The situation in USA and Israel, and now also in Britain, is quite extraordinary. USA and Britain have been seen as strong, some might say leading democracies, but the recent developments are worrying. As the right-wing parties in all these three countries have been veering more and more to the right, there are signs that the traditional parliamentary democracy and the rule of law are not respected, anymore. Trump has campaigned right from the beginning against the traditional American political system and “elite.” Nigel Farage, friend of Trump, regular guest on Fox News and leader of the far-right Brexit party, has repeatedly talked about the need for a “revolution.” (1, 2, 3) In the election manifesto of the British Conservative Party there is a mention:
“After Brexit we also need to look at the broader aspects of our constitution: the relationship between the Government, Parliament and the courts; the functioning of the Royal Prerogative; the role of the House of Lords; and access to justice for ordinary people.” (4, page 48)
Many political decisions seem to favor industrialists and other super-rich, for example tax cuts introduced by President Trump, his climate change denial and changes to environmental legislation (5, 6, 7, 8). In Britain, the Conservative party is now dependent on ultra-rich pro-Brexit donors (9). Xenophobia, racism and all kinds of hate crimes have increased significantly (10, 11). Where is this all leading to? Is there a possibility that we will see emergence of a new political regime, or “empire”, that is some sort of combination of laissez-faire capitalism and fascism ? A far-right plutocracy?
The first casualty has probably been the truth. The right-wing populist leaders in these countries – and elsewhere – are a new breed, not only do they make false claims and promises but they also do it without shame. Alastair Campbell, who worked as director of communications for Tony Blair, said that President Trump, Prime Minister Johnson and others like them have shown that we have moved from post-truth to post-shame (12). Also, the current political leaders of all these three countries – President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Johnson – are facing possible trial because of their dubious activities (13, 14, 15).
Here are more of my novice observations of the situation in each of the three countries. First, USA. One of the key slogans Donald Trump used during his first presidential campaign was, “Drain the swamp!” Trump promised to clean Washington from old political elite and make the American government “honest once again” (1). However, President Trump has surrounded himself with far-right figures and politicians with connections to anti-Muslim and other hate groups (16, 17, 18, 19). He has also hired super-rich and corporate lobbyists, he even has rewarded some of his billionaire supporters by giving them role as ambassadors – in Gordon Sondland’s case, that didn’t turn out to be such a wise decision, as we have seen during the impeachment hearings. Trump claimed that the impeachment inquiry is “an attempted coup” (20, 21, 22, 23, 24). Another Trump’s slogan has been, “America first” (25). During Trump’s presidency, USA has decided to leave international organizations and agreements, for example UNESCO, Palestinian aid organization UNRWA and the Paris climate agreement (26, 27, 28). Furthermore, Trump has now attacked World Trade Organization WTO and forced it’s top court to shut down (29, 30, 31). Trump also criticized World Bank for loaning money to China (32). During his interview last summer, Trump said that the EU is a competitor and therefore “a foe” just like Russia and China (33). Trump is arguably the most pro-Israel president USA has ever had. During Israeli American Council national summit last week, Trump declared that he is Israel’s best friend in the White House (34). Trump has made several political decisions that were favorable to Israel, including the decision to leave UNICEF and UNRWA. Trump has also recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and he transferred US Embassy there. Trump also said that the occupied Golan Heights belong to Israel (35, 36). Prime Minister Netanyahu revealed that he talked about American-Israeli mutual defense pact and annexation of Jordan Valley with Secretary of State Pompeo during their recent meeting in Lisbon, Portugal – curiously enough, USA denied this (37).
Benjamin Netanyahu has become the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Israel. He has cooperated with right-wing populists and far right in Israel and elsewhere – in Europe, Brazil and with Trump. (38, 39, 40) Former US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that Netanyahu used “Machiavellian” tactics in order to “play” Trump (41). Netanyahu’s political campaigns have also caused controversy. Facebook suspended Netanyahu’s campaign page briefly in September because of an inflammatory message regarding Arabs (42). Netanyahu has vowed to annex the Jordan Valley and rest of the West Bank, if he will be able to continue as prime minister. However, the recent elections in Israel have been a very tight race and Netanyahu hasn’t been able to form a government (37). After Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced criminal charges against him, last month, Netanyahu accused the judiciary, the police and others of attempted “coup.” During protests, Netanyahu’s supporters called him “the king of Israel.” (43, 44)
In a way, the dramatic and worrying developments in the American-Israeli alliance can be seen particularly well in Britain, where Boris Johnson’s carefully choreographed rise to power, his controversial decision to prorogue the parliament and his aggressive populistic rhetoric have started a new era in British politics. (45, 46, 47) Some of the key traits of Boris Johnson are his casual, populistic hatemongering and his complete untrustworthiness. Johnson has become infamous for his offensive and inflammatory comments about women, EU, EU citizens, ethnic minorities, Muslims and many others (48, 49, 50, 51). However, he has said in interviews that he is strongly pro-Israel and “passionate Zionist” (52). Lord Cooper, who worked for former PM David Cameron, described Johnson like this (53):
“The rottenness of Boris Johnson goes deeper even than his casual racism and his equally casual courting of fascism. He will advocate literally anything to play to the crowd of the moment. His career is a saga of moral emptiness and lies; pathetic, weak and needy; the opposite of strong.”
Peter Oborne and a group of other journalists have started a facts check website regarding Johnson’s lies. Oborne wrote yesterday that Johnson’s Conservatives are “a revolutionary sect” (54, 55). Alexandra Hall Hall, lead envoy for Brexit in the British Embassy in USA, resigned last week. In her letter of resignation she wrote (56):
“I have been increasingly dismayed by the way in which our political leaders have tried to deliver Brexit, with reluctance to address honestly, even with our own citizens, the challenges and trade-offs which Brexit involves; the use of misleading or disingenuous arguments about the implications of the various options before us; and some behaviour towards our institutions, which, were it happening in another country, we would almost certainly as diplomats have received instructions to register our concern”.
“It makes our job to promote democracy and the rule of law that much harder, if we are not seen to be upholding these core values at home.”
“I am also at a stage in life where I would prefer to do something more rewarding with my time, than peddle half-truths on behalf of a government I do not trust.”
Also Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland and key ally of the Conservative Party, said on Monday that Johnson had betrayed their trust (57).
President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Johnson will have to fight for their political survival in the coming days. Johnson will be the first one to face the test during the general election today. Just like during the Conservative leadership race in the summer, Johnson has tried to avoid too much scrunity by refusing to take part to some televised debates and interviews (58, 59). Johnson, Trump and Netanyahu also seem to have wanted to avoid each other. Johnson and Trump were not planning to have a formal meeting during recent NATO summit in London. However, they met at 10 Downing Street (60, 61). Prime Minister Netanyahu was planning to travel to the NATO summit, but that trip was cancelled due to “logistical problems.” Netanyahu met Secretary of State Pompeo in Lisbon, instead. (62, 63) When Trump spoke to the Israeli American Council, last weekend, he didn’t mention Netanyahu (64).
References:
1) “Here’s what Trump means when he says ‘drain the swamp’ – even though it’s not an accurate metaphor” Business Insider 12.11.2016
https://www.businessinsider.com/what-does-drain-the-swamp-mean-was-dc-built-on-a-swamp-2016-11
2) “Farage hired by Fox News as a political analyst” BBC 20.1.2017
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38695203
3) “General election Brexit Party policies: Farage launched ‘political revolution for ordinary people'” Sky News 22.11.2019
https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-brexit-party-policies-farage-launches-political-revolution-for-ordinary-people-11867115
4) “Get Brexit Done – Unleash Britain’s Potential” Conservative party election manifesto 2019
https://assets-global.website-files.com/5da42e2cae7ebd3f8bde353c/5dda924905da587992a064ba_Conservative%202019%20Manifesto.pdf
5) “Here’s who is saving the most money from Trump’s tax cuts” CNBC 23.9.2019
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/23/who-is-saving-the-most-money-from-trumps-tax-cuts.html
6) “Trump’s tax cuts helped billionaires pay less than the working class for first time” The Guardian 9.10.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/oct/09/trump-tax-cuts-helped-billionaires-pay-less
7) “As Trump Administration Downplays Warming, Agencies Chronicle Climate Impacts” Scientific American 9.10.2019
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/as-trump-administration-downplays-warming-agencies-chronicle-climate-impacts/
8) “85 Environmental Rules Being Rolled Back Under Trump” The New York Times 12.9.2019
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks.html
9) “The Tory party is so dependent on big money it now represents only a tiny elite” The Guardian 9.12.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/09/money-matters-elections-tories-ultra-rich-brexit-donors
10) “Hate crime violence in US hit 16-year high in 2018: FBI” Al Jazeera 14.11.2019
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/hate-crime-violence-hit-16-year-high-2018-fbi-191113172541294.html
11) “Hate crimes double in five years in England and Wales” The Guardian 15.10.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/oct/15/hate-crimes-double-england-wales
12) “From Trump to Boris Johnson, we’re moving from post-truth to post-shame” The Guardian 15.7.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/15/populism-boris-johnson-brexit-trump
13) “Trump impeachment: Democrats unveil formal charges” BBC 10.12.2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50731010
14) “Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu will be indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust” CNN 22.11.2019
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/21/middleeast/benjamin-netanyahu-charges-israel-intl/index.html
15) “Anger as police decision on Boris Johnson’s Jennifer Arcuri scandal is ‘shelved’ until after election” i news 10.11.2019
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/police-probe-jennifer-arcuri-scandal-shelved-after-election-920617
16) “Anti-Muslim” (hate groups) Southern Poverty Law Center
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/anti-muslim
17) “The Alt-Right’s Love Affair With Trump Is Over. Here’s Why.” Vice 9.7.2019
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gy4ee7/the-alt-rights-love-affair-with-trump-is-over-heres-why
18) “Here are the extremist figures going to the White House social media summit” Media Matters 9.7.2019
https://www.mediamatters.org/donald-trump/here-are-extremist-figures-going-white-house-social-media-summit
19) “Stephen Miller: why is Trump’s white nationalist aide untouchable?” The Guardian 4.12.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/04/stephen-miller-trump-administration-white-nationalism
20) “Trump and His Cabinet Net Worth” The Balance 13.3.2019
https://www.thebalance.com/the-net-worth-of-trump-and-his-cabinet-4570997
21) “Trump says he’s draining the swamp as he fills Cabinet with ex-lobbyists” CBS News 20.7.2019
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-hes-draining-the-swamp-as-he-fills-cabinet-with-ex-lobbyists/
22) “Trump’s Ambassadors Are Uniquely Unqualified. The Ukraine Scandal Proves It” Mother Jones 14.11.2019
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/11/trumps-ambassadors-are-uniquely-unqualified-the-ukraine-scandal-proves-it/
23) “Republicans Turn Up Heat on Gordon Sondland in Impeachment Hearing” Time 10.12.2019
https://time.com/5746844/republicans-turn-up-heat-on-gordon-sondland-in-impeachment-hearing/
24) “Donald Trump has claimed multiple times that he’s the victim of an attempted coup” Newsweek 2.10.2019
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-tweets-coup-impeachment-civil-war-fox-news-1462555
25) “Trump hammers home ‘America First’ ideology at UN” Politico 24.9.2019
https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-hammers-home-america-first-ideology-at-un-gathering/
26) “US and Israel formally quit UNESCO” Al Jazeera 1.1.2019
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/israel-formally-quit-unesco-190101094104787.html
27) “In one move, Trump eliminated US funding for UNRWA and the US role as Mideast peacemaker” Brookings 7.9.2018
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2018/09/07/in-one-move-trump-eliminated-us-funding-for-unrwa-and-the-us-role-as-mideast-peacemaker/
28) “Is the United States Really Leaving the Paris Climate Agreement?” Foreign Policy 5.11.2019
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/05/paris-climate-agreement-united-states-withdraw/
29) “Trump vs. the WTO” Axios 10.12.2019
https://www.axios.com/trump-vs-wto-blocked-appointments-d6eb10e6-f0a9-4c46-b801-71d9836c4c5a.html
30) “WTO chief: ‘Months’ needed to fix disputes body” BBC 10.12.2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50736344
31) “UK’s post-Brexit trade at risk as WTO’s top court shuts down” The Guardian 11.12.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/11/uk-post-brexit-trade-at-risk-as-wto-top-court-shuts-down
32) “Trump calls for World Bank to stop loaning to China” Reuters 7.12.2019
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-worldbank/trump-calls-for-world-bank-to-stop-loaning-to-china-idUSKBN1YB010
33) “Trump: EU is one of United States’ biggest foes” Politico 19.4.2019
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-putin-russia-europe-one-of-united-states-biggest-foes/
34) “Trump dubs himself Israel’s ‘best pal’ in White House” Daily Sabah 8.12.2019
https://www.dailysabah.com/americas/2019/12/08/trump-dubs-himself-israels-best-pal-in-white-house
35) “The controversial US Jerusalem embassy opening, explained” Vox 16.5.2018
https://www.vox.com/2018/5/14/17340798/jerusalem-embassy-israel-palestinians-us-trump
36) “Golan Heights: Trump signs order recognizing occupied area as Israeli” BBC 25.3.2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47697717
37) “Netanyahu rebuffs US State Department denial he discussed annexation with Pompeo” The Times of Israel 8.12.2019
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-rebuffs-us-state-department-denial-he-discussed-annexation-with-pompeo/
38) “Benjamin Netanyahu becomes Israel’s longest-serving leader” BBC 20.7.2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-49043102
39) “At home and abroad, Netanyahu faces backlash for far-right alliance” Reuters 24.2.2019
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-election-usa/at-home-and-abroad-netanyahu-faces-backlash-for-far-right-alliance-idUSKCN1QD0M4
40) “Benjamin Netanyahu, best friend of the far right” Le Monde Diplomatique 13.9.2019
https://mondediplo.com/2019/09/13netanyahu
41) “Tillerson says Netanyahu skillfully ‘played’ Trump using misinformation” The Times of Israel 19.9.2019
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tillerson-says-netanyahu-skillfully-played-trump-using-misinformation/
42) “Netanyahu’s Facebook page suspended over hate speech” Independent 12.9.2019
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/benjamin-netanyahu-facebook-page-suspended-why-arabs-post-a9102541.html
43) “Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel PM defiant in face of ‘coup'” BBC 22.11.2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50512102
44) “In Tel Aviv, Netanyahu die-hards stage an ominous display of fear and anger” The Times of Israel 27.11.2019
https://www.timesofisrael.com/woeful-tel-aviv-protest-stokes-fear-and-loathing-among-netanyahu-diehards/
45) “ANALYSIS: If Boris Johnson is so popular, why are his handlers hiding him away?” PoliticsHome 31.7.2019
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/boris-johnson/analysis/105682/analysis-if-boris-johnson
46) Margulies, Ben: “Understanding Boris Johnson’s appeal: performative rebelliousness, impishness, and indiscipline” LSE British Politics and Policy 1.8.2019
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-appeal-of-boris-johnson/
47) “Boris Johnson seeks to divide and conquer with his incendiary rhetoric” The Guardian 29.9.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/29/boris-johnson-seeks-to-divide-conquer-with-incendiary-rhetoric
48) “Boris Johnson branded ‘chauvinist’ and ‘racist’ after comments from old book resurface” Independent 24.9.2019
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-fast-lane-the-johnson-guide-to-cars-book-criticism-women-india-a9118196.html
49) “Boris Johnson’s racist insults, dog whitles and slurs” New Statesman 12.6.2019
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/06/boris-johnson-s-racist-insults-dog-whistles-and-slurs
50) “15 of the worst things Boris Johnson has said about leaders or other countries” Independent 24.7.2019
https://www.indy100.com/article/boris-johnson-worst-quotes-iran-china-saudi-arabia-russia-turkey-8439071
51) “Campaigners attack Boris Johnson for EU nationals remarks” The Guardian 9.12.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/09/campaigners-attack-boris-johnson-for-eu-nationals-remarks
52) “A ‘passionate Zionist'” Jerusalem Post 25.7.2019
https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/A-passionate-Zionist-596689
53) “‘Morally empty’ Johnson is courting fascism, says peer as Tory crisis mounts” The Guardian 12.8.2018
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/12/boris-johnson-courting-fascism-says-peer-tory-crisis
54) The lies, falsehoods and misrepresentations of Boris Johnson and his government
https://boris-johnson-lies.com
55) “Boris Johnson wants to destroy the Britain I love. I cannot vote Conservative” The Guardian 11.12.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/11/boris-johnson-destroy-britain-conservative-revolutionary-sect
56) “Top British diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall quits with searing Brexit critique” CNN 7.12.2019
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/06/uk/top-british-diplomat-quits-brexit-intl/index.html
57) “Arlene Foster accuses PM of breaking his word over Brexit deal” The Guardian 9.12.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/09/arlene-foster-accuses-pm-of-breaking-his-word-over-brexit-deal
58) “Tories threaten Channel 4 after ice sculpture takes PM’s place in debate” The Guardian 28.11.2019
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/28/ice-sculpture-to-replace-boris-johnson-in-channel-4-climate-debate
59) “Boris Johnson pulls out of another BBC interview on day before election” Independent 11.12.2019
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-general-election-bbc-interview-jeremy-vine-andrew-neil-a9242256.html
60) “Boris Johnson avoids meeting with Trump during NATO gathering” NBC News 3.12.2019
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/boris-johnson-looks-avoid-damaging-trump-meeting-during-nato-gathering-n1094656
61) “Donald Trump enjoyed meeting with Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street” Evening Standard 4.12.2019
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/donald-trump-enjoyed-meeting-boris-johnson-a4304036.html
62) “Netanyahu’s London trip to meet Pompeo said nixed after veto from UK officials” The Times of Israel 2.12.2019
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pms-london-trip-to-meet-pompeo-nixed-after-veto-from-uk-officials-report/
63) “Netanyahu: US redeployment in Syria places Israel in better position” Israel Hayom 4.12.2019
https://www.israelhayom.com/2019/12/04/netanyahu-pompeo-to-discuss-iran-in-lisbon/
64) “Three’s a crowd: 6 things to know for December 8” The Times of Israel 8.12.2019
https://www.timesofisrael.com/threes-a-crowd-6-things-to-know-for-december-8/
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