Schlaglicht Nr. 13/11 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 28. Juni - 12. Juli 2011

1. Gesetz gegen Siedlungs- a guiding hand. […] These policies come directly Boykott verabschiedet from the school of Prime Minister and his Foreign Minister, Avigdor Spät am Abend des 11. Juli wurde in der israeli- Lieberman. […] All of them are trying to change schen Knesset nach fünfstündiger Debatte ein Israel's democratic system, which still allows room Gesetz verabschiedet, das Personen und Institu- for broad freedom of expression and defense of tionen, die Israel oder die jüdischen Siedlungen in minority rights. […] der Westbank boykottieren bzw. dazu aufrufen, The harm these people are doing to the State of unter Strafe stellt. Das Gesetz, vom Likud- Israel will cause mortal damage to its legitimacy, Abgeordneten Zeev Elkin eingereicht, sieht vor, because the nations of the world, including the dass Firmen oder Organisationen, die aufgrund ihrer United States, will not support an undemocratic geografischen Lage boykottiert werden, auf state." Schadensersatz verklagen können. Es wurde mit 47 Talia Sasson, HAA 11.07.11 zu 38 Stimmen verabschiedet – Atzmaut, Ehud Baraks Partei und Teil der Regierungskoalition, Stifling the debate nahm nicht an der Abstimmung teil. Auch "This bill is flawed first of all because of its twisted Premierminister Netanyahu und Außenminister definition: 'Geographical boycotts'. […] Lieberman waren nicht anwesend. Die Opposition In other words, we are allowed to utilize boycotts to kritisierte das Gesetz indes scharf. Mehrere fight against the price hikes of dairy producers here, Menschenrechtsorganisationen kündigten an, das […] , but we must not utilize this weapon in Gesetz beim Obersten Gerichtshof anfechten zu struggling over an issue the has been tearing this wollen. Auch der Rechtsberater der Knesset hatte nation apart for 44 years now – the territories vor Verabschiedung des Gesetzes bereits seine conquered in the Six-Day War. […] Zweifel an dessen Legalität angebracht. Elkin und I am allowed to think that some of the Jewish andere rechte Abgeordnete drohten daraufhin mit settlements in the jeopardize the State of einer Beschneidung der Autorität des Obersten Israel’s existence. I am also allowed to think that if Gerichtshofes. there is no other choice, these settlements need to be 'dried up.' But I’m not allowed to let anyone know Laws for liquidation that this is what I think? Is this the idea? "Even those who oppose boycotts as a tool for What we have here is a legitimate, longtime debate social change cannot stand idly by as the Knesset that will apparently not end tomorrow – with the new passes such a harmful law. […] It hits at the very law or without it." place where the people need the broadest possible Ariella Ringel-Hoffman, JED 10.07.11 freedom of expression - the realm of political expression. […] The bill is an imposition of the views The bad boycott law of the majority on the minority, essentially by "Israeli proponents of [boycott, divestment and shutting the latter up. […] sanctions] (BDS) expect our government to end the Ever since the 18th Knesset was formed, MKs have 'occupation' by simply giving in to all Palestinian been competing among themselves to see who can demands […]. Elkin’s bill […] aims to do away with more heavily bruise Israel's democratic regime. The this 'absurdity.' […] But while we empathize with flood of anti-democratic laws […] are the product of Elkin and other lawmakers’ protective instinct vis-a- 1 vis the Jewish state, we must, nevertheless, settlements on the other. They are thereby granting respectfully disagree with their proposed legislation. the settlers sweeping legitimization. […] Civil society has an unalienable right to organize Knesset members who vote for this law must peacefully and to use its buying power or freedom of understand that they are supporting the gagging of association to further political objectives […]. Elkin’s protest as part of an ongoing effort to liquidate legislation prohibits private Israeli citizens and democracy. Such moves may be painted as businesses from spending or not spending their protecting Israel, but in reality, they exacerbate its money the way they see fit or associating or not international isolation." associating with whomever they wish. HAA 11.07.11 Editorial Legislation that infringes freedom of expression is not the way to battle the local BDS movement. […] 2. Das Scheitern der zweiten Attempts to legitimize Jewish presence in Judea, "Gaza-Flottille" und die Samaria and Jerusalem through the stifling of criticism may just achieve the opposite, by providing "Fly-In-Initiative" BDS proponents with a truly worthy cause to Mehr als ein Jahr nachdem der erste Schiffkonvoi im champion – their own right to freedom of Mai 2010 versuchte, die israelische Seeblockade expression." des Gazastreifens zu durchbrechen, scheinen die JPO 12.07.11 Editorial Bemühungen, mit einer zweiten Flotte in See zu stechen, gescheitert zu sein. Zunächst sprachen Say 'yes' to patriotic law sich mehrere europäische Staaten gegen eine "Is there really a need to explain why the State of Teilnahme ihrer Staatsbürger aus. Dann sagte auch Israel is supposed to object to those who call for a die türkische Hilfsorganisation IHH, eine der boycott against it? Is there a need to explain why a führenden Kräfte der ersten Flottille, ihre Mitwirkung democracy must not support or subsidize bodies ab. Schließlich verwehrte Griechenland, wo die that call for a domestic boycott? […] Schiffe vor Anker lagen, den Aktivisten die Abfahrt. The bill against imposing boycotts that will be Zuvor waren außerdem einige Boote durch brought before the Knesset this week partly Sabotageakte lahmgelegt worden. contends with a unique absurdity in the democratic Stattdessen kündigten die Organisatoren dann an, realm: Bodies and institutions that receive financial Israel durch ein "Fly-In" zu "erstürmen" – pro- support from the State of Israel, while at the same palästinensische Aktivisten aus aller Welt planten time work independently in a bid to boycott it. […] nach Israel zu fliegen, um von dort aus weiter in die Those who claim that resorting to boycotts and Westbank und nach Gaza zu reisen. Dabei protests is legitimate in a democratic state are kalkulierten sie natürlich ein, dass Israel dies nicht correct. However, the democratic legitimacy does zulassen würde. Wie erwartet stationierte Israel not entitle such acts to be funded by taxpayers’ mehrere hundert Polizisten am Ben-Gurion- money. Flughafen und nahm den Großteil der Aktivisten – As of late there is a feeling that our democracy is not etwa 150 – sofort nach Landung fest. Die meisten allowed to work against those who smear the State wurden in den Folgetagen zurück in ihre Heimat- of Israel." länder abgeschoben. Über 200 Aktivisten waren gar Yoaz Hendel, JED 10.07.11 nicht erst losgeflogen, weil Israel die Flug- gesellschaften über ein Einreiseverbot informiert A law to subvert democracy hatte. "This contemptible law blatantly violates Israel's Basic Laws. It is couched in vague language. […] Ships of Fools This vagueness is intentional, designed to conceal "Organizers of the flotilla claim their goal is to end the goal of spreading a wide protective net over the Gaza’s 'humanitarian crisis.' [...] settlements, whose products, activities and in fact While the situation is tough – unemployment is very existence - which is controversial to begin with - about 25%, […] and three-quarters of the population are the main reason for the boycott initiatives, both relies on food aid – there is no humanitarian crisis in domestic and foreign. […] Gaza. Literacy is nearly universal and infant The law's sponsors are also creating a mendacious mortality is relatively low. Health conditions remain equivalence between the State of Israel and Israeli better than across much of the developing world. [...] society as a whole, on one hand, and the 2 If so, what is the real motivation of those 'activists' If last year flotilla organizers managed to surprise intent on challenging Israel’s blockade [...]? Could it Israel and the IDF, this year it was Greece that be their stubborn preoccupation with Israel’s surprised the organizers." purported abuses […] of Gazans, while conveniently Menachem Gantz, JED 03.07.11 ignoring the injustices of an increasingly unpopular Hamas regime, are the result of a certain ingrown The flotilla and the Jewish stereotype prejudice against the Jewish state?" "The Greek government wanted to save people […] JPO 27.06.11 Editorial from a traumatic and perhaps even fatal experience. […] Greece wanted to prevent a 'humanitarian Israel's violent discourse disaster' in the event of a clash between the Israel "Yes, they want to create a provocation - the only Defense Forces and the protesters. […] way to remind the world about Gaza's situation […]. We must now await future media leaks to know what Yes, the situation in Gaza has improved […], in part exactly Greece received in exchange, other than because of the previous flotilla. But […] it has no closer military ties. Perhaps money […]? outlet to the sea or air, there are no exports, and its The sympathy of the Greek soldiers who arrested inhabitants are still partially imprisoned. […] the Tahrir's passengers […] was with the flotilla and But look at how Israel is reacting. The flotilla was with Gaza, not with their government's orders. That's described immediately […] as a security threat; its all we need: another country whose government activists were classified as enemies. […] gets along well with Israel in complete opposition to We have become a society whose language is popular sentiment." violence, a country that seeks to resolve nearly Amira Hass, HAA 07.07.11 everything by force, and only by force." Gideon Levy, HAA 30.06.11 The unwelcome fly-in "The stage-managed production obviously has more Flotilla won't bring peace to do with a propaganda ploy than with breaking the "Another round of 'Flotilla Activism' aimed at inciting anyway fictional siege on Gaza. […] greater tension in the Arab-Israeli conflict is One minor detail is illuminating: The organizers of scheduled for this week. […] The latest crop of the fly-in refuse to call the destination […] Ben- flotilla participants – a fringe group of extremists Gurion Airport. They have dubbed it 'Lydda Airport,' working alongside terrorists – is more concerned after the […] British Mandate-era aerodrome. These with their own PR and promoting hate, violence, and semantics carry the explicit message of challenging chaos, rather than with working with Israelis Israel’s very sovereignty – not merely protesting its and to find peaceful solutions to the policies. conflict. […] The flotilla, therefore, fills no great No state can tolerate such an onslaught. […] The humanitarian void, but is clearly designed to provoke inimical visitors […] need to be stopped. […] Israel." We hope that somehow, ways will be found both to Jason Edelstein, JED 28.06.11 deny the provocateurs entry, yet avoid getting dragged into the PR trap they have sprung." Our new friend, Greece JPO 06.07.11 Editorial "It appears that organizers did not take one thing into account: Greece’s attitude to the flotilla and that Hysteria at the airport dramatic change this year in Israel-Greece ties. […] "If the intention of flotilla and fly-in organizers was to The country was always considered a pro-Arabic direct global attention to Gaza, Israel [is] doing state and an enthused supporter of the Palestinians. everything to help them. […] […] We are told about intelligence preparations, However, this year Greece’s prime minister decided assessments, […] undercover detectives, a task to reshuffle the deck. The crisis in ties between force, reinforcement of security and feverish Israel and Turkey, Greece’s neighbor and rival, preparations. Israel is preparing for war, not for a created an opportunity. […] He understands that protest. […] Greece’s global status will be boosted should it This is not a deployment, but rather, hysteria. Fly-in apply a more balance Mideastern policy. […] organizers can go ahead, cancel their tickets and save their money. The Israeli government did the job

3 for them. […] Israel’s PR establishment is offering its keep tabs on the practical results of their words, fine services free of charge." using the methods permitted in a democracy. […] Haim Zisovitch, JED 07.07.11 Freedom of expression must be strictly maintained, but Lior should be dismissed from all his 3. Verhaftung von Rabbi Dov Lior positions." HAA 29.06.11 Editorial Dov Lior, der als einer der führenden Rabbiner des radikalen Flügels der Nationalreligiösen gilt, ist Rabbi's arrest wrong move wegen Verdachtes auf Volksverhetzung festge- "Those who made the decision to detain Lior, and nommen worden. Lior hatte das religiöse Traktat certainly in the manner he was arrested, may be law "Torat Hamelech" ("Die Torah des Königs") in einem enforcement officials, but they are also reckless. […] Vorwort gutgeheißen. In dem Buch wird behauptet, Such crude act, arresting Lior on a city street, das jüdische Gesetz erlaube in Extremfällen die thereby undermining the honor of an elderly spiritual Tötung von nichtjüdischen Zivilisten. Nachdem Lior leader admired by the masses, cannot but convey a mehreren Vorladungen der Polizei nicht nachge- provocative, haughty message." kommen war, wurde er festgenommen und eine Israel Wolman, JED 29.06.11 Stunde lang verhört. Nun muss die Staatsanwalt- schaft über eine Anklage entscheiden. King Lior and his subjects Nach Liors Verhaftung kam es zu Ausschreitungen "Menachem Livni, who was convicted of murders, in Jerusalem, wo hunderte von Sympathisanten den headed a terror organization dubbed the 'Jewish Verkehr lahmlegten und gegen den Obersten underground' […] testified that the spirit behind the Gerichtshof protestierten. underground was Lior. […] [But] Lior was not to be Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, ein Sohn des ehemaligen arrested, tried or even seriously interrogated. The Oberrabbiners Ovadia Yosef, wurde gleichfalls very belated and slight delay for an hour of festgenommen. Seine Verhaftung führte zu erneuten questions relating to the book […] is therefore Protesten vor dem Obersten Gerichtshof. ridiculous. […] Lior does not stop at incitement. […] Rabin's assassin used to travel to to see the The remedy for "Torah HaMelach" rabbi. […] "It is not at all clear that Lior has committed a crime. As long as who identify with Rabbi Lior are He has, however, placed his rabbinic reputation not ousted from their jobs; as long as funding for the behind a morally repugnant book […], based on the present religious education is not stopped; as long essentialist premise that non-Jewish lives are as Lior's involvement in acts of murder […] is not inherently less valued […]. The state prosecutor and prosecuted, the country has no right to demand its the police have a duty to investigate suspicions of citizens serve in the army or pay taxes. Until the incitement. change takes place, Israel is not a state." Nevertheless, in a Jewish state that respects not Sefi Rachlevsky, HAA 01.07.11 only the rule of law but also democratic principles, special care should be made not to stifle intellectual Treat Jews, Arabs equally expression, even if the result is books like Torat "Rabbis are not above the law. […] When a rabbi is Hamelech. [...] summoned for interrogation, he should report. […] The remedy for Torat Hamelech is not censorship or [But] at this time, the State of Israel conveys a dual, intimidation, but the eminently Jewish practice of confusing message in respect to incitement. On the open intellectual debate and exchange of opinion." one hand, […] any delusional statement by rightist JPO 28.06.11 Editorial activists is perceived as the crossing of a red line. […] On the other hand, […] Israel shows incredible A dangerous fire tolerance in respect to different kind of incitement. "Those who favor freedom of expression will of […] A blind eye is being turned to hundreds of course find it difficult to accept as self evident the Muslim clerics who write and speak hatred openly arrest of a person, any person, for things that he under guise of the Jewish State’s mosques." said or wrote. […] Yoaz Hendel, JED 29.06.11 It may have been wiser […] to decide to allow these inciters to continue to trade in their dubious merchandise, and at the same time to continue to 4 Rabbi Lior's arrest Torah? […] Should Israel be a democracy […], or an "Let us ask the seemingly forbidden question: Could ethnocracy? […] it be that perhaps both the authors and the In his book Der Judenstaat, Herzl wrote: 'Will we endorsers are correct in their analysis? […] have a theocracy? No!... We will not allow the There have been many instances throughout history theocratic tendencies of our religious leadership to in which righteous nations fought against tyranny raise their head. We will know how to keep them in and enemy civilians were killed in the process. The the synagogues […] They should not interfere in most glaring example was WWII, when the allied matters of state. […]' forces bombed the heavily populated German cities If we do not appreciate and implement what Herzl […] Was this a crime? […] Certainly not! […] In a said, the rioters in Jerusalem will not stop at the time of war, it is certainly permissible. […] Supreme Court." I applaud Rabbi Lior for standing firm for the right to Shaul Arieli, HAA 06.07.11 express his opinion about such an important national issue." 4. Medienquerschnitt David Rubin, AS 28.06.11 Die Vielfalt der in Israel relevanten Themen kann in Why was the Rabbi detained? einem Medienspiegel nicht umfassend wieder- "The affair involving the arrest and interrogation of gegeben werden. Um den deutschen LeserInnen Rabbi Dov Lior has nothing to do with matters of law dennoch einen Einblick in das breite Themen- and order. [It was] meant to humiliate […] rather spektrum, das in den Medien behandelt wird, zu than to enforce the law. gewähren, veröffentlichen wir in dieser Schlag- After all, there was no real need to interrogate Rabbi lichtausgabe wieder eine kleine Auswahl an Lior. […] Any legal decision regarding his actions weiteren Themen, die in den vergangenen zwei can be taken without him present. The demand to Wochen die israelische Gesellschaft bewegten. probe him […] was a belligerent provocation by Attorney Shai Nitzan, who for years now has been Über den Vorschlag, das israelische Wochenende leading a McCarthy-like hunt against Jewish settlers von Freitag/Samstag auf Samstag/Sonntag zu in Judea and Samaria." verschieben: Benny Katzover, JED 30.06.11 Say 'no' to Sunday off Religious extremism and the Jewish state "The Muslim day of rest is Friday. This is the day "There is a worrying trend emerging on the fringes of where a significant part of our citizens pray. A the national religious sector, […] resorting to street democratic state must show consideration to its violence as a vehicle to promote their views. [...] minorities. The real challenge rests not with the law And here is another argument: Even without an enforcement officials, but with mainstream religious official government decision, Friday has already leaders who are principally responsible for the become a day of rest for many workers. In fact, most erosion and distortion of traditional religious values. members of our economy work five days already, [...] The time has come for the moderate Zionist Sunday through Thursday. […] rabbis and laymen to stand up […] condemning We shall welcome the declaration of Sunday as a religious extremists." day of rest, but we shall have trouble giving up our Isi Leibler, JPO 29.06.11 freedom on Friday. Will the economy be able to function with only four days of work per week? […] Democracy vs. God In practice, industrialists shall aim to take advantage "Those of us who believe that the internal debate of their factories on weekends as well, and people […] in Israel is still focused on defense needs or the who are having trouble making ends meet will number of settlements that should be evacuated, secure 'an additional job' for the weekends (as is the were proven wrong […]. The real controversy case in America.) focuses on the image of Israeli society and the And so, while the wealthy will celebrate a three-day nature of the country's governance. […] Whose weekend, the poor will be working seven days a power is greater? The rule of law set by institutions week." with democratically elected officials, or the rule of Moshe Ronen, JED 06.07.11 rabbis who make decisions in accordance with the 5 The Sunday imperative superpower it may lose American support, thereby "Shortening the workweek will undoubtedly have the collapsing diplomatically and economically." downside of hurting economic output. […] Guy Bechor, JED 01.07.11 Israelis, however, already work many more hours on average than citizens of most other industrialized I won't join the solidarity march countries. […] "I won't join the solidarity march in support of the In contrast, workweeks have fallen significantly Palestinian demand to declare independence. […] in the US and even more so in Europe, since The solidarity march is the answer of those of us the mid-20th century, primarily due to increasing who believe that the side that bears the main levels of productivity. By raising GDP per capita, responsibility for the failure to implement the two- Israel could easily accommodate a shorter state vision so far is Israel, which is ruled by a right- workweek without suffering a drop in total output. wing government and the settlers. […] According to A two-day weekend would also be a boon for this approach, there is no need to build incentives recreation industries such as sports, music and that will cause the Palestinians, too, to change their domestic tourism. […] It should come as no surprise, views, as a precondition for a just and stable therefore, that hoteliers, the Manufacturers agreement. Association and the Chamber of Commerce have I don't accept this analysis. […] Israel has a large come out in favor. […] majority ready for a stable compromise agreement. Transforming Sunday into a second day of rest is Moreover, the present Israeli government, as right- […] feasible from an economic standpoint and wing as it may be, is officially committed to a two- conducive to alleviating religious tensions. By all state solution. […] standards, Sunday off is an imperative." The dead end in the negotiations is based on the JPO 07.07.11 Editorial Palestinians' positions no less than those of Israeli opponents of partition. Therefore, a proper process Über Argumente gegen die unilaterale Ausrufung of progress toward implementing the two-state eines palästinensischen Staates: vision must include clear and consistent Israeli and international activity to create political, economic, Abbas headed for disaster social and ethical incentives that will convince the "Abbas is heading full force into his own collapse, two sides to accept the 'painful concessions' and that of his Authority, in September. required." It’s already clear that a Palestinian state will not be Ruth Gavison, HAA 10.07.11 established. New states are only established through a Security Council decision, and the United States already made it clear in the most explicit way that it would impose a veto. […] This week, the Americans sent a special envoy to warn Abbas. The

Europeans did the same, yet he insists on rushing HAA = towards the wall. JED = Jedioth Ahronoth […] Abbas’ people fail to make a distinction between JPO = Jerusalem Post UN legitimacy, which they can obtain via the support AS = Arutz Sheva of more than 100 states […] and acceptance as a UN member, which they will not be getting. Veröffentlicht am: 14. Juli 2011 Their disappointment may be immense and destructive. Palestinian violence may result and Verantwortlich: possibly focus on Israel, but also turn domestically, Dr. Ralf Hexel, against the Palestinian Authority that prompted the Leiter der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel failure. Why could this turn into a collapse? Because Abbas Redaktion: is endangering the relationship of his fragile Maike Harel Authority with the US, with Israel, and with the Anita Haviv European Union. At this time already, America is Homepage: www.fes.org.il furious over the Authority’s pact with Hamas, and Email: [email protected] should the PA act against the wishes of the great 6