The reason we knew Navalny was the real deal was not because he was unimpeachably liberal, but because he wasn't.
Warts and all, Navalny made the compromises of a man who truly wanted to achieve a goal and not pose on ceremony. He believed in Greater Russia, he collaborated with 'Greater Russians', he maintained right to the end that Ukrainians and Belarussians were little more than Russians who didn't know they were Russian, he just didn't want to risk his whole country by going to war over it. He marched in the same right wing protests as ultranationalists, even neonazis. To the end of his life, he never truly repented.
Nelson Mandela never recanted on his periods of violent Marxism, Rabin never recanted the assaults he ordered on Palestinians over a period of 40 years. It makes no difference when a person whose conduct is above reproach wants peace or liberty, that's what you expect of them. But when a borderline authoritarian advocates peace and liberty, you take it seriously. They gained much of their power and respect through authoritarian methods, and to switch tactics to peace and negotiation puts their credibility on the line. *
It doesn't always work that way: all you have to do is look at Arafat, who to the end of his life could not let go of terrorism, but any authoritarian who offers peace puts his life on the line, and it's always an act of bravery for which they might pay with assassination.
Where is that bravery in Israel? Where is that bravery in the US? Where is that bravery in Gaza? In Russia, you're facing an authoritarian with an implacable mix of ruthlessness and power - Navalny's failure was all but assured. But here? There's a chance. Israel? There's a chance. Gaza? Well... so many potential Palestinian leaders are sitting in Israeli prisons where their lives are currently safer than they'd ever be in Palestinian territories. Is there no longer even one Republican congressman willing to stand up to Trump? Is there not one Israeli figure of consequence willing to say that offering a two-state solution is more important than ever now? Is there not one Palestinian leader willing to condemn Hamas's actions publicly?
* I might add, this is why I firmly believe that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince is serious about his offer to broker peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment