Wife of Israel's interior minister tweets, and deletes, racist joke about President Obama

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Yair Rosenberg, a writer and commenter on Israeli affairs, offered context for Mozes' remarks,saying that she has become known for “her weird outbursts on many subjects.” Her comments have also plagued her husband’s political career, Rosenberg added.

The joke comes at a fraught time in the US-Israeli relationship, as differences on an array of policy and security issues have frequently set the Obama administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud government at odds.

At times these differences have led Israeli leaders to stake out positions on American politics, as when Netanyahu appeared to voice support for Mitt Romney ahead of the 2012 presidential election.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/wife-israels-interior-minister-tweets-163612149.html

[OriZ 3,157]

if you knew anything about Mozes you'd know she's considered a clown all over Israel.

[iwannaplay54 985]

Nothing new.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/04/us-israel-racism-idUSKBN0NP0ZK20150504

In the run-up to Israel's election in March and the weeks since there have been a series of violent incidents, comments by politicians and policy proposals that have fueled concerns the country has a race problem - not just when it comes to the 20 percent Arab population but to minority Jewish groups too.

Last week, an Ethiopian Jew said he was beaten by inspectors from Israel's population and immigration authority because they thought he was a migrant from Sudan or Eritrea. The immigration authority said the man attacked the inspectors first.

On the day of the election on March 17, fearing he could lose, Netanyahu said "Arab voters are coming out in droves", comments that offended the Arab-Israeli population and drew accusations of racism. The prime minister later apologized.

For months, Israel has been threatening to imprison thousands of illegal African migrants if they do not agree to be deported to third countries in Africa, despite the Supreme Court expressing deep reservations about the policy.

In the 1990s, Israeli officials confirmed that blood donated by Ethiopian Israelis had been thrown away out of fear that it could be infected by HIV and other diseases.

Racism in Israeli society is "far more commonplace and far more toxic than we dare tell ourselves," leading political commentator Nahum Barnea wrote in Yediot Ahronoth on Monday.

"Hatred of the other, or of anyone perceived as being the other, is not only deeply rooted here, but it also receives encouragement from politicians on the eve of elections."

Ben Caspit, a columnist with Maariv newspaper, said it was not up to Netanyahu to resolve how the Ethiopian community is treated but for all Israelis to wake up and address it.

"The people who are to blame for the terrible things that the members of this lovely community have been forced to undergo on a daily basis is us," he said.

"Those among us who turn up their noses when an Ethiopian family enters the neighborhood, those among us who are not happy to see Ethiopian children in their children's classroom."

Around 20,000 Ethiopian Jews, who trace their roots to the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, were brought to Israel on secret flights in the mid 1980s and early 1990s.

The offspring of those early arrivals have worked hard to integrate, many serving in elite units of the army with distinction. An Ethiopian woman won a recent Miss Israel beauty contest. But after mandatory military service, acceptance in the workplace has proved more of a struggle for many.

"When an Ethiopian applies for a job, as qualified and impressive as he might be, he is not going to be invited for an interview because he has an Ethiopian name on his CV," said Assefa-Dawit of Tebeka, the advocacy group.

"Israel is our country, there's no 'us and them'. This is our home. The community is crying out for the government to resolve this."

[Darnell 8,478]

I read it as Obama Sr....

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Nothing new.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/04/us-israel-racism-idUSKBN0NP0ZK20150504

Racism in Israeli society is "far more commonplace and far more toxic than we dare tell ourselves," leading political commentator Nahum Barnea wrote in Yediot Ahronoth on Monday.

"Hatred of the other, or of anyone perceived as being the other, is not only deeply rooted here, but it also receives encouragement from politicians on the eve of elections."

It's becoming much clearer now why Republicans have such a hard-on for Israel. Shared values all over the place...

[OriZ 3,157]

You sound like Expat. Painting and Tainting. Fact is Israel is no more or less racist than any other country in the world.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Given the history of the Israeli people, one would think that maybe they should be less open to racism. Hard for a people to complain about being persecuted while they're busy themselves persecuting others. In fact, they persecute their own. Life isn't easy for African Jews in Israel, for example.

[OriZ 3,157]

Life isn't easy for African Americans in the US either, for Jews in some European or Muslim countries, for Christians in Muslim countries, and I can go on and on. As I said, Israel is no more or less racist than any other country in the world.

[iwannaplay54 985]

You sound like Expat. Painting and Tainting. Fact is Israel is no more or less racist than any other country in the world.

I am not sure what you are saying here but what he said sounds more like this guy:

leading political commentator Nahum Barnea wrote in Yediot Ahronoth on Monday.

This guy:

Ben Caspit, a columnist with Maariv newspaper, said it was not up to Netanyahu to resolve how the Ethiopian community

This guy too:

he is not going to be invited for an interview because he has an Ethiopian name on his CV," said Assefa-Dawit of Tebeka, the advocacy group.

Who are you to accuse anyone here of "painting and tainting"? These are not "non_Israelis" pointing out this problem there. Why don't you try to stop excusing racism and join those above who are addressing it? Just because "other racist countries do it too" that does not mean it is acceptable to insult us or our president by doing it too.

[OriZ 3,157]

Just because they are pointing out things that happen in every other country(btw Ben Caspit is one of my fav columnists) again, does not mean Israel is any more racist than other countries like you are trying to suggest. Of course there are things that need to be changed - everywhere. That was always one of the positives(and negatives) of the Jewish people. Positive because they are not afraid to point it out and try to fix it(you should look up "Tikun Olam"). Negative because it always serves as propaganda material for the bashers("see - a Jew himself is saying this!"). What can you do - the Jewish conscience always comes back to bite them in the ###. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Been that way for centuries. But all that goes to show is that there are many people in Israel that are actually sensitive to and care about those things which only makes it less racist, not more.

But the attempt to portray Israelis as monsters with horns won't succeed. We hear about it all the time, the brainwash some people go through. We hear it from Syrians that cross the border and receive medical treatment, how they've been taught the Jews are the enemy. We hear it from kids drifting on the dead sea from Jordan into Israel how they thought for sure they were going to be killed instead they get food and treats. We hear it from Iraqis, Syrians, Palestinians, even Ethiopians, and people from dozens other countries that have received treatment as part of Save a Child's Heart .

Hell I even heard it myself one day in Hyde Park London, happened to be there during a huge protest against Israel. My family and I ended up engaging in a very civil(much more civil than anything that ever happens here) conversation with a Syrian guy who seemed shocked to learn some truths.

So I'll say it one more time: Racism in Israel is no more or less common than in any other country.

[VOL 425]

Life isn't easy for African Americans in the US either, for Jews in some European or Muslim countries, for Christians in Muslim countries, and I can go on and on. As I said, Israel is no more or less racist than any other country in the world.

Life for an African American in USA is very easy. They are the protected class. The reason HR is set up in companies, the reason we have quotas on jobs in USA or getting into schools. This is the USA we should hire based upon the best candidate not his skin color or gender, try going to dental school in Texas, They have quota system based upon race

[Jacque67 7,328]

if you knew anything about Mozes you'd know she's considered a clown all over Israel.

Wanted to quote a later post of yours but it was too long apparently.

Sure, racism exists in every country. However don't you think it is more blatant in Israel. Whether this is morally less acceptable is another question entirely.

[decocker 7,198]

Life for an African American in USA is very easy. They are the protected class. The reason HR is set up in companies, the reason we have quotas on jobs in USA or getting into schools. This is the USA we should hire based upon the best candidate not his skin color or gender, try going to dental school in Texas, They have quota system based upon race

black people are the reason for hr departments. ya learn something new everyday. aint that something.

[Ban Hammer 12,829]

one post removed for tos violation and admin action taken
one post removed for quoting that post.
do not make personal insults towards other members.

[OriZ 3,157]

Wanted to quote a later post of yours but it was too long apparently.

Sure, racism exists in every country. However don't you think it is more blatant in Israel. Whether this is morally less acceptable is another question entirely.

Absolutely not more blatant. Just gets put more in the spotlight.

Edited June 23, 2015 by OriZ