<article data-history-node-id="426845" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/blaming-israeli-far-right-lets-genocidal-society-hook" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/blaming-israeli-far-right-lets-genocidal-society-hook" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Blaming the Israeli 'far right' lets a genocidal society off the hook</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Time and again, western political elites and opinion leaders have blamed Israel's&nbsp;"far-right" government for atrocities committed in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.&nbsp;</p> <p>Given that Israel is often given a free pass in the West, it is notable that some criticism is finally being directed at Israeli policy. But much of this critique has focused narrowly on the right-wing coalition currently in power - particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich - while ignoring the broader political apparatus and societal consensus that enables and supports ongoing crimes against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Palestinians</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>There are countless examples. Throughout much of the current&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/israel-war-gaza" target="_blank">war on Gaza</a>, former&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/us" target="_blank">US</a>&nbsp;President Joe Biden publicly criticised the Israeli government, targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-far-right-parties-frustrate-biden-but-pm-is-also-an-obstacle-to-his-vision/" target="_blank">Netanyahu</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-ben-gvir-sowing-chaos-undermining-israels-security-with-temple-mount-remarks/" target="_blank">Ben Gvir</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/4820889-biden-administration-criticizes-israel-smotrich/" target="_blank">Smotrich</a>&nbsp;by name.&nbsp;</p> <p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/04/19/extremist-settlers-in-the-occupied-west-bank-and-east-jerusalem-council-sanctions-four-individuals-and-two-entities-over-serious-human-rights-abuses-against-palestinians/" target="_blank">European Council</a>&nbsp;and various European&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/france-germany-slam-far-right-ministers-calls-for-voluntary-emigration-of-gazans/" target="_blank">heads of state</a>&nbsp;have also singled out the Israeli far right, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk" target="_blank">UK</a>&nbsp;has imposed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xgk1ek19lo" target="_blank">sanctions</a>&nbsp;on Ben Gvir and Smotrich. The US and EU have additionally sanctioned certain "extremist" Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.&nbsp;</p> <p>A growing number of American politicians, including Bernie&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMahDOkGNAE" target="_blank">Sanders</a>&nbsp;and Chuck&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/chuck-schumer-calls-new-elections-israel-criticizing-netanyahus-leader-rcna143397" target="_blank">Schumer</a>, have condemned Netanyahu's coalition.&nbsp;</p> <h3>Read more:&nbsp;<a data-qa="message_attachment_title_link" href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/blaming-israeli-far-right-lets-genocidal-society-off-hook" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Blaming the Israeli 'far right' lets a genocidal society off the hook</a></h3> <p><img alt="An Israeli soldier sits behind a mounted gun near the Gaza border on 1 May 2024 (Jack Guez/AFP)" src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images-story/israel-soldier-gaza-border-may-2024-jack-guez-afp_0.jpg.jpg?itok=urahgGlp"></p> </div> </div> </article>

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