LABOUR PARTY MARXISTS labourpartymarxists.org.uk Free - donations welcome Zionist colonisation and Armageddon As Israel moves further and further to the right, Moshé Machover says religious fanatics are becoming increasingly influential inyamin (‘Bibi’) Netanyahu’s evangelicals have for Armageddon. motive for calling an early In fact, both bunches of dangerous election to the Knesset (Israel’s nutters, whether Jewish or Christian, share parliament), on April 9, one year many beliefs (except that the former are Bbefore the end of its term, was purely expecting the first coming of the messiah, personal: it was his ‘stay out of jail’ while for the latter it is going to be the card. His former friend and appointee, second - following which the Jews will have attorney general Avichai Mendelblit, to convert or die). As the Daily Express could not endlessly procrastinate, and reported recently: would eventually feel bound to indict him for multiple, firmly attested charges Biblical conspiracy theorists believe of bribery and corruption.1 Netanyahu the construction of a third Holy calculated that, if he managed to win an Temple in Jerusalem will precede the election before being indicted, he would imminent return of Jesus Christ. Jewish be able to breathe freely for the next five eschatology concerning the end times years at the very least. claims the Holy Temple will rise up Winning, in Israel’s system of party- from the ground for the third time list proportional representation, does not when the apocalypse nears. Talk of a mean getting a majority, or even the largest third temple being built emerged this number, of Knesset seats, but being the week in response to a letter penned by only party leader able to form a ruling the powerful Jewish assembly of rabbis coalition. Netanyahu reckons that if he known as the Sanhedrin. puts together a coalition with the two Jerusalem is heading into main religious parties and two or three a mayoral election next week and small extreme-right parties, then he can the Sanhedrin urged both running get through the Knesset a bespoke law candidates, Ofer Berkovich and Moshe giving him immunity from prosecution. Lion, to rebuild the temple. … Netanyahu knew that his chances The Holy Temple plays a of winning the election were pretty crucial role in Jewish tradition and is good. In this he could count on more Dome of the Rock: Zionist extremists want to demolish it a central player in prophecies and tales than his mastery of rightwing, populist concerning the apocalypse. rabble-rousing, fabrication of ‘facts’ the extreme annexationist and ultra-racist Party, and reduce Labor, with its pitiful al-Sharif - Islam’s third holiest place, site of Christian pastor and doomsday and whines of persecution by a hostile right - would reach the threshold of 3.25% six seats, to a mortally wounded relic, al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock. preacher Paul Begley has now claimed elite and ‘leftist’ media. Propaganda of the valid votes required to win any crawling towards a well-deserved demise. These will have to be demolished to make the signs of the end times are coming to apart, Israel’s economy is buoyant seats, he acted as match-maker between way for the third temple. fruition. The Indiana-based preacher and, although inequality remains very two such parties, each of which may not Messianic fanatics Plans to bring this about are by no said: “The rabbis of the Sanhedrin court high, even the poorest sections of the have reached this threshold individually, Evidently, the outcome of Israel’s elections means new. From 1979 to 1984 a secret are calling both mayor candidates to population - those on minimum wages or and persuaded them to form a bloc. This is part of a worldwide shift to rightwing cabal of settlers, known as the Jewish include in their plans for this city the social benefits - have experienced some ran as the Union of Rightwing Parties, authoritarian regimes led by elected illiberal Underground, engaged in terrorist actions rebuilding of the third temple …” improvement. Unionisation of workers duly passed the threshold and won five demagogues. Netanyahu has much in against Palestinian civic leaders. It also According to Irvin Baxter of has been increasing, and consequently seats. In exchange for their complicity in common with Trump, Putin, Erdoğan, hatched a plot to blow up the Dome of the End Time Ministries, the third the number of workers benefiting from passing a law keeping him out of prison, Orbán, Bolsonaro and their ilk. But equally the Rock; but just in time members of the Holy Temple will be rebuilt in the last improved pay and conditions thanks to Netanyahu had promised to accede to obviously, Israel’s rightwing populism comes group were arrested and brought to trial seven years of the world’s existence. collective bargaining has been rising. their hearts’ desire: annexation of parts with a special Israeli twist: that of a Zionist on charges of terrorism. Most served short The doomsday preacher said this will Also, since the last elections (March of the West Bank. colonising regime, increasingly inspired terms, and the ringleaders were pardoned happen in the first three years of the 2015), Netanyahu has avoided large-scale The most serious rival of Netanyahu’s by a creepy messianism. This growing in 1990.4 Unrepentant, the zealot leader, end times and will be the “most visible military adventures that exact a toll in Israeli Likud party in the elections was the newly importance of eschatology in Israeli politics Yehuda Etzion, and his mates continued to sign” of the end times finally arriving. military and civilian casualties; so Jewish formed centre-right bloc, Kahol-Lavan has not received sufficient attention. make plans for the third temple.5 But now Mr Baxter said: “As that Israelis have not felt they were paying a high (Blue and White - colours of the flag Religions tend to have their lunatic they have moved from the margins into cornerstone is laid on the Temple cost - in human losses or insecurity any of the Zionist movement and the state fringes - crazed zealots lurking in the the centres of political power.6 And their Mount, every network on Earth will more than in economic terms - for ruling of Israel), led by retired general Benny obscurity of the relatively harmless margins numbers have multiplied. A recent TV be televising this incredible event.” 11 over the Palestinian occupied territories. Gantz, two other retired generals and a - who under certain political and social documentary series has drawn attention As far as foreign relations are concerned, civilian windbag, Yair Lapid (the only one circumstances may emerge as if out of to an extensive network of activists making Will Israel’s security services act in time Netanyahu could count on more than a little of the four with some political experience, nowhere and shock the world with horrific practical preparations for building the to prevent an explosion on the sacred help from his friends, including Trump2 having served as minister of finance in a and dangerous acts. Judaism is no exception third temple and performing the rituals site, as they did back in 1984? I do not and Putin.3 Not many national leaders previous Netanyahu-led government). to this rule. In my article ‘Israel and the in it.7 These include detailed architectural wish to sound too alarmist, but, when can boast of warm personal relations with Lacking any coherent programme, Messiah’s ass’ (Weekly Worker June 1 2017), drawings and models for the temple itself, watching Israel careering to extremes of both Donald and Vladimir Vladimirovich. it attracted many voters disgusted with I called attention to the emergence in 1967 sewing and embroidering vestments for the racist populism and annexationism, we But, leaving little to chance, Netanyahu Netanyahu’s corruption and rightwing of messianic religious Zionism. Extremist priests that will officiate in it, and practising should also keep an eye on the movement took several steps to secure his electoral populism. Netanyahu’s way of fighting forms of this political theology or theological animal sacrifices in the vicinity of the holy of messianic fanaticism l victory and the subsequent prize of off the potential threat represented politics have steadily grown in importance. site.8 In order for the priests to be allowed to immunity from criminal prosecution. by this nine-day wonder was to point Following the recent elections, its most enter the temple and perform their rituals, I would like to thank comrade Ehud Ein-Gil In order to make sure that his preferred out that it would not be able to block a fanatic true believers are openly represented they must first be purified with the ashes for his help in researching this article. prospective coalition partners - those of Likud-led government (let alone form a in the Knesset, as members of the Union of a burnt, unblemished red heifer. Red ruling coalition) except in collaboration of Rightwing Parties, and will no doubt be means totally red - even two black hairs Notes with Arab parties. The three generals part of the ruling coalition. disqualify it.9 A cattle rancher in the Israeli- 1. Haaretz February 28 2019. 2. Haaretz March 25 2019. and the windbag, bowing to popular The size of this bloc - a mere five seats in occupied Golan, by the name of Menahem 3. Haaretz April 4 2019. Israeli-Jewish racism, duly vowed that the Knesset - understates the real influence Urbach, has been commissioned to produce a 4. Haaretz April 10 2019. they would never collaborate with Arabs, of messianic fanaticism. A significant red heifer by selective breeding. Interviewed 5.