Arabs Wary Of Avigdor Lieberman As Election Nears (Updated)

In "Israel Goes To The Polls: Surprise King Maker Emerges", David Bedein writes about the key role that Lieberman is likely to have in the forming of the next government--and for that reason, he has the attention of the Arab world:

Mr. Lieberman became the one Israeli politician to immediately integrate Israeli popular anger against Israeli Arab support of the enemy into his political campaign, and his popularity has blossomed.

Mr. Lieberman's slogan was simple: No Israeli citizen should vote or serve in Israel's Knesset if he demonstrates disloyalty to the country, and his call has resounded in every corner of Israeli society.

Other major Israeli political parties such as Kadima. Led by Foreign Minister Livni and Labor. Led by Defense Minister Barak, have, in fact, announced that their parties would sit in a government with Mr. Lieberman if either party forms a future Israeli government.

The Arab world is closely following the elections in Israel and there is a clear concern in the Arab media due to the rise in the polls of Mr. Lieberman.

The Arab media also closely followed the publication of the last election polls in the weekend Israeli newspapers. "Lieberman may pass the 20-seat mark, according to the polls of the Israeli newspapers," reported the popular Arab newspaper Al-Quds. "This is only three seats less than Kadima is expected to get, and six less
than the number of seats that the Likud is expected to receive in the elections."

Other Arab commentators are quoted as saying that "in the coming elections, Lieberman may even be Israel's prime minister."

Another expression of the Arab media's fear of Mr. Lieberman can be found in the following quote, which appeared in "Al-Quds" in Jerusalem: "Lieberman will ultimately decide who Israel's next prime minister will be, because his support for a particular candidate will resolve almost conclusively the issue of forming the government"

Their conclusion is correct. Lieberman's warning about the disloyalty of Israel's Arab population now represent the most popular position on the Israeli political horizon. [emphasis added]

Of course, the fact that Lieberman has been able to make 'Arab disloyalty' into an issue and has exploited it to increase his political capital does not mean that there is much that he will, or will be able to, do about it, but in an election where some pundits see little difference between the 3 major candidates, Lieberman is likely to make things interesting.

UPDATED: In Arabs watching the Israeli elections, Mark Lynch writes about the Arab reaction:

I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon watching al-Jazeera's coverage of the Israeli elections. I've also been reading editorial commentary and news coverage from across the Arab world. I'd like to be able to say that Arabs are on the edge of their seats awaiting the outcome. But that's not what I'm seeing. For the most part, the elections are seen as a choice between bad (Livni) and worse (Netanyahu) with Lieberman the "real" emerging face of Israel. This isn't like 1996, when the choice between Peres and Netanyahu seemed stark and urgent. Today, they survey the wreckage of Gaza and see little reason for hope regardless of the outcome. Whoever wins the election, argues the journalist Mustafa Zayn in al-Hayat, the true winner will be Ze'ev Jabotinski and his doctrine of the "Iron Wall."

His conclusion is what is to be expected:

Whoever wins will have to take significant steps -- "costly signals" in the IR lingo -- to change these Arab expectations and fears. We'll see.

Why is it that no one suggested during the last election that Hamas take steps to allay Israel's fears of terrorist attacks?

Stupid question, I know--but keep in mind why it is a stupid question.

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