Why aren't Netanyahu and Peres going to Johannesburg for Mandela's memorial?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://972mag.com/why-arent-netanyahu-and-peres-going-to-johannesburg-for-mandelas-memorial/83366/

Bibi says it’s the expense, Peres says it’s a flu he can’t kick. More likely it’s two other reasons: Israel’s past and present.

Nelson Mandela’s death brought up some inconvenient memories for Israel and the Diaspora Jewish establishment: Israel’s extremely fruitful alliance with apartheid South Africa until the very, very end; the anti-Mandela stance of right-wing Zionists because of his support for Arafat and the PLO (as well as for Gadhafi); and mainstream South African Jewry’s comfort with the apartheid regime (notwithstanding the brave opposition by a greatly disproportionate number of the country’s Jews). Then there’s the present-day, ongoing inconvenience of the similarity between apartheid and the occupation, and the awkwardness of having to praise a man who chose violence over submission while vilifying Palestinians who make the same choice.

It seemed, though, that this embarrassment over the Israel-South African apartheid alliance was going to blow over; official Israel and its supporters obviously were stonewalling the subject, it was just a few pain-in-the-ass leftists who kept harping on it; in another day or two they’d get tired.

But now this embarrassment has been shoved into the spotlight by none other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres. They’re doing what no national leader in his right mind would dare do: They’re snubbing Mandela’s memorial service in Johannesburg.

[Mosby]

2. Shimon Peres is 90 FFS

Give the guy a break.

[MADem]

4. Without getting into ANY political issues surrounding this decision, I will address logistical ones.

On Monday, Netanyahu announced he was going to Johannesburg with his wife Sara, then a few hours later he changed his mind, saying the expense was too high – nearly $2 million. This was a jaw-dropper coming from the guy who, with his wife, spend the public’s money on personal luxuries like no Israeli prime minister and wife every have; Bibi and Sara are Israel’s Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. Besides, Israel is going to send somebody to the Mandela service, reportedly either Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein or Justice Minister Tzipi Livni; how much cheaper can it be to send one of them and their bodyguards instead of Bibi, Sara and theirs – especially if Sara were to stay home, which would save a bundle, and if Bibi were to travel like a mortal for once instead of an emperor, which would save a bundle more?

Bibi is the Prime Minister--Yuli or Tzipi are not. In his position, he gets extreme protection, guards, advance teams, even a doctor "just in case." Speakers and Justice Ministers don't get the full Magilla. So the cost factor is higher for a boss than an underling.

And "travelling like a mortal" is just not an option. It was a stupid thing for this writer to say. If someone takes a shot at Bibi, a state funeral and replacing him will cost a helluva lot more than two million.

Dumb premise; carping about the wrong things. When he stuck to the issues re: rifts between SA and Israel vis a vis policy, he was on firmer ground. Trying to play the "Emperor" card and crabbing about security expenditures for an official visit is just, well, bullshit.

And SP is 90. He's entitled to be sick and tired. He's old.

Bibi shoulda gone, but what can you do?

[MADem]

8. I don't know the man's heart.

He knows, though.

[azurnoir]

6. well here's who Bibi did send

In the end, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein flew Monday night to the memorial service, along with the first female Ethiopian MK Pnina Tamnu-Shata (Yesh Atid), as well as MKs Dov Lipman (Yesh Atid), Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz), Gila Gamliel (Likud Beytenu) and Hilik Bar (Labor).

http://www.jpost.com/International/After-Netanyahu-Peres-back-out-Israel-sends-Edelstein-to-Mandela-funeral-334464

[MADem]

9. It would have been unfortunate if there had been no delegation.

It's good that Israel was represented, and the delegation members were well chosen, I think.

[Israeli]

13. well chosen !!

really ?

do you know who Yuli Edelstein is and who/what he represents ?

Hint :

http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/weekly_ad/1386870315/

[MADem]

14. Ted Cruz was in our delegation--not every flower in a bouquet has a nice smell....

My mind was going towards Pnina Tamnu-Shata--I'll bet the celebration services were very meaningful to her.

[King_David]

15. Gee another very useful link for us from" Zope"

Any reason you need other people to always explain your position on this discussion forum , by constant linking , instead of an answer from yourself ?

[Israeli]

16. any reason you skipped this one ?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113453583

........

[King_David]

17. It's about American Jews

You keep telling us it's not your culture , "go away American" and other nice comments ...why would it interest you ?

[Israeli]

18. Never been to America King_David.....

so how can it be my culture ?

"go away American" ..... I did ? .... to who ? ...where ? ....when ?

It interests me deeply ..... because Avraham Burg is one of the leaders of the post zionist movement King_David..... you know ... one of the only 25 " elitists " that cant even fill a coffee shop in Tel Aviv

[King_David]

19. Ahh he's part of your cult ?

Should of said so.. I'll go back and read the article pronto

Shabbat Shalom baahava...

[ReRe]

7. Well, they could have sent...

... a representative of Israel. We all know they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Bibi should have gone, if anyone. "Expense", my ass. Guilty conscience is why they didn't go or send anyone to represent their country. Either that or they actually had no use for Nelson Madela and what he stood for.

[oberliner]

11. 972mag article if they did attend: "How dare Netanyahu and Peres go to Mandela memorial"

Probably "their attendance reeks of hypocrisy" would've gotten in there somewhere.

[Scootaloo]

12. And I kinda gree with you there

I know, right? Check to see if it's raining frogs!

Most of the people who were there were glamor-shotting hangers-on who weren't entitled to share oxygen molecules with Madiba, much less pretend they were right there with him all along. Israel's delegation certainly has no unique place in that regard.

Fake Sign-Language Guy was probably among the least disingenuous people there!