Tartman

Yisrael Beiteinu, perhaps Israel's creepiest political party with all its ethnocentrism and loyalty oath ideas, has just nominated Esterina Tartman as Minister of Tourism. Tartman was the Knesseteer who denounced Labor's nomination of Muslim Arab Raleb Majadele as Minister of Science, Culture, and Sports as "a lethal blow to Zionism," and according to today's Ha'aretz said: "We must destroy the affliction within us. With God's help, the Holy One blessed be He will help us." The "affliction within us" is probably Israeli Arabs. However, will an American media which routinely focuses on radical statements by Arab leaders pick up on this story and question what is becoming of the ideals which are an important component of its appeal to the West?