World

Hillary Clinton Irks Israeli Ministers by Criticizing Democratic Debates as Undemocratic

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made headlines in Israel over the weekend after criticizing some widely argued domestic debates as threatening Israeli democracy.

Ruffling feathers even further, Clinton also compared Israel to its arch enemy Iran, from which it could potentially be facing an existential battle over the Islamic Republic’s march toward nuclear weapons.

The liberal Israeli paper Ha’aretz reports:

Three minutes of Q&A at the end of a closed lecture delivered by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday at the Saban Forum in Washington exposed deepening gaps between the governments of Israel and Washington.

If up to now differences between Washington and Jerusalem centered on the peace process or the future of the settlements, it appears that the U.S. government is now worried about whether democratic values are shared by the two states.

A source who was present at Clinton’s lecture says that the Secretary of State spoke at length about the Iranian nuclear program, and the need to advance negotiations with the Palestinians. In these connections, the source said, Clinton said little new. The new twist came when she responded to questions. “What does Israel need to do in order to help the U.S. help it?” one of the participants queried.

Clinton, whose long-standing commitment to Israel is not in question, sighed, and launched into a three-minute monologue that related to domestic matters in Israel. The secretary of state, who is considered one of the most popular politicians in the U.S., explained that she is astonished by the legislative initiatives in favor of restricting left-wing NGOs, as well as by the exclusion of women from public spaces and other phenomena.

The Israeli Knesset has been debating several versions of a bill which would restrict foreign governments from funding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Israel. Though hiding behind the title “NGO,” many of these organizations are highly political and have enormous sway over the international image of Israel.

Supporters of the legislation point to evidence that these NGOs are active participants in political warfare against Israel and provide skewed information used by those calling for boycotts of Israel who accuse Israel of being an “Apartheid” state. One egregious example is the now discredited Goldstone Report on Israel’s incursion into Gaza three years ago to root out Hamas militants terrorizing residents of southern Israel. The Goldstone Report based its findings on largely false information provided by these same NGOs whose funding is being debated.

According to NGO-Monitor, which investigated the NGOs money sources, many of these highly politicized organizations receive the bulk of their funding from European governments, some as much as 75% of their budgets, raising questions about foreign interference in domestic political processes. The bill would not restrict private individuals making charitable contributions to any NGO.

Besides criticizing the NGO issue being debated by democratically-elected lawmakers as threatening  democracy, Clinton also raised concerns about two cases of discrimination against women. In one case, an ultra-Orthodox community in Jerusalem has been self-segregating, women moving to the back of the bus, and men sitting in front due to their beliefs.

Clinton said this reminded her of Rosa Parks who refused to yield her seat on a bus to a white man. However, Israel’s Supreme Court has banned enforced separate seating.

She also said a recent case in which religious IDF soldiers walked out of a ceremony where a woman soldier was singing reminded her of extremist regimes. From Ha’aretz:

That seems more suited to Iran than Israel, Clinton opined. She said that she is at a loss to understand how such processes can occur in Israel. She told her listeners that Israel has little idea how badly such dynamics appear around the world. If you’ve ever wondered how discussions between herself and Netanyahu appear – that’s what these images look like, Clinton quipped.

Responses from Israel were scathing as translated by Ynet:

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said in response, “these voices are totally exaggerated. Israel is a living, breathing liberal democracy.” He added, “The issue of the exclusion of women and separation is unacceptable and must be stopped but to claim there is a threat on Israeli democracy is a big stretch.”

Interior Minister Eli Yishai also rejected Clinton’s statements. “Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. I assume that whatever will be done here will be within the measure of the law.”

Minister Gilad Erdan proposed that “elected officials around the world examine their domestic problems first.” He nevertheless said he shared the concern over the exclusion of women noting that such measures cause people to hate the Jewish religion. “I hope that government steps will demonstrate our commitment to equality between men and women.”

If Clinton said anything about Egypt to the closed forum, it was not reported. To now, the White House has applauded that democratic process and said it wants the military to handover power to a civilian government as soon as possible. Why is Israel’s democracy the brunt of criticism with kudos going to next-door-neighbor Egypt, whose election results so far raise questions about what kind of democracy that country will eventually be?

Comments (15)

  • dantom
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:36pm

    Hillary is Jerwish she said so when she ran for president one of her great grandparents.

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  • JustJason
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:42pm

    Her concern isn’t over “democracy” or “freedom.” Her concern is the tighten restrictions on communists (liberals). The greater cause for her and this admin. The NGOs are vehicles for importing communism. These examples she brings up are excuses to attack and being up her international commie NGOs.

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  • Rosanne Martin
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:00pm

    Just like Obama, Clinton is Anti-Israel. Thank God the American people are not like that. The former think there’s nothing wrong with the Islamic Brotherhood either.

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  • Joan Dalton-Carr
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:58pm

    ..Well now….What does Hillary Clinton know about democracy???

    Report Post »  
  • Joan Dalton-Carr
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:53pm

    …Well now…..What does Hillary Clinton know about Democracy???

    Report Post »  
  • Arshloch
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 2:31pm

    This demonstrates that the Jewish people are very tolerant. Hills, or any other clinton for that matter, irk me just by being. That’s one nasty female.

    Report Post » Arshloch  
  • Goldi
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 9:25am

    Don‘t forget her travelling companion is Weiner’s wife and her mother is part of the muslim brotherhood.
    If we don’t get rid of these people, we are doomed!
    And if the Jews don’t understand that and continue to funnel money to her boss, I guess they deserve what will befall them.
    And no, I don’t want that to happen to them.

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  • Mike Festus
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 9:22am

    What was not reported, Theodore Simon, the moderator of Ms. Clinton’s speech, retorted: “What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in Israel is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

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  • Johann
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:30am

    H. Clinton is one of the biggest supporters of Islamic nationalism . She has a long record of pro Moslem radical activity; she befriended the terrorist Yasir Arafat and his wife; she has stacked the new American State department with Moslems and supporters of the Moslem Brotherhood; she urged her husband to bomb and kill Christians in Serbia in order to support the radical Islamic Kosovars. There is no surprise that she will also aline herself and the Obama regime with whatever Islamic movement that is out there. As long as she and Obama are in charge Israel is in danger.

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  • airportengineer
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:48am

    I read posts last night on the net that sounded very similar to Hillary’s rants about Isreal on Yahoo, but the article never mentioned words like “Apharteid State” and other stuff! The Liberal Rants must have some “Play Book” on how to complain about Isreal or something, because they all sound the same!

    Report Post » airportengineer  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on December 6, 2011 at 8:19am

      Of course, they all are reading from the “Soros Playbook” of hate and destruction.

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  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 6:23am

    The people in power in the US are haters of Israel. Hate crimes if you will under this administration should be looked into. It is more than obvious that this sort of talk is part of the push. Manipulating to push Israel into being paranoid and pushing them into the ocean.

    Hillary is a blithering idiot. She supports Arab nations that are in turmoil and disses Israel? I’ve been to Israel and know that they do have a liberal leaning government…but now that will prob change…prob what this Administration hopes to do!!…I think they want to see a war where we would not be involved in…pretend not to take either side…this is sickening…and they loved President Clinton…go figure.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:51am

    Hillary had little idea how badly such dynamics of her husband getting the BJ by in the oval office appeared around the world. If you’ve ever wondered how discussions between herself and Bill went after the blue dress. Heck she swore that all were lying about Billie BOYS actions, how in the world can she handle the job obama has her doing– he always has her out of the country out of his hair. He known that she can bring the harm to our country he wants done just buy her idiocy. Who care what she thinks

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  • discus02
    Posted on December 6, 2011 at 3:18am

    Hey Hillary Jerusalem belongs to Israel is that plain and simple for you.

    Report Post »  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:54am

      She thinks that the job Obama the wonder boy gave her allows her th rule Israel

      Report Post »  

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