Israel
May Golan has insulted Africans in Israel and belittled the Reform Movement, the largest Jewish denomination in the US
Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 10:04 p.m. CET
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named a far-right politician who once boasted that she was “proud to be a racist” his country’s top diplomat in New York.
May Golan’s appointment was quickly denounced by Israeli and American former diplomats and the head of the largest Jewish denomination in the US as an affront to the US and harmful to Israel.
A group of former Israeli ambassadors said they were “shocked” by the move.
“Golan’s appointment is outrageous as she is a racist and divisive figure, which is the very opposite of what Israel needs in such a critical place,” they said.
Golan, who is a member of Israel’s parliament for Netanyahu’s Likud party and a minister without portfolio in the current government, is a supporter of the ultra-nationalist faction in the ruling coalition, which is trying to curb the power of the Israeli courts in what has been described as ” judicial coup”.
She will succeed Asaf Zamir, who resigned last month after telling a meeting of American Jewish donors that he was “deeply concerned about the direction.” [Israel] just going in”.
Golan made a political name for itself by denouncing African refugees in Israel, calling them “Muslim invaders”, criminals and rapists. She said many had AIDS, suggested they spread HIV by working as waiters and called for them to be expelled from the country.
“If I’m racist because I want to defend my country and protect my basic rights and security, then I’m a proud racist,” she said at a political rally in 2013 as a member of the far-right Jewish Power party, a Kach descendant. prohibited under Israeli anti-terrorist laws.
Golan described himself as “very flattered‘ to have been nominated for the New York position to be ratified by the Israeli Parliament.
Former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk said the appointment “considered by the American Jewish community as a sign of the utmost disrespect.”
The Israeli consul in New York is expected to maintain close ties with the largest Jewish community outside of the Middle East. Many are members of the Reform Movement, the largest Jewish denomination in the United States but a small one in Israel, which has been unusually critical of the Israeli government’s policies of attempts to limit the powers of the judiciary. Golan has previously belittled the reform movement.
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Rabbi Rick Jacobs, chairman of the Union for Reform Judaism, accepted the appointment.
“We need a thoughtful, diplomatic, morally credible new Consul General in New York. May Golan is not one of them. Their brand of Zionism is in contrast to the majority of our community. It will harm, not help, the cause of Israel.” he tweeted.
The liberal pro-Israel lobby organization J Street also criticized the nomination.
“This appointment would be another affront by the Netanyahu administration to shared democratic values and an insult to the people — Jewish and non-Jewish alike — of a city that embodies America’s commitment to vibrant diversity,” it said.
Golan called that she will “work with the leaders of all Jewish organizations as part of an effort to strengthen the great partnership between Israel and the American Jewish community.”
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Netanyahu may have made the appointment to remove a strong supporter of judiciary reform from government as he tries to chart a political path after weeks of large-scale demonstrations against the new laws.
The Likud dismissed the claim, saying that “the offer was made to Golan because of her excellent command of English in public diplomacy.”
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