The Israel Situation » Peace Process

Going Through the Motions

Anthony Reich — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:07:57 +0000

The most recent round of peace talks held between the Israelis and the Palestinians has been declared a failure by the Palestinians, Even though the talks were held at a low level, involving only negotiating representatives from each side, there always somehow seems a little more hope when a dialogue is taking place. In hindsight, it seems quite clear that there was never really any prospect that this round of talks would go anywhere. For the Palestinians, it was always a case of simply going through the motions to get safely to the next trigger point.

Following the unsuccessful attempts by the Palestinians to gain recognition from the UN Security Council and General Assembly in the summer of 2011, the Palestinians had promised the Quartet that they would give another round of talks a chance until the 26th January 2012. Having promised this, the Palestinians had no way of escaping from the commitment. Despite the fact that a total of 5 meetings were held in the current round between the parties in a very short period of time, all of which took place under the sponsorship of the Jordanian government in Amman, it became clear very early in the process that there was little intent on the part of the Palestinians to make this round work. Having seemingly exhausted its alternatives by making little progress at the UN, however, the question arises as to why the Palestinians were trying to torpedo these talks? With few alternatives to allow them to make progress towards their objective, it would appear that talks seem to be the best alternative for Mahmoud Abbas and the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority.

In order to better understand why the Palestinians sabotaged the latest talks, it is important to the sub-plots that are going on behind the scenes, and which are having more of an influence on the actions by President Abbas and chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. The first issue to address concerns the PA’s alternatives at the UN. Even though the UN Security Council and General Assembly seemingly had little interest in promoting the cause of the Palestinians at their meetings last year, the UN is quite a disparate organisation with many different tentacles that are often disconnected from each other. This was demonstrated when, soon after the failure at the General Assembly, the Palestinians did manage to win support for full membership to the UN cultural organisation UNESCO in October 2011. Although this was a poor consolation prize for main objective, it did demonstrate to the Palestinians that they could use a slower and indirect approach in order to work their way into the UN organisation. This includes the possibility of making use of the UN-sponsored International Court of Justice to charge Israelis with crimes against humanity arising from events in the recent Gaza War, Operation Cast Lead. The Palestinians have repeatedly threatened to make use of this avenue in their battle against Israel. Even if charges that they may bring through this court are ultimately dismissed, such actions could tie individual Israelis and the Israeli government up in legal proceedings for many years. By bringing the latest round of peace talks with Israel to an end, the prospect of stepping up actions through these UN organisations is placed firmly back on the table, and exactly where the Palestinians wish it to be.

The second sub-plot concerns the evolution of the relationship between Fatah and Hamas. The Palestinian Authority is controlled by Fatah, and with Mahmoud Abbas already serving his 8th year of a 4-year term, there is a great deal of pressure for elections to be held. Fatah is clearly reluctant to call elections when there is a real prospect of them being routed, even in their perceived stronghold of the West Bank. Many of these issues were taken care of, when a deal was signed between Hamas and Fatah to create a unity government for the Palestinian Authority. This deal is a typical attempt to extend the longevity of politicians on both sides of the divide, by denying the electorate the right to express its will through the ballot box. With Hamas being absolutely opposed to holding any negotiations with Israel at all, the establishment of the unity government was put on hold while the latest talks were held. Now, with the talks dead and buried, the blockage has been removed. For Fatah, entering into a closer relationship with Hamas may allow it to share in some of the popular support that Hamas continues to enjoy following recent prisoner exchange deal. It may also extend the political lives of some of the bigger names.

A further sub-plot in play concerns the ongoing events in the Arab World, and the events which have resulted from the “Arab Spring”. Mahmoud Abbas has announced that he will be taking the issue of the failed talks with the Israelis to the Arab League, to get direction as to what should happen next. With the Arab League occupied with events in Syria, Abbas may have a created a smokescreen under which to operate. Interestingly, the effects of the Arab Spring also seem to have created something of a split within Hamas, which may yet have an impact on the Palestinian Authority via the inclusion of Hamas in the unity government activities. The leadership that was formerly based in Damascus (reports suggest that Khaled Meshal and his team have fled the Syrian capital) feel that non-violent protest against Israel may be effective as a “Palestinian Spring”, after having seen the impact of the popular uprising in Syria and Egypt first-hand. The Gaza leadership is quite clear that it has no intention of adopting a new non-violent approach against Israel, and this issue may yet cause further internal conflict within the Palestinian camp.

The way in which the Palestinians went through the motions in the recent peace talks seemed a little more transparent than usual. Despite the fact that the talks were primarily addressing the issues of borders and security, an Israeli official was prevented from fully presenting Israel’s position on borders to the Amman meeting. An Israeli document setting out 21 points of principles needed to reach a peace agreement was not considered, and was then dismissed as being “just an outline”. These attempts to dismiss Israel’s honest efforts in the talks seem clearly designed to sabotage the talks. In the press, Israel’s border proposals have been labelled as “preventing a Palestinian state from being established”, and have been blamed for the breakdown of the talks.

In spite of the obvious reasons for the breakdown, the stale mate somehow seems still to have produced a slight edge for the Palestinian side. The breakdown of the talks has been presented by the international community by saying that the Palestinians have at least fulfilled their commitment to continue to try until the pre-agreed date of 26th January. Having tried and failed, all bets are off the table, but the rewards due to the Palestinians are triggered. European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton even had the audacity to call upon Israel to deliver “confidence-building concessions” to encourage the talks to continue. We have already learned that this means delivering confidence to the international community, and concessions to the Palestinians. The Palestinian side seems not to be expected to deliver confidence nor the concessions. The international community would be better off understanding that any such concessions on Israel’s part, would amount to rewards to the Palestinians for bad behaviour.

It seems clear to me that a lasting peace will only be possible via a negotiated settlement. This was also recognised by Fatah strongman Marwan Barghouti, who remains in an Israeli jail serving five life sentences for murder of Israeli citizens. He made a rare court appearance during the last week, and managed to send out a message indicating that he believes in a negotiated settlement based on the 1967 borders. The precise terms of the negotiated settlement remain a large outstanding issue, but it is interesting that the person believed to be the instigator of both the first and second intifadas is talking about a negotiated settlement at all. The problem right now, is that there appear to be few Palestinians who believe that this is the correct route to take, and who are prepared to make the painful concessions necessary to bring this to reality. Until this happens, the Palestinians will be going through the motions, and the cycle of violence will continue.

Going Through the Motions is a post from: The Israel Situation

Hamas Reaches a Fork in the Road

Anthony Reich — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:18:40 +0000

It has been interesting to watch developments within Hamas over the past few months, and especially since the prisoner exchange deal which saw the release of Gilad Shalit. For Hamas, this has been a significant political event and has driven the organisation’s popularity to new heights amongst its Palestinian constituency. It seems as though this popularity has not reached all parts of the organisation, and that this great political event may even cause something of a split within Hamas.

Since Hamas was founded in 1987, there has been some tension between the so-called Gaza leadership, and the leadership based in exile. Until recently, the base in exile has been situated in the Syrian capital, Damascus. This is where Hamas Political Chief and Hamas Leader Khaled Meshaal has been based, together with his exile leadership team. On the other hand, Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and his cabinet are the ones who are ruling over the Gaza Strip on a day-to-day basis, close to the grass roots support that keeps the organisation so popular. While Haniyeh does turn for guidance to Meshal in his capacity as the leader of the organisation, the truth of the matter is that the Gaza team is a fairly autonomous entity. Since the Gaza team succeeded in winning control of Gaza from Fatah in a coup d’état in 2007, they have steadily risen in stature within the Hamas organisation. Recent events have served to strengthen this position even further, to the point that the overall leadership of Hamas may see itself moving from the base in Damascus back to Gaza.

The rise in power of the Gaza leadership really began back in 2005, soon after the death of Yasser Arafat. This event gave the leaders in Gaza the opportunity to raise their profile on the ground, starting with the assertion of their authority against arch-rivals Fatah. The legislative elections held in 2006 were easily won by Hamas even though Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas managed to hang onto the presidency of the Palestinian Authority. A year later, Hamas supporters rose up against the Fatah rulers in Gaza, and asserted their authority on the streets. This brought their victory at the ballot box to reality. During this time, Hamas operatives kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, and held him as a bargaining chip for more than 5 years. All the while, Hamas was firing missiles from Gaza into Israel and keeping the organisation’s name on the international stage. These events have helped to popularise Hamas amongst its supporters in Gaza, and amongst extremist Muslims around the world. This popularity has come at the expense of Fatah, but has also caused a split within the Hamas organisation itself. There is no doubt that the Gaza leadership has taken all the credit for these events at the expense of the Damascus leadership.

The Arab Spring has further weakened the Damascus leadership in a few different ways. It is reported that the instability in Damascus has resulted in the exile leadership being forced to move their office elsewhere. Although there is no confirmation of the new location for their office, they may be forced to remain fairly mobile in light of the events of the Arab Spring moving around the Middle East fairly rapidly. Meshal has also been influenced by the Arab Spring and decided to try to use its impetus to suggest the use of non-violent protest against Israel. This suggestion has been forcefully rejected by the Gaza leaders, who continue to subscribe to violent protest and ongoing firing of missiles towards Israel.

This is not the only major disagreement between Damascus and Gaza. The Damascus leadership has been very active in working on the negotiations with Fatah to reach an agreement on a unity government for the Palestinian Authority. Besides the compromises that each side has been forced to make to reach an agreement with the other, there is another key elephant in the room. This is the issue of the talks with Israel which are back on the table, albeit at a very low level. The Gaza leadership remains absolutely opposed to reaching any agreement with Fatah, all the time that Fatah is willing to enter into negotiations with Israel. This view seems to have prevailed over the past few weeks. Despite having signed an agreement to enter into a unity government with Fatah amidst some fanfare in Cairo, Hamas has taken no active steps towards making this agreement a reality.

These events culminated in an announcement last week that Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has decided not to see re-election as the movement’s chief in elections which are due to take place later during 2012. This seems to be an acknowledgement on Meshaal’s part that he will be defeated in the election. Rather than be defeated, he would prefer to bow out in a more elegant way. Favourite to replace him is Ismail Haniyeh, leader in Gaza.

All of this indicates something of a radicalisation of Hamas in the future. The Gaza leadership is naturally much more radical than that in Damascus, and the future path of Hamas is bound to be strongly influenced by this. In addition, the rise to power of the Muslim Brotherhood across the border in Egypt is ominous. Hamas was founded as an off-spring of the Muslim Brotherhood, and continues to have a close relationship with this organisation. The Mubarak regime succeeded to some degree in limiting the flow of arms into Gaza from Egypt, but the floodgates will be open now that the Muslim Brotherhood is calling the shots in Cairo.

While there were indications of compromise and understanding coming from the Damascus leadership, this appears almost certainly to have been overruled by the approach of conflict and confrontation dictated by the Gaza leadership. This almost certainly means a continued schism within Palestinian politics between Fatah and Hamas. For Israel, this probably means that another Gaza operation, similar to Operation Cast Lead, is inevitable in response to the continued missile attacks that seem almost assured. In Middle East politics, this is a huge opportunity that will be missed.

Image by corbis.com.

Hamas Reaches a Fork in the Road is a post from: The Israel Situation

The Best and The Worst of 2011

Anthony Reich — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:27:42 +0000

As we welcome 2012, it gives the opportunity to reflect on the best and worst parts of 2011. In Israel, 2011 was an eventful year, including a number of interesting and challenging events. For some, it was a year that they would prefer to forget. Despite many negative aspects to the year, I think that Israelis will regard 2011 as having been a year that was more positive than negative. Here are the main reasons why I think that this was the case.

The best story coming out of 2011 was the release of captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. It is not only the fact that Gilad was returned safely to the arms of his family that makes this story good. The fact that the Israeli government was finally able to agree and execute this deal sends some amazingly strong and positive statements to all Israelis. For me, this is a classic story where the right thing finally triumphed. Like all good stories, this has a negative side to it as well. I really cannot blame all of those who opposed the deal due to the “price” that had to be paid in terms of the number of Palestinian prisoners who were released, even those who have murdered Israelis. I also know how paranoid the Israel Defense Force (IDF) is about the possibility of soldiers being kidnapped in the future, and the measures that have been put in place to try to avoid this at any price. I feel that working to avoid future kidnappings is a better reaction than leaving Gilad in captivity under the conditions that he was held. This was, by far, the highlight of the year in my view.

Another good story of 2011 was that of the social protests. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to demonstrate against lack of social justice, and of the dramatic increases in the cost of living without commensurate increases in earnings. This was a great story for a number of reasons. It was good to see the Israeli public having the time and energy to devote to social issues, and behaving in a manner that most “normal” countries behave. In the 63 years since Israel’s independence, most of the time has been spent worrying about an existential threat. Wars have been fought, terror attacks overcome and many people have been left dead and injured. This allows little time or energy to give even a fleeting thought to daily social issues. The fact that hundreds of thousands of Israelis were able to come out into the street to protest social issues gives some indication that the existential threat is not quite at the same level as it has been in the past. It also shows what Israelis really care about, and shows the real democracy that exists in Israel. On all of these levels, the protests were extremely encouraging. These good points, however, should not cause us to lose sight of the core issue of these protests – the economic inequality and hardships that many people are suffering. Unfortunately, the government has not responded sufficiently to the message of the protest marches, and this issue is likely to plague us for some time yet.

A further good story for 2011 was the extent to which the economy succeeded in holding up during the year. Even though this seems to be at odds with the message brought by the social protest movement, more Israelis were in employment during 2011 than at any other time in Israel’s history. In addition, while economies around the world were floundering and suffering all types of economic problems, Israel somehow managed to keep its economy on track. This does not mean that the year translated into a boom year for Israel. It does, however, continue the theme of displaying a real underlying strength to Israel’s economy that was shown during 2008 when the credit crunch hit many economies so hard. Once again in 2011, Israel’s economy has performed admirably. Along with the good things, come some very difficult questions. Why are so many Israelis struggling financially when the economy is at almost full employment? This is clearly something that needs to be addressed as part of the social equality agenda.

The major regional story this year was the unfolding of the Arab Spring in countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The way in which the Arab Spring has swept through the region could never have been predicted. Even though this is great news for democracy in the Middle East, it has created an instability that is proving to be negative for Israel, and many countries in the western world. While the free world has an obligation to support the move towards democracy in principle, there is a real problem about whether these countries are really ready to embrace democracy. In many respects, stability in the Arab world is more important than democracy. As things seem at the moment, the two don’t seem to be able to live side by side. The change of regime in Egypt is particularly concerning, with the increasing popularity of the Muslim Brotherhood. The protest movement in Syria also promises some dramatic changes to regional politics, and they are not necessarily all going to be positive.

The second major regional story surrounds Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. 2011 can be characterised as a year of confirmation and inaction where this is concerned. The international community were presented with irrefutable evidence of Iran’s development of nuclear missiles. Even the International Atomic Energy Agency were forced to accept that Israel’s representations about Iran’s nuclear program have been correct all along. Having had this fact confirmed, the best that the international community could muster up, were a few ineffectual sanctions. It has become clear that Iran is not only setting out to threaten Israel. The events over the past few days in the Straits of Hormuz are a clear challenge to the US. The military exercise on this occasion closed the straights for only a short period of time. The next time could be for longer, precipitating a potential military conflict with the USA.

Despite the fact that 2011 was a hugely eventful year, it seems only to have set the scene for what awaits us in 2012. Israel’s social justice movement is likely to be more vociferous, particularly if the economy suffers more than it did in 2011. The government will need to be prepared to commit to spend more money on social issues, and to see these promises through. This is an issue that is no less imporant than Israel’s security challenges.

The Arab Spring will come to a head in Syria. It seems as though the Sunni Muslims, who represent over 70% of the population, are likely to gain the ascendancy after having been ruled by the minority Alawites for many years. The Spring could yet spread to other countries in the region, and this could present a greater threat to Israel as more of her neighbours became destabilised by these events.

I expect that 2012 will also see the Iranian nuclear issue come to a head, as Iran continues to intimidate and provoke Israel, the USA and other western countries. All of this adds up to 2012 looking to be a tough year.

In between the pessimistic expectations are a few rays of light. Even though I expect a great deal of instability during 2012, it is my hope that this will then bring a period of greater stability as is often the case. I also hope that the unfolding Arab Spring can create a new, more compromising, reality with the Palestinians to allow moves towards a genuine peace based on mutual recognition and respect.

It is my hope and prayer that 2012 holds only great things for all of you. Happy new year!!

Image by www.photobucket.com

The Best and The Worst of 2011 is a post from: The Israel Situation

A Zionist Perspective on Chanukah

Samantha Vinokor — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:34:33 +0000

For many in the American Jewish community, the lights of the Chanukah candles are their way to feel a part of the festivities of the holiday season. Though the lights of Christmas trees may beckon, the flickering lights of the candles give American Jews pride in their own holiday, their own heritage, their own history.

The story of Chanukah is one that is thoroughly Zionist in nature. It is the story of one of the earliest manifestations of Jewish nationalism, and is exemplary of the ongoing movement for Jewish independence and self-determination in the land of Israel. In the traditional Chanukah story, the Maccabees fight for the Jewish right to independence in their homeland. It is a story that has been replayed in the modern State of Israel, giving rise to the symbolism of the Maccabees in Israeli culture today. The Chanukah story permeates Israel. It is not just the story of the miracle of the oil, or the reclamation and restoration of the Temple. It is the story of Jewish victory of oppressors, of defending our homeland against those who seek to delegitimize our connection to it and destroy our nation. It is a narrative that Israelis and Zionists can relate to very strongly, as it is a story that has played out many times throughout our history. While a well-known joke about Jewish holidays is “They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat,” this attitude fails to take into account the existential threat that Israel faces, even today.

The modern State of Israel came into being as a modern miracle. With inferior weaponry, little infrastructure, and a much smaller population, the day after declaring independence, the new country was forced to go to war against invading armies from the neighboring Arab states. The miracles that come to mind when one thinks of Israel’s history are numerous. Independence. The stunning victory of the Six Day War. The peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt. The fact that Israel, the “start-up nation” has a thriving economy, even in the face of a global recession. The reality of being a vibrant, diverse, democratic nation in the Middle East. And so many others.

Today, as Jews around the world gather to light the Chanukah candles, it is imperative that we all remember that the true miracle of Chanukah is Jewish survival and self-determination. The Maccabees, when faced with a powerful enemy-the Syrian Greeks-protected the traditions of the Jewish people, and ensured the continuity of Jewish life in Israel. In 2011, we must continue to follow this example. Israel faces numerous threats, both on the physical front lines and in the hearts and minds of people around the world. The example of the Maccabees, of a group of people willing to fight for the safety and freedom of the people of Israel, is one that should be honored and appreciated as we enter the holiday season.

Chag Sameach!

Image by scazon.

A Zionist Perspective on Chanukah is a post from: The Israel Situation

Message To My Son

Anthony Reich — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 22:03:44 +0000

My son,

For the past fourteen years, we knew that this day would eventually come. Somehow, I did not imagine that it would be like this. When we decided all those years ago to make our home in Israel, you were only 6 years old. The notion of you becoming a soldier in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) seemed so far removed from the reality of our everyday lives. We were living in the post-Oslo period, which gave us all a false sense of security that peace was about to break out in the Middle East. The advantages of moving our lives to the Jewish homeland, seemed to far outweigh the disadvantages. This was true even when we considered the fact that you would be obliged to serve in the Jewish army. Now that your draft date has arrived, I find myself revisiting those decisions taken on your behalf, and the events that have occurred since then.

Over the years, we have discovered that the hopes that we all had for peace, were simply a false facade for the duplicitous dealings of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. We have been forced to endure wars, terror attacks and continued threats to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. We have witnessed how any young man or woman in the IDF uniform has become a target for attack or kidnap by our enemies. All of these things contribute to making your service in the IDF a much more dangerous and risky prospect than was previously the case. In a perverse sort of way, it is also these events that make your service of greater value and importance to Israel and the Jewish people than before.

During the course of your schooling in Israel, you have learned about the numerous attempts to annihilate the Jewish people. You have visited Auschwitz and other death camps in Poland where millions of Jews were put to death, only because they were Jews. You understand very well, the context of the service that you are about to render in the IDF. You know that 6 million Jews would not have lost their lives in the Holocaust if a Jewish army had existed at that time. You also know that new Hitlers arise in every generation. Given the chance, Ahmadinejad, Nasrallah and others would follow in Hitler’s footsteps to try to wipe the Jews off the earth, even in our day and age. There is only one thing that stops them from doing so, and this is the IDF. The IDF not only ensures the safety and survival of Israel and her citizens, it also gives freedom to Jews around the world to exist as Jews in relative safety, freedom and security. As a soldier in the IDF, you will continue to protect all Jews around the world against the numerous enemies that seek to destroy the Jews. You understand the importance of agreeing to serve in order to ensure that the IDF continues to be a strong force and protector of the Jewish people, even in the future.

Even though the big picture is clear and a great motivating force, it does not necessarily make the day-to-day realities of military life any easier. You feel unsure of what the future holds for you, and are not clear what your task in the IDF will be or where you will serve. We feel nervous with you and for you, as you contemplate this great unknown venture ahead of you. We all know that the army cannot necessarily accommodate every individual’s needs and requests, and place each person in the position that is best suited to them personally. The army’s needs come first, and you will be forced to undertake a role which is not one that you would have chosen for yourself. In spite of all of this, we have watched you approach your military service with tremendous maturity and a positive attitude. You have done all that you can to guarantee that your rights are protected, and to try to find your way to a role that will keep you interested and well-utilised. We have equally seen your willingness to do whatever is needed, even where this does not necessarily match what you want.

Today, as I watch these events before my eyes, and contemplate the next three years in which you will be a soldier in the IDF, I feel a tremendous pride. I am enormously proud of the fact that you and your friends are willing to sacrifice three years of your life to serve your country and your people. At a time when only one in two eligible Israelis are actually being drafted, every man and woman counts for a great deal. You have stood up and been counted. I am extremely proud of the fact that you are determined to undertake a role that will keep you challenged and allow you to make a real contribution. Many have decided that they prefer to lay low and do as little as possible to allow the three years to pass in any uneventful way. This is not for you. You are determined to have a job that will keep you interested, and will allow you to make some use of the tremendous talents and skills that you have. I am proud of the fact that you understand the necessity for you to play your role, at a time when many others are finding ways to escape this.

You have benefited over the past fourteen years from all the good things that Israeli society has to offer its children. You have had the opportunity to walk the streets in relative safety whenever you wish, and to learn the independence that is typical of Israeli youth. You have explored all corners of Israel, and connected to the Jewish homeland that was inhabited by your forefathers. You have celebrated Jewish festivals and Israeli national holidays amongst your fellow Jews. You have explored and developed your technical skills in an environment that is amongst the most technologically advanced in the world. You have represented your country in an international competition, bringing great credit to your country, city, school and family. You have volunteered to help underprivileged youth, and experienced the difficulties that so many people in Israel are suffering. And now you are ready to take this further in making a commitment to safeguard your country and your people.

We wish you success and happiness during the time that you will serve. We hope that you will find a way to make a meaningful contribution, and that will allow you to develop yourself in the process. We pray for your health and safety, in mind and in body, and for the safety of those serving alongside you. No matter where you are or what you are doing, we will be supporting you all the way, and eagerly awaiting the hours that you will be allowed to spend with us at home. May Hashem guide and protect you in all that you do, wherever you may be. I am extremely proud to be your father.

Message To My Son is a post from: The Israel Situation

UNESCO Fallout

Eric — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:16:37 +0000

Last week, UNESCO, the United Nations division dedicated to culture and science, voted to allow the Palestinians as a full member state under the name Palestine. The United States and Israel were not happy about it, and they made their thoughts known through the mighty dollar.

Aside from the expected public disapproval of the vote, Israel suspended all payments to the international agency. While Israel’s roughly $2 million to the agency every year will not make a major difference, Israel also suspended tax payments to the Palestinian Authority for making such a move. That transfer, around $100 million per month, is vital for the Palestinian government to continue functioning.

Whiles some anti-Israel advocates around the world have spoken out against Israel’s move, it is proof that the Israelis expect the Palestinians to come to the table to negotiate a peace plan. Unless it is mutual, the Palestinians are side-stepping the peace process in a hostile act against Israel.

The United States also took a position to back its longtime ally in the Middle East. The United States fulfilled its promise to halt funding to UNESCO in response to the vote. The $60 million makes up about 22% of UNESCO’s annual budget.

Over the coming months, I imagine we will see more efforts by the Palestinians to ignore the peace process while it attempts international recognition on its own. In the mean time, terrorists continue to attack innocent Israelis with rocket fire in the South, Hezbollah continues to threaten the border in the North, and Israel’s military must work around the clock to keep innocent civilians safe from terrorists.

What a great peace we have with the Palestinians…

UNESCO Fallout is a post from: The Israel Situation

Gilad is Finally Home, But the Controversy Rages On

Anthony Reich — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:52:01 +0000

Israel experienced its highest-ever TV ratings over a one day period last week on Tuesday, when captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit finally returned home. The nation was glued to its TV sets as we watched events unfold over the day, finally culminating in a weak-looking Gilad returning to Israel and to the waiting arms of his family. He had spent 5 years and 4 months held in captivity by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Representatives from Hamas have made public statements about how well Gilad was treated. It is claimed that he was well fed during the years of his captivity, and allowed access to media including Israeli TV and radio broadcasts. Although they have also claimed that he was not subject to torture at their hands, Gilad’s father Noam has expressed doubt about this. He does, however, concur with the Hamas statements that Gilad was treated better in the latter years of his captivity. Noam’s comments allow us to believe that the first years were not easy, and may well have included torture. The facts on the day of the prisoner transfer, however, speak for themselves. It was difficult not to notice the stark difference in the conditions of the 477 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel, when compared to that of Gilad. The Palestinian prisoners looked well-fed and physically in good health as they sat on buses and smoked while waiting for the exchange deal to proceed. They had been granted access to members of their family and international organisations as required by the Geneva Convention. The same could not be said for Gilad, who walked with difficulty after being kept away from daylight for most of his years in captivity. Neither his family nor members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were allowed access to him for more than 5 years, despite repeated requests.

As Gilad tries to get to know his family and friends again at his home in Mitzpe Hila, the debate rages through the pages of the Israeli press and around the world about whether the prisoner exchange deal that secured his release was justified. With 477 Palestinian prisoners already released, and a further 550 slated for release in 2 months’ time as part of the deal, there are those in Israel who feel that the price paid for the return of just one prisoner was too high. This view is even further enhanced when considering the crimes committed by those who have been set free. The list of released prisoners includes murderers and terrorists who collectively succeeded in killing hundreds of innocent Israelis. The incidents in which these attacks took place range from the detonation of a bomb in pizza restaurant in downtown Jerusalem to an explosion at a hotel where thousands celebrated the Passover holiday, and more. It is perfectly understandable that the family members of the victims of these attacks are suffering anguish as a result of these killers being set free. There are those who believe that the release of these terrorists, many of whom have vowed to return to their old murderous ways, increases the security risk to Israeli civilians. There are many naysayers who are literally waiting for the next wave of terror attacks to hit Israel in order to justify their resistance to prisoner exchange deal. Yet others are opposed to the deal because they believe that it represents capitulation to terrorists, and encourages them to kidnap Israeli soldiers or civilians in the future in order to secure similar deals. This prisoner exchange agreement, they say, shows a weakness on the part of the Israeli government and her citizens.

Most of the points for and against the exchange deal are fairly well-known, and have enjoyed broad discussion in the Israeli and international press. There are, however, additional considerations that have come to my mind, and which are perhaps less widely discussed. The first point is that the concept of a prisoner exchange deal of this nature is not new. The truth is that Israel has been doing such deals for many years. The only thing that has differed from one deal to another, are the names and the numbers. Over the past 30 years, Israel has released some 7,000 Palestinian prisoners and released the remains of many more. In exchange Israel has received 19 Israelis and the remains of 8 others. Looking back over the years, I don’t believe that this has weakened Israel in any way, or shown that it is capitulating to terrorism. On the contrary, Israel has increased its defences against terrorists in a variety of different ways to strengthen its opposition to the vile actions taken against innocent civilians. At times, Israel has employed fairly extreme anti-terror defences, including a policy of targeted killings against those orchestrating terror activities or carrying them out. This surely demonstrates that Israel is not getting soft on terrorists. While agreeing to enter into prisoner swaps on the one hand, Israel has shown itself to be extremely tough on terror in many other ways.

Instead of interpreting exchange deals as showing weakness to terrorists, it is my belief that Israel is showing strength by adhering to basic principles and values which are fundamental in the Jewish religion. These same principles are the same ones that most reasonable people around the world would identify with. These are the principles of attaching value to the life of each and every citizen of Israel, particularly those who have fallen into captivity during the course of serving in the country’s army. This makes an important and powerful statement, not only to those serving in the army and their families, but also to our enemies. Often, a strong set of values and principles is more important than military strength. Armies around the world will tell you that it is tougher to fight against an enemy which has strong fundamental beliefs in its cause and in its values, than an enemy that does not. This has not gone unnoticed in the Arab press. A reporter writing in Abu Dhabi’s English language Gulf News wrote, “It is not a secret at all that the value of an Arab person in the stock-exchange of Arab regimes is sort of nil …. Have you ever seen an Arab regime trying to get its captives out of Israeli prisons? Forget about it. Most Arab regimes have no problem at all letting their nationals die in Israeli jails.” I believe that such actions do not serve to strengthen a society. It is my view that this attitude shows greater weakness than being prepared to stay to true to a country’s citizens, even if this means having to release terrorists.

Israel has a few weak spots in its history of valuing and securing the release of its citizens held by enemies. Three soldiers, Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz were captured by Syrian authorities in their tank in the Golan Heights in 1982. They have not been heard from since then, and are presumed dead. No evidence has been produced to support this view, however, and the three are listed as missing in action. A similar story is the one of missing Israeli airman Ron Arad, which captured the attention, imagination and sympathy of the world. Navigator Arad bailed out of his plane over Lebanon, and was captured by the enemy in 1986. He was known to have been alive as late as 1988, after having been “sold” by Hezbollah to the Iranians. Israeli attempts to free Arad came to nothing, and there is a strong suspicion that he died during the course of his captivity. For 25 years, his wife and family have been unable to move on with their lives as there is no official pronouncement of life or death. Officially, he is missing in action. These are stains on Israel’s record, and all Israelis know this.

Every nation at war is called upon to make tough decisions. Sometimes, these decisions involve the possibility of “sacrificing” soldiers or other individuals in the interests of a greater good, or the safety of a large number of others. In the case of Gilad Shalit, I think that any decision to sacrifice him in exchange for keeping 1,027 terrorists in prison would have been one of the toughest for anybody to make. In due course, we think we will know the price of not sacrificing him, but it is still difficult to say that any terror activities that may occur over the coming months and years would not have occurred if the 1,027 had remained in prison. It is my belief that there are enough “terrorists in waiting” out there to make the impact that the 1,027 may make, look insignificant.

On balance, given the alternatives between another Ron Arad situation or the current Gilad Shalit situation, the choice for me is an easy one. We are obliged to value the life that we know that we can rescue. In this respect, the government has made exactly the right decision. We are also obliged to ensure that those who are released, are not allowed to cause any further damage or bloodshed. I am sure that the IDF is on a close look-out for this. And even though many will interpret the release of the terrorists is to be an insult to the memories of those who were killed at their hands, it is really a clear statement of the value of life. Even if it is only one.

It is my wish that Gilad will enjoy a quick and full recovery to everyday life, and that he and his family will enjoy many years of health and happiness together. It is equally my wish that the memories of those who were brutally murdered by terrorists, will be for a blessing. Perhaps, above all, the fact that our society can hold this type of debate in an open and honest way, is a great demonstration of our democracy at work to build a just, caring and sensitive society. Am Yisrael Chai – The People of Israel live!

Gilad is Finally Home, But the Controversy Rages On is a post from: The Israel Situation

Gilad To Be Released – The Agony With The Ecstasy

Anthony Reich — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:28:03 +0000

The mood across Israel was changed in a dramatic fashion on Tuesday last week when the news was made public during the early evening that an agreement had been reached with Hamas for the return of the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. After 5 long years during which Hamas had allowed no access to him at all, not even by human rights organisations like the International Committee of the Red Cross, it seems as though Gilad Shalit will finally be on his way home.

Of course, the agreement that was finally struck by David Meidan and the Israeli negotiating team comes at a high cost to Israel. The objective behind the kidnapping in the first instance, was to extract a high price from Israel by insisting that prisoners in Israeli jails be released in exchange for any agreement to release Shalit. This is exactly what they have achieved, even though it has taken more than 5 long years to finally reach the agreement. Israel will release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in order to secure the freedom of one IDF soldier. Many of these prisoners are serving life sentences, and have “blood on their hands” for murdering innocent Israeli civilians. Among those due for release are those who planned the Sbarro and Moment restaurant bombings in Jerusalem, those who planned the Seder night bombing at the Park Hotel in Netanya and those who planned the kidnap of Gilad Shalit. There are also many others who were involved in numerous bus bombings, and others who have committed similar heinous crimes. Along with the euphoria of knowing that Gilad will finally be returned to his parents and to the people of Israel, have come searching questions about the terms of his release.

As we sat in our Sukkah on Wednesday evening celebrating the festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles), the conversation inevitably turned to the deal that was struck for Gilad’s release. There were some sitting around the table who felt that the price was too high, and that the deal should never have been done on these terms. All the old concerns and issues were raised to justify why this deal endangers Israel’s security going forward. One friend said that he thought that the prisoner exchange shows a weakness in Israeli society that we are prepared to contemplate a deal that will return only one of our soldiers for more than a thousand of theirs. It is his view that our one soldier should effectively be sacrificed in order to protect the security of Israel going forward. The welfare of one soldier should not be allowed to destabilise the security of the entire State of Israel by placing convicted murderers and terrorists back on the streets. This friend has a daughter currently serving her two years in the IDF. When I asked how he would respond if the soldier in question was Heaven forbid his own daughter, he brought me the story of Joseph Stalin who refused to accept a deal with the Germans for a prisoner exchange to return his own son, Yacov, from captivity whilst a soldier in the Red army. Yacov ultimately died while being held by the Germans. My friend’s point is that the state is larger than any of its individuals, and that the government should behave accordingly.

As expected, the prisoner exchange has come under a great deal of resistance from the families of the victims who were maimed and murdered at the hands of the prisoners due for release. Many have already made it clear how insulted they feel by the release of the murderers of their loved ones. We can all understand their pain, and the fact that they feel that this insults the memories of their dearly departed. The government went out of its way to arrest and imprison the perpetrators of these horrible attacks. Now, it seems that all is being thrown away by the prisoner exchange deal. This view would be entirely valid if our circumstances were normal. Unfortunately, like so many other things in Israel and the Middle East, things are never straightforward.

My view is that we should do all that we can to respect the memories of those who have fallen in the line of duty protecting their homeland, and those whose lives have been taken by those seeking to destroy our country and our people. While doing so, however, we are also forced to confront the new realities and circumstances that arise each day. I think that the strength of our society lies in the fact that we do value each individual as if he is the only one. While I agree that the price seems unbalanced when we exchange 1 for more than 1,000, the message that it sends to our serving soldiers and their families can only help to strengthen the resolve and the strength of our military, and of our society as a whole. Our security forces can operate in the knowledge that they are more than simply a number, and that the government will do all that is required to protect them, even under the most extreme situation. The argument that, through this prisoner exchange, the government is releasing murderers and terrorists to kill and maim again is valid. The security services have said that they can take care of this situation, and I believe that there are so many potential terrorists and murderers in the West Bank and Gaza, that the release of this motley crew does not significantly increase the risk. And while the exchange deal does reinforce what the terrorists already knew when they kidnapped Gilad, which is that Israel values each of its individual soldiers and will be prepared to strike an unbalanced prisoner exchange deal to release him, I don’t believe that this dramatically increases the risk of other soldiers being kidnapped in the future. This is because the risk has been at the highest level for many years, and the fact that 5 years have passed without another soldier being kidnapped is not because they have not tried. Regular attempts have been made to kidnap soldiers, and we should expect that such attempts will continue.

Israel is forced to exist under extreme and severe circumstances. The risk of a terror or missile attack against her civilians is ever-present. The act of rounding up those who have brought death and destruction on Israelis in the past is more about justice than it is about reducing the risk levels. It is clear that removing such individuals from a situation where they can repeat their crimes does give some increased level of security. I am not convinced, however, that arresting these individuals, even when related to 1,000 people, serves to dramatically improve Israel’s security. Apparently the Shin Bet security agency agrees with this assessment, and has given its approval to the prisoner exchange. The Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen described the prisoner exchange deal as “a bad deal, but the only one available to us”. This sums it up for many in Israel. We would prefer not to have to release criminals back onto the street, but the alternative of not doing so is worse.

The Israeli government last night released the names of the first group of prisoners set for release. This is to allow the 48 hour period that the law requires for any legal challenges to the prisoner exchange before it goes ahead. Objections to the exchange have already been filed with the High Court of Justice, and the court will hear these petitions during the course of today. Assuming that the court gives its approval to the exchange, it is expected that Gilad Shalit will return to Israel during the course of Tuesday. For one family and for many Israelis, this will be a moment of great joy and the ultimate fulfilment of the government’s responsibility to each of its citizens. For many families, it will reopen painful wounds and memories. Our joy is tempered by their pain, and the sacrifice that these fmailies have made will never be ignored or forgotten. Unfortunately, nothing can return their loved ones, and it is my hope that they will find a way to feel the joy of the Shalit family and other Israelis. We wait expectantly for the moment when Gilad will emerge, alive and well, into the arms of his family and the Israeli nation.

Gilad To Be Released – The Agony With The Ecstasy is a post from: The Israel Situation

4 Common But False Myths About Israel

Eric — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:07:58 +0000

This is a guest post from Brett Borders. He is a copywriter living in Denver, CO. He cares about the safety and future of minority religions and ethnic groups in the Middle East.

The Jewish state of Israel is geographically one of the smallest countries in the world. Although Israel is 8 times smaller than Florida, it gets a disproportionately high percent of media coverage. Since the Jewish state was recognized by the UN in 1948, it has been attacked repeatedly by Arab Muslim neighbors – from suicide bombing campaigns, to full-scale surprise invasions by multiple armies. This perpetual conflict has kept Israel in the news spotlight… but many of the notions that are being repeated in syndicated news wires, opinion columns and online comments are not factual or accurate.

Here are 4 common, but false, myths about Israel to watch out for:

1. Most Israelis Are “European Colonists”

False. Over 20% of Israel’s population are Arabs. Of the 73% that is Jewish, over 50% the Jews are Mizhrai Jews who are members or descendants of ancient, indigenous Jewish communities in the Middle East who fled or were expelled from their homes in Arab lands. A minority of the Israeli population are Ashkenazi Jews, whose ancestors came to Israel from Europe and the USSR – many as refugees from genocide or persecution (who did not arrive by choice). 70% of the people now living in Israel were born in Israel (“sabras”). The facts are simple: Hebrew, Jews and Judaism are indigenous native to Israel. Arabic, Arabs and Islam are indigenous native to the Arabian peninsula.

2. Israel “Stole” and Now “Occupies” Palestinian Land

False. Israel is a tiny spec on the map compared to the empire of 22 Arabs countries it sits in the mist of. Israel had no presence in the disputed West Bank (Judea and Samaria) before it was attacked by Jordan in 1967. Jordan lost the war and relinquished control of the area – and Israel has maintained a defensive military presence there till this day. Interestingly, there was no mention of a self-aware “Palestinian people” or nation before the mid-1960′s – when they simply called themselves Arabs. In the absence of a stable government or peace agreements with the Arab population in the former Jordanian territory, Jewish villages (“settlements’) were built on vacant or legally-purchased-from-the-owners land in the disputed areas of the Jewish ancestral & historical heartland. Israel has offered to sign a peace treaty and cede some of the disputed land to Arabs in West Bank since 1967… but to date, all sincere peace offers by Israel have been rejected by Palestinian Arabs.

3. Israel is a Racist or “Apartheid” State

False. Israel is the only country in the region where freedom of religion, women’s rights, minority and gay rights are fully guaranteed under law. Aparthied was a South African system where colonists (not refugees) went to a land that they had zero historical connection to and then systematically denied rights to the natives based on race. The situation in the West Bank is very different. The government and Arab residents of the area are at war with Israel. Israel has erected security walls and checkpoints to stop suicide bombers and snipers from infiltrating Israel. The checkpoints and settlements are a result of the continued Arab conflict (or “jihad”) against Israel, not the cause of it. There are more than a few actual racist and apartheid states in the Middle East – were minorities have limited rights under law and women forcibly segregated from men by “Modesty Police.”

4. Israel “Won’t Make Peace with Its Neighbors”

False. Israel has made great efforts to make peace with its neighbors and it has already signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. Israel withdrew its troops from fighting the PLO in Southern Lebanon in 2000. This did not bring peace… it allowed Iran to smuggle over 40,000 rockets into the vacated region and point them at Israel to further escalate tension. Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Arab-majority area of Gaza in 2005 as a sincere peace gesture to Palestinian Arabs. It did not bring peace. The number of terror and rocket attacks originating from the Gaza Strip increased exponentially, and crimes against humanity like hostage abductions and attacks on school buses have taken place.

This video, “The Truth About The Peace Process,” explains Israel’s numerous attempts to make peace with its Arab neighbors… and equally numerous times that its efforts to make peace have flatly been ignored, rebuffed and rejected:

4 Common But False Myths About Israel is a post from: The Israel Situation

The Price That is Not Worth Paying

Anthony Reich — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:44:23 +0000

A new and unwelcome phenomenon has been taking hold in Israel over the past few months. The phenomenon involves attacks on Arab targets in what has become known as “price tag” attacks. The name “price tag” comes from graffiti sprayed at the attack sites by the perpetrators, and that uses these words. This all adds up to an attack in revenge for other events that have taken place. The attacks that have taken place to date largely involve damage or destruction to property, and have been attributed to extremist religious Jews who have been taking the law into their own hands.

It is true that the Middle East is an extremely volatile part of the world. It is also true that we see behaviour that would never be tolerated in other parts of the world, but here is somehow regarded as acceptable. Despite this fact, the government of the State of Israel insists that the rule of law should prevail. This means, amongst other things, that individuals do not have the right to summarily judge and punish others. There is an established court system for this purpose, and individuals do not have the right to replace the court system in any way.

The price tag revenge attacks arise out of a frustration that almost all Israelis feel. This stems from the fact that we seem to be in an almost constant state of war, and under continuous attack from terrorist groups based in the Arab countries that surround Israel. Despite the IDF’s efforts to keep us safe and their many successes in preventing attacks from taking place, the threat under which we live remains constant. Some Israelis feel frustrated that Israel insists on behaving correctly and respects the human rights even of those who seek to destroy us, while Hamas violates every possible human right while holding Gilad Shalit in captivity. This frustration still does not justify taking the law into one’s own hands. Certain groups, particularly religious groups, feel that the Israeli court system is stacked against them. They believe that the courts pass judgement against them because there is too little recognition of the values and frameworks which guide their lives. Even this cannot be used as a justification for taking the law into your own hands. Even though there are many who will have sympathy for these frustrations, nothing and nobody is above the law.

The recent events that have particularly provoked price tag attacks have included the deaths a few weeks ago of Asher Palmer and his infant son in a car accident near Hebron. It is reported that the car accident was caused by Arabs throwing stones at the car. The government’s actions to dismantle unlawful settler outposts in the West Bank have also provoked price tag attacks. It should be emphasized that it is a small group of individuals who are involved in these attacks, and that they do not in any way represent the views of most Israelis in the actions that they have taken. In fact, some religious Jewish groups have already begun fundraising to replace the holy books and repair damage done to the mosque.

When a mosque was burnt down in the Bedouin village of Tuba Sangariye destroying many religious books in the fire, Israel reacted with outrage. The exact reason for choosing this village for a price-tag attack was not clear, but the response was clear. This type of attack cannot be justified in a country that respects the rule of law. President Shimon Peres and both chief rabbis of Israel visited the village to show solidarity, and to demonstrate that the establishment does not condone or tolerate this behaviour. Over the period of Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day, Christian and Muslim graves in Jaffa and Bat Yam were vandalised. The irony of such an act over Yom Kippur hardly needs to be highlighted. There are those who equate attacks on cemeteries and places of religious worship with the attacks that were carried out on Jewish targets during the period of the Holocaust. Now, it seems that Jews are resorting to similar tactics to make their own point. The Israeli government has rightly resolved to crack down on this behaviour, and has increased the police’s presence in areas considered to be targets. There is some speculation that the Yom Kippur vandals were not from extremist religious groups, but were rather hooligans looking to take advantage of the climate that has been created by the price-tag attackers. Whatever the truth may be, none of this behaviour can be tolerated.

As much as Israel is often a country under siege due to the constant security threats to her citizens, we are forced to protect our freedom and democracy for law-abiding citizens. This freedom and democracy also extends to Arab Israelis, even when members of their clan or family are not abiding by the law. Besides the negative effect that such behaviour has on Israel’s standing in the international community, it has a greater negative impact upon ourselves. We need to ensure that we are not dragged into behaving as badly as our enemies have behaved towards us over the years, no matter how tempting this prospect may be.

Unfortunately, the recent price-tag attacks are evidence that we have not quite begun the year on the correct foot. We have a great deal to do in order to take care of the way that we respond to provocations by our enemies. Reacting in the incorrect way could potentially draw us into consequences that are more damaging than any good that could come out of this. Allowing individuals to continue to take the law into their own hands is clearly unacceptable. The price on this price tag is one that we do not wish to pay.

The Price That is Not Worth Paying is a post from: The Israel Situation