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Home , Raviv Drucker, Yossi Sarid

Schlaglicht Nr. 12/19 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen

16.-30 Juni

Die Themen dieser Ausgabe

1. Workshop in Manama ...... 1 2. Schäfers Rücktritt ...... 3 3. Israel zwischen zwei Parlamentswahlen ...... 5 4. Medienquerschnitt ...... 7

1. Workshop in Manama schnelle Internetverbindungen. Innerhalb von zehn Kurz vor dem Startschuss für den von US-Präsident Jahren könnten eine Million Arbeitsplätze geschaf- Donald Trump lange angekündigten Jahrhundert- fen, die Armut halbiert und das Bruttosozialprodukt plan für einen Nahostfrieden trat die Regierung in verdoppelt werden. Der Plan sieht zudem eine Ver- Washington noch einmal auf die Bremse. Bei dem bindung zwischen dem Gazastreifen und dem West- Treffen in Manama sollte es allein um wirtschaftliche jordanland vor. Insgesamt veranschlagen die Auto- Fragen gehen. Alle Lösungsvorschläge für die politi- ren in ihrem detaillierten Finanzierungsplan 50 Milli- schen Streitpunkte zwischen Israel und den Palästi- arden US-Dollar, die auch in Projekte für palästinen- nensern bleiben mindestens bis zum November sische Flüchtlinge in Jordanien und im Libanon weiter unter Verschluss. Die Palästinenser_innen sowie in Projekte in Ägypten fließen sollen. Obers- boykottierten von vornherein ihre Teilnahme, wo- tes Ziel der zwei US-Sondergesandten ist, die Pa- raufhin das Weiße Haus entschied, auch keine lästinenser_innen wieder an Bord zu locken, bevor israelischen Regierungsvertreter_innen nach Bahr- die politischen Verhandlungen beginnen. ain einzuladen. Die Erwartungen niedrig halten, so schien die Leitlinie für den zunächst als Auftakt für The path between the Trump peace plan and Trumps großen Friedensplan geplanten Gipfel. Nicht applying Israeli law to settlements einmal von einer „Konferenz“ wollte man laut reden, (…) At this critical point in time, instead of offering sondern lediglich von einem wirtschaftlichen „Work- the Palestinians concessions so that they might shop“. So bescheiden sich Trumps Sondergesandte, ultimately be persuaded to not reject the plan out of sein Schwiegersohn Jared Kushner und der Jurist hand, and also responding to the appeals of the Jason Greenblatt, geben, so ambitioniert ist ihr Arab countries that are the main partners to the „Frieden zum Wohlstand“, so der Titel der Ergebnis- process (…) to improve the terms for the Palestini- se zweier Arbeitsjahre. Der auf der Webseite des ans, the American team finds itself under pressure Weißen Hauses veröffentlichte Wirtschaftsplan legt to tilt the plan even further toward Israel’s benefit, in „Eine neue Vision für das palästinensische Volk“ dar. order to assist Netanyahu. (…) President Trump’s Auf 40 Seiten beschreiben Kushner und Greenblatt adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, announced die rosige Zukunft für den Gazastreifen und das that the Trump plan does not propose a two-state Westjordanland, darin enthalten neue Straßen, solution, because each side interprets this principle technisch modern ausgerüstete Krankenhäuser, differently; thus the plan does not call for the crea- Schulen, bezahlbarer Strom, sauberes Wasser und tion of a Palestinian state. With that, the Trump

1 administration is terminating dozens of years of plan. Just like it isn't worth getting our hopes up, it consistent American policy supporting a two-state isn't worth protesting. After the administration pulled solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is the back from its original intention of holding a major reason that all the Palestinian factions have pledged economic summit, it appears to have made peace in advance to reject the plan out of hand and deem with the event to all intents and purposes being it a blueprint for continuing the Israeli occupation canceled. through other means. (…) The strategic objective of , IHY, 19.06.19 the Trump plan is much broader than the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The administration is interested The bribe of the century in coming up with a new Middle East configuration, To the credit of those who came up with this plan, it in bringing together an Arab-American-Israeli coali- should be said that the bribe is neither small nor tion and, by so doing, shoring up the anti-Iranian modest. It involves an enormous sum of money: and anti-jihadist alliance emerging between the Gulf approximately 50 billion dollars that are slated to states — mainly Saudi Arabia — and Israel, as well bolster several Middle Eastern economies, and of as rallying Arab countries into supporting the peace which a significant part will be transferred to the process. The administration is also interested in Palestinian territories. (…) the primary aim of the crafting conditions for bringing about an end to the American team seems to have been to confuse the Israeli occupation (…) in a manner that gives the Palestinian public, and it appears Washington partly Palestinians control over the decisive majority of the succeeded in doing just that. In other words, due to Palestinian population and territory in the West Bank the strong opposition of the Palestinian Authority and Gaza Strip. (…) the Trump plan (…) takes into leadership in Ramallah and even Hamas’s leader- account the positions of the Israeli government and ship in Gaza to the plan, the Americans tried to offer Israel’s security needs and also recognizes the an aid package fat enough to would ignite the imag- reality that has been created in the conflict arena inations of millions of Palestinians in the West Bank over the last five decades. This is the American and Gaza. They may have succeeded. Not all the position closest to Israeli positions in the framework Palestinians in the territories were on board with the of an agreement with the Palestinians. (…) Palestinian leadership’s out and out rejection of Udi Dekel, TOI, 19.06.19 everything to do with the Trump plan. (…) But (…) not even a single high-ranking Palestinian official Bahrain has effectively been canceled can be found who will encourage the PA to attend Nothing ground shaking will happen on June 25, the summit. On the contrary, a mixed multitude of when the Trump administration's economic "work- high-ranking Palestinians from the PLO and Hamas shop" gets underway in Manama, Bahrain. (…) have been quick to condemn the Americans’ attempt Before you announce that you're convening an to buy off the Palestinians. As things appear at pre- economic forum that will include the Israelis and the sent, the link between the economic plan, which is Palestinians, as well as Arab and international lead- only theoretical at this stage, and the Palestinian ers, you check to see who is willing to take part. But leadership’s unequivocal refusal to accept any part it's probably that instead of doing that, the Ameri- of the Trump plan, doom the plan to complete fail- cans made do with Manama agreeing to host the ure. In the meantime, the Palestinians will have to forum, and immediately made public an idea that is, make do with fantasies of a better economic future, at best, half-baked. (…) the forum will be relatively and perhaps of a worthy leadership as well. sparsely attended, and the people who will be there Avi Issacharoff, TOI, 23.06.19 are not the decision-makers in their countries. The political part of the plan will have to wait until after Donald Trump's dangerous deal Israel's do-over election and will be presented only The economic workshop (…) in Bahrain (…) comes after a new government is established – assuming with a headline that sounds promising, on paper at we aren't sent to the polls for a third time – and after least. But (…) the flashing warning light should have the next US election. Anyone who was pinning their come on for every Israeli and Palestinian familiar hopes on a "present" from our American uncle, or with the last 30 years of conflict. This is nothing was worried about it, can calm down. An economic more than a new exterior for the same failed format workshop attended by economic officials from the that was once called "economic peace" (…). The region, particularly businesspeople, is simply a con- attempt to approach this complicated process ference, and certainly no substitute for a real peace through economics (…) is also a strategic mistake

2 with potential for real disaster. (…) an attempt to 2. Schäfers Rücktritt start with the economy before discussing the core Zahlreiche Expert_innen für das Judentum solidari- issues of the conflict is (…) a slap in the face of sierten sich mit Peter Schäfer nach seinem Rücktritt Palestinians and a complete misreading of their vom Amt des Direktors des Jüdischen Museums in national aspirations. (…) it also lacks all feasibility. Berlin. In dem offenen Brief der 45 Wissenschaftle- (…) There's no point in starting out if the end goal is rInnen aus Israel, Europa und den USA heißt es: not defined from the beginning. For both the Pales- "Für diejenigen von uns, die Professor Schäfer und tinians and the State of Israel, this goal must be the seine Arbeit kennen, ist die Behauptung schockie- end of the occupation and, with the necessary ex- rend, er setze sich nicht für die jüdische Sache und change of territory, the establishment of a Palestini- den Kampf gegen Antisemitismus ein." Schäfer an state next to Israel along the 1967 borders. (…) habe sich während seiner Karriere unter anderem The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Ex- der "Förderung des Verständnisses von Juden und cept that in the case of the Trump plan, it is not clear dem Judentum verschrieben". Mit initiiert hatte das if the intentions are good, or if in reality the Ameri- Schreiben Ishay Rosen, Leiter der Talmud-Abteilung can president is just giving Prime Minister Benjamin an der Universität. Auch der frühere israeli- Netanyahu a political cudgel so that the latter can sche Botschafter in Deutschland, Shimon Stein, und win the endless blame game and paint the Palestin- der israelische Historiker Moshe Zimmermann kriti- ians, again, as refusers of peace. However, this gift sierten den Umgang mit dem Jüdischen Museum is liable to drag all sides and the whole region into und warnten vor einer Beschneidung der Meinungs- an escalation of violence that will set back the pos- freiheit in Deutschland. Schäfer war nach Kritik an sibility of a productive dialogue by many years. (…) einem Tweet des Museums zurückgetreten, in dem Ami Ayalon, YED, 23.06.19 er eine Leseempfehlung für einen Artikel über die anti-israelische Boykottbewegung BDS (Boykott, Bahrain opportunity Desinvestitionen, Sanktionen) abgab. Der Bericht in (…) the Palestinians have not accepted even the der Taz (Die Tageszeitung) behandelte wiederum die most generous political solutions in the past, hence Kritik jüdischer und israelischer Wissenschaft- the focus this time on the economy first. And while ler_innen an der Entscheidung des Bundestages, bemoaning the undoubted current economic crisis, BDS als antisemitisch einzustufen. Die BDS- Abbas is refusing to accept any of the millions of Kampagne ist eine transnationale politische Kam- dollars Israel wants to transfer from tax revenues pagne, die Israel wirtschaftlich, kulturell und politisch collected on behalf of the PA, because Israeli au- isolieren will, um ihre im Jahr 2005 beschlossenen thorities are deducting the money slated to go to the Ziele zu erreichen: Ein Ende der israelischen Besat- families of imprisoned and dead terrorists. (…) More zung des Westjordanlandes, des Gazastreifens, der than anything else, Abbas is against any normaliza- Golanhöhen und Ost-Jerusalems, volle Gleichbe- tion of relations with Israel, without which peace will rechtigung für Israels arabisch-palästinensische be impossible, and quiet and stability will remain Bürger und den palästinensischen Flüchtlingen und elusive. (…) The fact that Israel has managed to deren Nachkommen die Rückkehr in ihre frühere reach agreements in the past with two neighboring Heimat und zu ihrem Eigentum zu ermöglichen. countries should be evidence that it is not Israel Israel wirft der BDS-Bewegung vor, den jüdischen which is inherently against peace, but the Palestini- Staat zerstören zu wollen und Kontakte zu Terror- an leadership – doing all it can to avoid it. (…) if the gruppen zu unterhalten. Israels Strategieminister Palestinian leadership truly wants to create an inde- bezeichnete die Bundestagsentschei- pendent state of its own, it should be seeking ways dung als "bisher wichtigsten Schritt" im Kampf ge- of maintaining its own schools, hospitals and organ- gen die BDS-Bewegung. izations rather than relying on UNRWA. (…) The 83- year-old Palestinian leader needs to decide what he Berlin’s Jewish problem wants to leave as his legacy: a better, safer and The director of Berlin’s Jewish Museum, Peter more prosperous society for his people, or (…) take Schäfer, resigned (…) following severe criticism the opportunity to miss an opportunity yet again. from Germany’s Jewish community over the muse- Editorial, JPO, 24.06.19 um’s support for BDS efforts in the country. (…) Putting aside the issue of BDS itself, what does it have to do with a Jewish museum? (…) At a time when Germany’s government commissioner on

3 antisemitism suggests that Jews should not always gave Schäfer and others in the museum's manage- wear their kippah in public, in the wake of a spike in ment team the impression they could continue their anti-Jewish attacks in Germany, the BDS resolution anti-Israeli line and become a center for the defense should have nothing to do with a cultural institution of BDS. That is why Grütters must be sent packing: whose mission is explaining Jewish traditions, histo- to send a message that the German government ry and art. (…) This was not the first time Schäfer’s understands it cannot use "Jewish museums" as actions were called into question. After the original part of its dual approach to Israel that sees it declare tweet blew open the storm, he was quoted as saying its support for Israel while funding efforts toward its that he regretted the tweet – and adding that the destruction. (…) Israel must continue to tell Germa- museum was never tasked with taking sides in cur- ny's government in a clear and direct manner: You rent political debates. But it did. Time and again, the either are our true friends, or you aren't. This phe- Jewish Museum Berlin got involved in politics, even nomenon that sees you fund anti-Israel activities at before Schäfer came on board, though he continued the United Nations has a name: hypocrisy. If this the dishonorable tradition. In 2012, the museum clear message doesn't come from Israel, the Ger- hosted the pro-BDS academic Judith Butler, after mans will continue their hypocritical policies. she expressed support for the terrorist entities Hez- Eldad Beck, IHY, 16.06.19 bollah and Hamas in 2006. (…) Objecting to Israeli policy is political criticism, and there’s nothing inher- Germany is betraying the fight against anti- ently antisemitic about that. But depicting a political Semitism issue using the hot-button item like soap – in Ger- (…) On the one hand, Germany has a special rela- many! – is inherently antisemitic. (…) In his state- tionship with Israel. On the other, it has become ment of resignation, Schäfer said he was doing it “to more and more aware of the massive abuse of Pal- avoid further harm to the Jewish Museum Berlin.” estinian human rights and the Israeli government’s He should have done it a long time ago. systematic derailment of any possible peaceful Editorial, JPO, 16.06.19 solution to the conflict. Last month, the Bundestag gave up what was left of the balance between these Better late than never two duties and abandoned the ideal of human rights, The resignation of the Berlin Jewish Museum Direc- opting instead for blind support for the Israeli gov- tor Peter Schäfer is a small victory in an important ernment - the most right-wing and populist govern- campaign against the continued efforts by German ment ever to rule Israel, whose current values are in authorities to use "Jewish museums" as a means of direct contravention to all the values that Germany struggle against the State of Israel. "Jewish muse- of the 21st century claims to support. ums" in Germany have in recent years become a (…) Anti-Semitism is real and should be confronted sort of "kosher seal of approval" for the Israeli criti- in Germany and any other place, using all legal cism industry. If in the past, radical left-wing Israeli means. However, there is nothing anti-Semitic about and Jewish activists would absolve Germany of its BDS as such. Non-violent popular campaigns culpability for its Nazi past by claiming Israel was launched to hold states to account for severe dis- now the Nazis' successor, this role has gradually crimination and grave violations of human rights, are been handed over to "Jewish museums." (…) the a legitimate and established practice. Think about Berlin Jewish Museum is not a Jewish museum. It is apartheid South Africa. We ask the German gov- a German museum, funded by the German govern- ernment: do you really think there is any similarity ment and the Berlin Municipality. (…) Museum man- between boycotting a bottle of wine produced in the agement received absolute support for its anti-Israel occupied territories on lands stolen by settlers who activities from its financiers. It is for this reason that are protected by the army of the strongest regional Schäfer's resignation is but the first phase in the power – and boycotting the store of a defenseless campaign to put the "Jewish museum" back on Jew during Nazi Germany? Drawing this compari- track. Either Germany's Culture Minister Monika son defiles the memory of the Holocaust and strong- Grütters, who serves as museum chair, must resign ly undermines the balance of Germany’s post-war or Chancellor Angela Merkel should fire her immedi- duties. Worse, the decision deeply harms the fight ately. Following the exposure of the museum's anti- against the real anti-Semitism, which originates from Israel activities last year, Grütters threw her support European nationalism and today also comes from behind Schäfer (…). This absolute backing, based parts of the Muslim communities in Europe. The on lies, from a minister in the German government, decision by Bundestag mixes up the struggle

4 against anti-Semitism with support for an Israeli political preferences of the Jewish community’s nationalist agenda, thereby alienating large popula- representatives. (…) Accusations of anti-Semitism, tions that could be otherwise supportive of the fight which carry enormous weight in Germany, lead against Jew-hatred in these very communities. more and more to censorship and self-censorship. Moreover, the Bundestag motion restricts freedom (…) Only in Germany, because of its great sensitivity of thought and expression, the pillars of every liberal to anti-Semitism and deep identification with Israel democracy. (…) Lacking any balance, the Bundes- in the wake of the Shoah, are there politicians not tag rallied behind a government that does its very only on the right but on the left as well who vehe- best to prevent any political solution to the conflict mently endorse the silencing of criticism of Israel. through the ongoing construction and expansion of (…) If the German and Israeli governments are settlements. (…) We know, from German history, interested in the Jewish Museum representing only how dangerous such a move can be. (…) the Bun- their narrow political interests and denying its staff destag has betrayed its duty to fight anti-Semitism in members freedom of expression, I am not interested a principled and honest manner. It has betrayed its in having a part in it. (…) liberal and democratic values, as well as its duty to Yossi Bartal, HAA, 22.06.19 promote human rights and the rule of law, in Ger- many and Israel. It actually betrayed its duty as a true friend of Israel as well. (…) 3. Israel zwischen zwei Parlamentswahlen Avraham Burg, Dani Karavan, HAA, 17.06.19 Israels Ex-Ministerpräsident will bei den Parlamentswahlen am 17. September mit einer Why I resigned from Berlin’s Jewish Museum neuen Partei antreten. „Dies ist nicht die Zeit, um (…) The shameful firing of Peter Schäfer, among the die Hände in den Schoss zu legen“, erklärte der 77- most important scholars of Judaism in the world, in Jährige, der den Kampf aufnehmen will gegen „die the wake of an aggressive campaign of “fake news” korrupte Regierung“ von und conducted by the Israeli Ambassador to Germany, seinen Partnern, „extremistischen Rassisten“. Der Jeremy Issacharoff, and Josef Schuster, president Staat Israel befinde sich auf einem „zerstörerischen of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, made it Pfad, der in den Abgrund führt“. Um den Rechts- clear that the German government is not interested staat zu retten, gelte es jetzt, die Kräfte zu vereinen, any more in guarding the artistic and academic „um für den Sieg zu kämpfen“. Nicht die Größe der autonomy of the museum. And I am not interested in Partei sei entscheidend, sondern die Größe des working for an institution that relinquishes its inde- Blocks, meinte Barak in Anspielung an Benny pendence to serve the political interests of this or Gantz, den Chef von Blau-Weiß, der zwar bei den that state. (…) Is it appropriate for a German state letzten Wahlen die gleiche Anzahl von Stimmen wie museum to be called a Jewish museum at all, or der erzielte, dann aber keine reellen Koaliti- must it be under the complete control of the official onsmöglichkeiten hatte. Gantz habe es während Jewish community (…)? Is a Jewish museum, in the des Wahlkampfes an „Entschiedenheit und an dem absence of a similar institution addressing the Mus- Willen zu Siegen“ gemangelt. Barak ist der einzige lim community or other minority groups, responsible Politiker, der es jemals mit Netanjahu aufnehmen for providing space for the perspectives of children konnte. 1999 entschied Barak die Wahl für sich und of migrants in Germany, many of whom live in führte ein Jahr später den Abzug Israels aus dem neighborhoods nearby, and for conducting Jewish- Südlibanon durch. Die von ihm geführten Friedens- Muslim dialogue? (…) Should the museum function verhandlungen mit dem damaligen Chef der Paläs- as a forum in which various opinions in the Jewish tinensischen Befreiungsorganisation (PLO) Jassir world can be heard, those touching on Israel as Arafat scheiterten hingegen. Nachdem er sich 2013 well? The answer of the head of the Jewish commu- aus der Politik zurückgezogen hatte, wurde er als nity, the Israeli ambassador and right-wing journal- Geschäftsmann zum Multimillionär. Sein politisches ists, who for years have been running a toxic and Comeback nach sechsjähriger Pause kommt zu untruthful campaign against museum staff, is an einer Zeit, in der der Likud versucht, die Wahlen zu absolute no. Thus a significant portion of the criti- verhindern. Berater_innen Netanyahus prüfen, ob cism of the museum suggests, or even declares die Entscheidung für die Auflösung der openly, that the very fact that many of the staff annulliert werden könnte, was Jurist_innen bezwei- members of the museum are not Jews negates their feln. Nötig wären die Stimmen von zwei Drittel der right to social activism that is not in keeping with the Parlamentarier_innen. Bei Teilen der Arbeitspartei,

5 die bei den Wahlen im April auf ein historisches Tief issues, his passion and his genuine willingness to von nur noch sechs Mandate gefallen war, stieß join forces with the Labor Party. (…) Baraks Ankündigung auf offene Ohren. , Raviv Drucker, HAA, 24.06.19 der am 2.7.2019 zum neuen Vorsitzenden der Ar- beitspartei gewählt wurde, steht allerdings einer Can Netanyahu spin himself out of another elec- Kooperation mit Barak kritisch gegenüber. Eine gute tion? Nachricht ist die Kandidatur Baraks für , (…) whenever Netanyahu comes up with a new ehemals Justizministerin, die die letzten Friedens- political idea, several parties are quick to realize that verhandlungen mit den Palästinenser_innen führte whatever it is, it must be bad for them. And as ex- und die Barak mit ins Boot holen will. Potentieller pected, Blue and White quickly dismissed the plan Partner für den künftigen linken Block wäre auch as spin meant to exonerate Netanyahu from the . Neuer Chef der linksliberalen Partei ist seit blame of dragging the nation to the second round of kurzem der offen schwul lebende Nitzan Horowitz. elections in a year. (…) The problem is that many fine and talented people are working to make the Zandberg puts Meretz at risk. Elect Horowitz for cancelation initiative a reality. (…) polls show that party leader the majority of the public want a unity government, If the members of the Meretz party convention want not another round of elections. (…) The chances of their party to have a chance of surviving in the up- the cancelation actually happening are slim, both coming September election, they should elect legally and politically. But who knows? Netanyahu Nitzan Horowitz as the party’s leader (…). That’s not has already proved that when it comes to his politi- because of how the current chairwoman, Tamar cal survival, he has no limits. And if Blue and White Zandberg, handled allegations of sexual harassment are bored by being in opposition, they might end up against a party member, Nimrod Barnea, but be- receiving an offer they cannot refuse from the prime cause it was simply a mistake to have elected her. A minister. (…) party whose past leaders have been so impressive Sima Kadmon, YED, 27.06.19 was led into April’s Knesset election by someone who is – how can this be put delicately – not very Back in the game, but not as a lone player impressive. Zandberg says all the right things: She’s Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak is a unique per- against the occupation and supportive of LGBT sonality. He will always be the most decorated sol- people and women’s rights, but she doesn’t delve dier in the history of the IDF, brave, determined, and into any issue, doesn’t take the initiative and doesn’t sure of himself. An Ehud Barak isn't born every day, present fresh ideas (…). Sometimes she seems and the political system can't let him go that easily. more like the spokeswoman rather than the leader (…) despite being out of the government and the of the party. Meretz has only been in government for Knesset, Barak was the stand-out figure among the five out of the 27 years of its existence. For the past opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 19 years, it has not even come close to entering (…) His term as prime minister was indeed too coalition negotiations. And yet during this period, its short, and that was mostly due to his lack of political leaders left their mark on the country’s public life on experience, which made it difficult for him to hold occasion. Admiration for Yossi Sarid, Yossi Beilin, onto his coalition partners. But his time in office was Haim Oron and Zehava Galon extended across most significant in terms of his election promise. party lines. They were able to lead public and politi- This time, he is going to the public with nothing cal initiatives and they were perceived as of greater more than a very general promise of "tikkun" (fixing importance than the size of their party. Zandberg is or repairing) in the religious sense. But that cannot of far lower standing. (…) The Meretz campaign was be enough. The new generals' party has to make a pitiful, not only because it was uninteresting, worn clear, unequivocal statement, such as saying it is and gray, but also because it focused for some willing to launch immediate negotiations with Pales- reason only on the chairwoman, who was repeated- tinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas based on ly depicted in complimentary poses. (…) Horowitz a two-state solution and the 1967 borders. He needs was the Meretz candidate for mayor of Tel Aviv in to promise that he will pick up where he left off and 2013 and lost by a large margin to Mayor Ron Hul- that he will do everything so that by the time the dai. There’s no shame in that. (…) he is far prefera- next Knesset finishes its term, Israel will have a ble to Zandberg as a result of his familiarity with the border between it and the Palestinians, even if that border isn't a concrete wall, and even if Palestinians

6 are allowed to work in Israel and Israelis are allowed tions should take place has nothing to do with the to live in Palestine. (…) if he actually brings us a real needs of the state and its citizens, but exclu- new platform, and manages to bring Labor and sively with how to prolong his own political career Meretz on board with it (…) then Barak's new and how to avoid standing on trial for as long as framework might have a chance of succeeding. A possible, if not permanently. (…) Now Netanyahu brave man has founded a new movement, and it will appears to be having second thoughts about the take a brave man to throw off the cloak of slogans second of the two superfluous elections, allegedly and announce what he intends to do. (…) because opinion polls held by the Likud suggest that Yossi Beilin, IHY, 28.06.19 Netanyahu’s position has weakened (…) the current superfluous elections might well have saved the As long as infighting kept at bay, Barak's contri- anti-Bibi camp from four years in opposition. (…) the bution could help get rid of Netanyahu fact that the four Arab parties have learned the les- It’s hard to ignore the political breath of fresh air that son from the April elections, and will run in a single former Prime Minister Ehud Barak has brought into list (…) will probably increase the number of their the election campaign. He’s sharp, focused, unfil- seats (…); the chances that the new party that for- tered, on the ball and aimed straight at the only goal mer prime minister Ehud Barak is in the process of for which he decided to return to politics – ousting forming will run in the elections in a single list with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Barak has the Labor Party (…) and Meretz (…), and will form a charged the center-left with new energy and created focus of support for the political Left, leaving Blue a new, surprising opening in the middle of a cam- and White free to turn to the “soft,” liberal Right. paign that until now had seemed tired and sleepy. Though Barak certainly is not devoid of weakness- (…) It was easy to see the differences between es, the fact that, unlike the Blue and White leader- Barak and Kahol Lavan chairman Benny Gantz, who ship, he has genius, experience, a bee in his bonnet spoke just two hours before Barak’s announcement. in addition to a killer instinct provides him with a Gantz doesn’t have Barak’s rhetorical skills, nor clear advantage over the Blue and White foursome. does he have the killer instinct, that “knife between All this is likely to increase the representation of the the teeth” that shines forth from every word the Center-Left and Arab bloc from 55 to over 60. (…) former prime minister utters. (…) Barak’s entry into Blue and White and a list headed by Barak might be the race (…) is (…) likely to expand the center-left in a better negotiating position – vis-à-vis Liberman bloc. His plan to create a joint ticket with the Labor in his current state of mind, and a more pragmatic Party, and perhaps Meretz as well, could forge an at the head of the New Right, should effective left-wing front that, together with the center he manage to pass the qualifying threshold this time represented by Kahol Lavan, might well increase the – and thus in a better position to head the national number of seats the center-left bloc wins in the unity government that Israel so desperately needs in election. To fulfill this mission, Gantz and Barak order to return some stability and sanity into its must keep in mind throughout the campaign that political reality and daily life. From a Center-Left they have a shared goal, one that brought them both perspective, this is undoubtedly a much better sce- into politics at this stage of their lives – getting rid of nario than the gloomy results of the April elections. Benjamin Netanyahu’s corrupt, destructive govern- Susan Hattis Rolef, JPO, 30.06.19 ment. Editorial, HAA, 28.06.19 4. Medienquerschnitt Think About it: The superfluous elections should not be canceled Neue Ortschaft auf dem Golan nach Trump be- Anyone who feels that the title of this article is a non nannt sequitur simply doesn’t understand the completely wacky political reality in which we find ourselves Some Golan loyalist Bibi is these days. (…) the elections to the 21st Knesset (…) The only move the right ever made for the sake (the one that is to be replaced on September 17) of the Golan was the application of Israeli law there should have taken place sometime in November by Prime Minister in 1981 (…). 2019 – four-and-a-half months from now. Why did Since then, the “national camp” has basically left the they not take place in time (…)? Because the basis Golan alone, only remembering to mention it when on which our prime minister has decided when elec- there’s an election coming up, as Benjamin Netan-

7 yahu does. It has no interest in its empty spaces the sensors, from the waters of the Persian Gulf and its secular, agricultural character. If the settlers could trigger to a violent confrontation between the were truly interested in moving there, they could Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval forces and the have flooded the area en masse. But there are no U.S. naval forces currently sailing in the Gulf. Equal- holy graves or sacred land in the Golan Heights, ly important, the interception of the UAV and the only basalt rock and monuments to fallen soldiers. need to prevent it from falling into Iranian hands, as Nor are there any Palestinians to abuse or exploit as well as the need to take punitive and deterrent steps cheap labor. After four decades of near-continuous to the attack on their aircraft in international air right-wing governments, the Jewish population of space, could lead the Americans to send the USS the Golan Heights stands at just 22,000. (…) Netan- Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and the massive yahu actually had an ongoing interest in the Golan naval task force accompanying it, into the Persian Heights: He made a notable effort to return it to the Gulf. In order to do this, the task force and the carri- Syrians. (…) Netanyahu’s contacts with Assad junior er must pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which were only halted upon the outbreak of the Syrian the Iranians have threatened to block by force. (…) civil war in 2011. (…) This week, he pledged alle- Ron Ben-Yishai, YED, 20.06.19 giance to the Golan Heights, and in the name of Donald Trump, no less, who deserves a badge of Israel is not ready for any scenario shame and not the royal treatment, since he was the (…) Iran may not suffice with this limited confronta- one who was ready to abandon the Golan Heights tion with the Americans. Instead, it may launch a to forces hostile to Israel. (…) This is what we’ve provocation on one of Israel’s borders, with the goal come to: a transitional government that received no of intensifying the crisis mood and forcing the Trump vote of confidence from any Knesset and possesses administration to urgently reconsider its steps (…). no authority to establish a new community holding a But it’s doubtful that the are festive ceremony to mark the establishment of a really ready to provide an answer to any scenario. community that will never be established. (...) All for (…). The data shows that Israel is short of about 30 the sake of groveling before the master with a gold- percent of the military ambulances it would need for en sign announcing Trump Heights. (…) a war, while 20 percent of the army’s medical staff Uri Misgav, HAA, 20.06.19 positions remain unfilled. Moreover, these officials said, the IDF’s plan to rely on cooperation with the Magen David Adom ambulance service to evacuate Weiter Spannungen zwischen USA und Iran casualties on the home front doesn’t jibe with the actual conditions expected in wartime. (…) Israel’s The race is on to retrieve the U.S. spy drone military preparedness, as reflected in two large- brought down by Iran scale exercises conducted this week, apparently The MQ-4C Triton - the drone brought down by Iran doesn’t include paying serious attention to the scope over the Straits of Hormuz - is (…) the most techno- of casualties, both civilian and military, which is likely logically advanced intelligence-gathering drone both to be higher than in the past. At the moment of truth, in U.S in particular and the world in general. (…) apathy and amateurism on this issue are liable to The significance of its fall into the waters of the prove tragic. Persian Gulf is not just about the loss of tens of Editorial, HAA, 21.06.19 millions of dollars. The greatest concern is the fate of the components, in particular the sensors, of one of the most advanced and secret weapons in the United States arsenal. (…) It is fair to assume that as soon as the UAV was shot down, the Iranians scrambled to recover its parts from the water. If they HAA = do get their hands on the UAV, the Iranians may try YED = Yedioth Ahronoth / Ynetnews to reverse engineer the sensors and will almost JPO = Jerusalem Post certainly try to sell the technology to China and IHY = Israel HaYom North Korea. Having the sensors will also allow the TOI = Times of Israel Iranians to understand what kinds of intelligence the GLO = Globes Americans can gather with the Global Hawk. (…) The race to retrieve the Triton fragments, especially

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Veröffentlicht am: 4. Juli 2019

Verantwortlich: Dr. Paul Pasch, Leiter der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel

Redaktion: Susanne Knaul Judith Stelmach

Homepage: www.fes.org.il Email: [email protected]

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