TEHRAN (FNA)- Charles Dunaway, journalist and political commentator, says Israel has become increasingly corrupt with the Likud party in power for decades.
“In the early years after the Nakba, much of the corruption involved attempts to strengthen the ruling party… As the nation grew more prosperous, corruption moved toward election funding and jobs for political supporters. The current scandals are more focused on money and personal gain,” Dunaway said in an exclusive interview with FNA.
Charles Dunaway is an American radio host and journalist who runs an online political forum. His program is focused on international news, primarily from media sources outside the United States' sphere of influence.
Below is the full text of the interview:
Q: What is the status of corruption among the heads of the Israeli regime?
A: Financial corruption is the most common form of government criminality worldwide. Israel, like any other polity, becomes increasingly corrupt when a single group stays in power for a long time. The Likud party ruled Israel for 15 years ending in 1992 and now has been in power for over a decade. Bribery at the highest levels of government is often the result of a powerful government ruling over a growing and developing economy, which has been the case in Israel for many decades.
Transparency International ranked Israel 34th on its corruption transparency index for 2018. While among the worst rankings in the developed world, Israel ranked as 3rd least corrupt in the MENA region after UAE and Qatar. Of course the methodologies of such reports often reflect a Western-oriented bias. Many nations rated among the most corrupt are designated enemies of the United States.
Q: Almost every Israeli prime minister has been accused of corruption. Why has bribery been so rampant for decades?
A: A number of factors could be at play. Members of the Knesset are immune from prosecution under Israeli law and that certainly plays a role. In the early years after the Nakba, much of the corruption involved attempts to strengthen the ruling party and thus the occupation government. As the nation grew more prosperous, corruption moved toward election funding and jobs for political supporters. The current scandals are more focused on money and personal gain. Doron Navot of Haifa University also notes that the Israeli government views the United States as a role model and the US has one of the most corrupt political systems in the developed world. He also credits the West Bank settlement expansion’s role in political appointments and in support for leaders with a hawkish agenda.
Q: How has the Israeli regime’s corruption impacted the people?
A: Corruption always results in a loss of faith in government and respect for political leaders. In Israel this is reflected in the political stalemate and lower turnouts, especially among Palestinians living in Israel who, like poorer people everywhere, suffer most from the harmful effects of political corruption. Bribery also tilts the playing field for Israeli companies. Those with close ties to officials prosper while others languish, without regard for the value of the industry to the nation or the viability of its products.
No comments:
Post a Comment