sign in sign up
<<
Home , Ehud Barak, Kadima, Shinui

of the failed peace process. peace failed the of offshoot an policy, foreign ’s in instinct eralist The party. Labour the on the of rise focuses a unilat- section strong fourth of decline the at ticularly par- looking politics, domestic Israel’s on process The process. the third analyses section impact of the failed peace peace failed the of view Israeli lent preva- the depicts second the while Israel, mented frag- a of thesis the refutes section first The policy. foreign its and politics domestic Israel’s assertion, between relationship widespread complex more a is there that that showing rejects article This actor. Mediterranean Eastern important of this of behaviour the to a misreading leads which politics, and society of Israeli to “fragmentation” the neighbours its of some with agreement a peace ing reach- in difficulties Israel’s ascribed have pundits many Subsequently, commentary. media and ture litera- academic in canonical became that sertion never – an as- politics domestic only policy, Israel a had foreign that observed once Kissinger Henry vironment. en- international the of perceptions the and namics dy- political domestic both of output the is foreign policy while variable, independent dy- an as political namics domestic considers largely wisdom Conventional Kant. Immanuel by conceived politics initially linkage of its variant a influences is tendencies, character warlike internal regime’s a postulates that which theory, Peace Democratic The pedigree. intellectual long politics a has policy, foreign and domestic between interactions which assumes politics, international in theory linkage The Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan Begin-Sadat (BESA)CenterforStrategicStudies Director Efraim Inbar PoliticsDomestic Israeli and ThePeace Negotiations The MiddleEastSituation of the in exchange for full peace peace full for exchange in Heights Golan the of return the toward Attitudes territories. these to turn re- a advocates really Nobody 2005. in Strip Gaza the and 1979 in has relinquished was Sinai The 1967 ended. in acquired territories the of future the over debate ideological peace the the Significantly, to process. pertaining issues on society Israeli throughout exists consensus greater Furthermore, society. stream main- into backgrounds cultural diverse with coun- tries of range wide a from immigrants tegrating in- successfully for record track good a holds also Israel military. Israeli the in ranks as officer senior well into as class, middle the into Jews Sephardic of influx an seen have decades three past the and increased; has level national and local the at cians politi- Sephardi of number the rise; the on is riage intermar- past: the in than divisive less much come be- has rift social Ashkenazi-Sephardi the Second, political tensions. and social eases and stability reinforces economy A strong issues. security and woes nomic eco- global continuous despite prospects, bright forecast indices economic all Currently, balisation. glo- to adapting and values market stressing ades, dec- two past the of policies economic wise the of result a is economy greater vibrant strong, create Israel’s to wealth. way best the is agree that Israelis of majority The disappeared. since have 1970s late the until commonplace were that policies economic over debates acerbic the Firstly, have largelydisappeared. past the of cleavages political-societal that fact, in indicates, Israel within dynamics economic and cial so- political, the of analysis An inaccurate. totally is Is Israela The common D ivided Society? image of a deeply divided Israeli public

53 Med.2011 Keys 54 Med.2011 Keys orthodox-secular continuum. them- selves as traditionalists, situated in the middle of identify the Israelis of number growing A endi. viv- modus reasonable a establish camps, to room defined leaving clearly two between not is clash tics faced by other Western societies. Moreover, the poli- identity of afflictions the from greatly differ not religious-secular divide. However, this situation does the of is importance political still and cultural social, is great which society Israeli within rift only The ment fromLebanonandGaza. bombard- missile and terrorism Palestinian of face the in resilience social great displayed has it future; idea that it must live by the sword for the foreseeable the to itself resigned has society Israeli Sea.) nean Mediterra- the to River Jordan the from established is state Palestinian a when end only will conflict the the two-state formula as an interim stage and believe view indeed of majority the that found team, American an by conducted was which tories, terri- the in survey parallel (A Israel. of Land the out will Palestinians continue the struggle for a Palestinian the state through- signed, is agreement peace a if even that and road, the of end the as solution believes that public the Palestinians do not see a two-state Jewish the of 68% poll, 2011 January a to According corner. the around not is peace that sus Israel, have since been replaced by a sober consen- Palestinians, which elicited much criticism in parts of the with coexistence peaceful for agreements Oslo the after left the of expectations the Furthermore, rity needs. but ideological, not is couched in a pragmatic assessment of Israel’s control, secu- relin- Arab be to should quished homeland historical of centage per- what around revolving debate, territorial The Valley. Rift Jordan the and Mount) Temple the larly (particu- blocs, settlement the retaining ed parts of Judea and Samaria (the West and Bank), Arab-populat- heavily relinquishing favours majority large a Indeed, state-building. Palestinian of ability the about sceptical are many though – danger tal solution with the Palestinians – once seen as a mor- “two-state” a to subscribe Israelis most Moreover, peace. in interested even is he that of declarations sincerity Assad’s the in or Damascus, with deal peace lasting a of reality the in believe not does centage per- same the about and Golan, the up giving pose op- public Jewish the of since two-thirds roughly consistent 1994; extremely been have Syria with a tnece i Plsiin oit ad politics. and society Palestinian in tendencies gal have acquired permanency, intensifying the centrifu- Gaza and the -controlled seems to -controlled between rift The Gaza. in power seized subsequently and coup bloody a led militia the PA Legislative Council. In June 2007, the Hamas is state, and Jewish emerged the winner in the January the 2006 elections Law to of destruction Sharia the impose to dedicated to tries that sation organi- Islamist radical a Hamas, movement. lamist Is- established recently more a Hamas, and alism, nation- Palestinian of carrier historic the movement, Fatah the between split internal an by aggravated been has predicament This movement. national ish) (Jew- Zionist the with compromise historic a vents pre- politics Palestinian in pragmatism of lack The elicit goodwillamongthePalestinians. to failed has – settlements and military both – 2005 in Gaza from presence its of removal total Israel’s David) and in the fall of 2008. Similarly, premiers: in the summer of 2000 (Camp Israeli two by offers generous extremely accept to after levels refused leadership Palestinian the Moreover, record 2000. reached even and terrorism continued as deliver to failed Arafat Yasser Palestinian Then, peace). (not security for territories of exchange the in believing Gaza, and Bank West the in (PA) Authority Palestinian the of tablishment negotiations is even clearer. Rabin agreed to the es- peace of collapse the for responsibility Palestinian unable tosecureapeacetreaty. were yet Heights Golan the from withdrawal of- fered all (2006-08) Olmert Barak Ehud and Ehud (1999-2001) (1992-95), Rabin Yitzhak Ministers potential US-inspired Israeli aggression. After from all, Israeli Prime Syria shield to only negotiations in quo) in order to legitimise its rule and shows interest status (the conflict of continuation the prefers ally real peace. It is argued that the current regime pursue actu- to regime minority Alawite the of intention deal than Egypt in the 1970s. In fact, many doubt the better a getting on intent and territorially promising uncom- and unreasonable as seen usually is Syria side. is on the for failure other such of onus responsibility the that and failed have 1990s, early the in started Palestinians, the and Syria with negotiations peace that assessment its in unanimous is circles, leftist Is T he FailureofthePeaceProcess raeli society, with the exception of fringe radical radical fringe of exception the with society, raeli 4 3, 6 1 ad 3 nse sas I January In seats. 13 and 19 26, 34, 44, respectively received Labour 2009, February and 2006 March 2003, January 1999, May 1996, May substantial downturn in popularity. In the elections of a seen has party the then, since seats, Knesset 44 scored Labour elections, 1992 June the In process. peace failed the with association its to due largely on T ment thatthereisnorealPalestinianpartner. assess- Israeli the reinforces only strategy a Such Israel. on pressure put will community international the that believing negotiations, without concessions Israeli expect They Israel. with negotiations to “no” Nowadays, the Palestinians (the PA and Hamas) say Hamas hasnotchangedcourse. by Israel during the Gaza incursion (Winter 2008/9), inflicted destruction the and coup, military the after faced difficulties economic the Despite towns. raeli Is- into rockets Qassam of thousands launched has obligations. Furthermore, during recent years Hamas and agreements previous of acceptance and Israel of recognition nonviolence, to commitment public a are: which support, and recognition for UN) Russia, cept the conditions required by the Quartet (US, EU, ac- to refused has Gaza in Hamas The real Palestinian partner Israeli assessmentthatthereisno strategy onlyreinforcesthe pressure onIsrael. Such a international communitywillput negotiations, believing thatthe expect Israeli concessions without negotiations withIsrael. They The Palestinians say “no” to trol thereaswell. con- taking from Hamas keeps that Bank West the in activists Hamas against army Israeli the of tivity ac- military the is It Israel. with settlement a plement im- and reach to ability its weakens and society an Palestini- radicalises influence Hamas growing The The he ImpactoftheFailedPeaceProcess D decline of the Labour party in Israeli politics is politics Israeli in party Labour the of decline omestic Politics n te ulig f sal To eta atvte in activities central Two Israel. of building the and political asset – identification with the establishment important most its lost Labour time over Moreover, largest poolofIsraelivoters. the Labour denied parties centrist new and/or to map political the of centre the Leaving positions. 2003 and 2006 elections, both displayed very leftist the before positions leadership capturing in ceeded respectively,suc- who, Peretz, Amir and Mitzna ram Labour’s Am- continuum. the of pole dovish the toward move underscored clearly success, electoral relative their and , and as such ties and the facts on the ground. The rise of centrist par- statements these between incongruity growing there was Palestinians, the with negotiations for need the stressing peacemaking, of lip idea the pay to to service continued leaders party Labour While 2006 and2009electionsreflectthisjudgment. close to Israel’s main cities. The results of the 2003, where Palestinian terrorists could enjoy sanctuary so blamed the Oslo agreements for allowing a situation Israelis Most campaign. terror Palestinians’ the for responsibility ascribed was Labour, by led politics, Israeli in camp” “peace so-called the 2000, After the gain support ofmostIsraelis. to failed – 2000 in Barak by and 1990s the in Rabin by initiated – Syria with treaty peace a for Heights Golan the trade to attempts Similarly, experiment. the supported who those even for many, word derogatory a becoming “peace” with el, Isra- in process”discredited “peace been since has Yet,the 1993. in process Oslo the initiated Labour vote for a party and one vote for the Prime Minister). one – system ballot two a of Minister framework the (within Prime be to directly elected was he that fact the on based was Knesset, the in majority wing right- the despite 1999, in government coalition a form to ability party.Barak’s their than popular more like in leaders 1992 and Ehud Barak in 1999, centrist both security-oriented, were helm its at when periods, 1999-2001 and 1992-96 the rael was ruled by a Labour-led coalition only twice, in Is- 1977, From coalitions. governing form to ability The decline of Labour has also been seen in its poor Kadima (in2006and2009). to andafterwards (in 2003) Shinui to first shifted that votes centrist many over hold its lost has bour toral behaviour in the 21st century indicates that La- particularly uncertain. A perfunctory analysis of elec- looked future its and seats, Knesset 8 only tained re- Labour party, the in split a of result a as 2011,

55 Med.2011 Keys 56 Med.2011 Keys counterproductive. politically been have peace and war to related sues attempts to deviate from the Israeli consensus on is- how shows section This spectrum. political Israeli the on left the to further shifted Labour while party, as Likud the by adopted were territories, the on as well peace, and war of issues on positions original Labour’s Gradually, price. the paid and this nored ig- Labour Israel. in Jews for has Jerusalem appeal enormous the underestimate to folly political a is It Jerusalem tothePalestinians. of parts transfer to PAagreed the and with gotiated ne- had government Kadima-Labour the that ports re- following Jerusalem united a of issue the raised any partition of Jerusalem. The 2009 elections again oppose Jews Israeli electoral of two-thirds over in since terms harmful was and party leftist fringe a as “taboo”Labour this portrayed of violation The lis. the 2000 Summit, stunned many Israe- at Jerusalem divide to Barak Ehud heir political and Oslo the peace process. The willingness, then, of his disciple throughout uphold to continued Rabin which vision a – consensus national of the within faith representation a been years for has Jerusalem united A Staff. of Chief then the Rabin, of command the under War 1967 June the in IDF the by united was which Jerusalem, is party Labour the by serted de- been has that symbol Zionist important Another sociated with the founding party of the State. symbolsclearlyvaluesonceandwhichwereas-the -OrthodoxConservativeandadopt circlesto the allowed foolishly has Labour value. Zionist tant they still regard settling the solution, Land two-state of Israel a as of an frameworkimpor- the within Bank West the in concessions territorial large for pared pre-Israelis majorityare of the While void. this fill to essentially governmentscame to an end in Labour-led1977, leaving other subpopulations of guidance the under activity settlement intensive theSimilarly, fied asitsmainstay. identi- longer no is party Labour the Israel, in tution insti- esteemed most the remains IDF the While ed. overrepresent- now recruits modern-Orthodox with graduating classes in the officer IDF has of gradually changed, composition social The case. the no longer is This (IDF). Forces officers Defence Israel of the within ranks the in represented portionately members, generally aligned with the Labour party, were dispro- past, the In supporters. its Labour and by up given gradually were – settlements land and service military – state Jewish the building Is goods over the Jordan bridges after 1967 is a clear a is 1967 after bridges Jordan the over goods Israel-de- signed an status quo. The free movement of accept people and informally could but de- mands, Israel’s to agree formally cannot to themselves neighbours bring Israel’s that recognises cally a peace treaty. In a way, unilateralism also pragmati- and military superiority could force the Arabs to sign onto the notion that Israel’s technological, economic hold Israel in few Very rivals. vanquished on mands de- their impose to powers big of capabilities the lacks Israel power. military its of limits the for nition At the same time, Israel’s unilateralism shows recog- national community, havealasting impact. regard of the wishes of the neighbours and the inter- dis- in when even ground, the on created facts that but what the Jews Gentiles the what important not is “It that rion, The Israel. in statement of Israel’s founding father, David Ben-Gu- regarded well is Activism Zionists. to appealed always has – hands own its into fate its taking gods, the defying mankind – Pro- ethos methean The psyche. Zionist the in elements trasting con- of mixture a reflects also culture, political rael’s Is- in feature ingrained an impulse, unilateralist The society. ian Palestin- dangers fanatic and and despotic corrupt, a by threats posed the from Israelis protect to meant is which barrier, security a support constructing public for solid the in expression received additional separation for quest unilateral separa- The for tion. impulse Israeli the strengthened has death, of worship cultish a of and elements violence, displaying of use the by mesmerised society, Palestinian inept and corrupt a of emergence The concessions. Israeli painful of cost the at even movement, onist Zi- the with compromise historic a for ready partner Palestinian no is there that realisation sober a and overtures peace Israeli of rejection Syrian the with disappointment deep a foremost, and first presses, failures in the peace process. Israeli unilateralism ex- the to related are they essentially but complex; are The reasons for this transformation in Israeli thinking freeze. settlement 2009 the and Gaza the from pull-out barrier, 2005 security from the of withdrawal erection 2000 the May Lebanon, the is mind to ately immedi- comes What 2000. since mode lateralist T he rael seems to have moved into a pronounced uni- pronounced a into moved have to seems rael R ise ofUnilateralism do” reflects the entrenched belief say, raeli cabinet. The Olmert government hoped to se- to hoped government Olmert The cabinet. raeli by theIs- only afterwards and Washington in first approved was it as unilateral entirely not was Gaza from withdrawal The option. policy true a not is ple, peo- the to be may it as appealing as unilateralism, pure that understands leadership Israeli the fact, In sidered.) unenticing option of reoccupying Gaza is being con- as Qassam rockets are endlessly fired into Israel, the and campaign, terror counter its in cities Palestinian from the territories. (The IDF continues its forays into disengage to Israel allow really not does terrorism has been attractive in Israel, even though Palestinian Unilateralism home. own your over struggle tracted pro- a in while it” bear and “grin to instruction the also given was a try. other”It is psychologically the difficult to digest on them side, one on “Us quently, Subse- try. a given was now” “Peace slogan The pression of the naive aspiration for a simple solution. The appeal of unilateral steps is probably also an ex- maintain goodrelationswiththeUS. Israeli the to need the to due and WestBank, the in presence reducing favour they because Israelis most by supported was decision This behaviour. in ican criticism, with no illusion of a Palestinian change unilateral settlement freeze in order to deflect Amer- 10-month a on decided government Netanyahu’s Benjamin circumstances, different somewhat der Un- Palestinians. for neighbouring the desire from separation deep a also but bi-nationalism, of trap the into fall to not desire ethno-nationalistic healthy a a only not expressed State, tomaintain democratic and Jewish inorder borders Israel’s define ally unilater- to promised which 2006), in (elected ment erally from Gaza. The platform of the Olmert govern- borders. This is why Sharon own disengaged unilat- its define and waiting stop to right every has it believes Israel interlocutor, Palestinian a of sence unilateral withdrawal from South Lebanon. In the ab- a for pushed he materialise, not did this When non. Leba- South in with conflict low-intensity its from itself extricate to Israel allow to Syria agreement with an reach to preferred 1999, in Barak, has heldformanyyears. example of a unilateral and informal arrangement that ble borders continues to rise. to continues borders ble defensi- for need its as territorial decrease will risky concessions make to willingness Israel’s ment, improve- of sign no shows East Middle the in tion situa- the As mode. unilateralist pronounced a into Israel moved have process peace the of fortunes mis- the peace Furthermore, Labour. failed particularly process, the with associated parties for port sup- decreased the been has view accepted widely and realistic this of outcome political domestic The are Palestinians in ascendance. Hamas with divided, as seen deeply The interlocutors. their of cerity sin- the question they and Palestinians, and Syrians by by their remains unreciprocated the displayed largesse territorial the that convinced Israelis are Moreover, neighbours. Arab its with negotia- tions the on consensus widespread a hibited ex- has it and appear, may it than divisions internal by beleaguered less is society Israeli Actually, ess. proc- peace the hindering is politics Israeli in tation the This rejects fragmen- claim article that domestic Conclusion in Israeliforeignpolicy. unilateralist approach has appeal and may re-emerge the Gaza, and Lebanon southern from withdrawals unilateral the of criticism widespread the Despite 1981 in the framework of the Egyptian peace treaty). settle- remove in Sinai in (and 2005 in Samaria and Gaza in ments to capacity its demonstrated has several bold foreign policy decisions. Significantly, it last decade, the Israeli political system has produced the In policy. foreign its in paralysis creates politics domestic Israeli of nature the that criticism voiced often the defies also position unilateralist Israeli The ter inthePalestinianterritories. in order to prevent a large-scale humanitarian disas- involvement international of view positive a have ists well be what they deserve, but even Israeli unilateral- may devices own their to Palestinians the Leaving fiasco. Lebanon 2006 the after aborted were Bank, which West the of parts from unilateral disengage its to plans for support international some cure

57 Med.2011 Keys