreme faction of Likud MKs, Danny Danon, announced on the same Channel 10 that he is proposing a law which will require each citizen who wants an ID card, passport or driving license to sign a declaration of loyalty to the State of Israel.

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TEST TEST GAL Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war. The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza, inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians, as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7. Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence. We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine. The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region. Emboldened settlers in the West Bank, backed by the army, are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians. The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent, using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies. This escalation has a very clear context, one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism, entrenched occupation and apartheid, and a normalized siege on Gaza. We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it. This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land. Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives. Can we count on your support? +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement, a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists, and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening, guided by humanism, equality, and justice. Join us.

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