Schlaglicht Nr. 03/14 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 21. Januar – 09. Februar 2014

1. Die internationale Boykottbewegung minister sagte ebenfalls, dass ein Zu- gegen Israel sammenbruch des Friedensprozesses zu erhebli- chen Einbrüchen in der israelischen Wirtschaft füh- Die Erfolge der internationalen Kampagne für "Boy- ren würde. kott, Disinvestition und Sanktionen" (BDS) gegen Israel haben sich bisher weitgehend auf den kultu- Boycotting reality rellen Bereich beschränkt. So haben Musiker wie- "Kerry’s statement […] that Israel will face boycotts derholt auf Druck der Kampagne Konzerte in Israel should negotiations with the fail, is a abgesagt. level-headed view of reality that the Israeli govern- Nun sind wirtschaftliche Boykottmaßnahmen jedoch ment chooses to continually ignore. […] ins Zentrum der israelischen Mediendebatte getre- It’s embarrassing to hear Strategic and Intelligence ten. Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz demand 100 million Bei der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz hatte US- shekels for a public campaign against the boycott Außenminister John Kerry gewarnt, dass ein Zu- movement. He doesn’t understand that the problem sammenbruch der Friedensgespräche zu "inakzep- is policy, not public relations." tablen Folgen" wie Sanktionen führen könne. In den HAA 04.02.14 Editorial letzten Wochen hatten bereits mehrere europäische Finanzinstitute eine Einschränkung ihrer Aktivitäten Boycott Israel’s boycotters in Israel angekündigt. So hatte der niederländische "The Israeli government should not turn the other Rentenfonds PGGM beträchtliche Investitionen in cheek to those threatening it with a boycott by Israels Banken rückgängig gemacht, da diese Filia- agreeing to the suicidal demands of Kerry and the len in den jüdischen Siedlungen im Westjordanland Europeans […]. Instead, Israel and its supporters in betreiben und dort Bauvorhaben finanzieren. Auch the US must fight fire with fire against those bigoted, die Danske Bank bendete ihre Zusammenarbeit mit misinformed and anti-Semitic boycotters of Israeli der israelischen Bank Hapoalim aus diesen Grün- universities and companies […], by boycotting them den. Deutschland fügte einem Abkommen für wis- and hitting them in their pockets where it hurts the senschaftliche Zusammenarbeit einen Zusatz hinzu, most. demzufolge Aktivitäten in den Siedlungen nicht Israel and its supporters should call on the US Con- finanziert werden dürfen. gress to intervene and legislate against these anti- Für Kontroverse sorgte indes die Hollywood- Israel boycotters, as they did in the 1970s against Schauspielerin Scarlett Johansson mit ihrer Wer- the Arab boycott, by stopping taxpayer subsidization bung für die Firma SodaStream. Diese betreibt eine of the boycott advocates, […] and levying taxes, civil Fabrik in einem einer Siedlung zugehörigen Indust- penalties and fines against European and American riepark. companies which participate. […] Nicht nur Kerry warnte jedoch vor drohenden Sank- Let us take the fight to them and hurt them financial- tionen: Eine Gruppe von 58 israelischen Wirt- ly through private lawsuits and legislation. schaftsgrößen forderte Premierminister Benjamin Let Israel finds new economic markets in prosper- Netanyahu dazu auf, sich auf ein Friedensabkom- ous Asia where they are appreciated, and quickly men mit den Palästinensern einzulassen, weil sonst leave Europe to sink economically under their own schwerwiegende Schäden drohen würden. Finanz- self-righteousness." 1 Shoula Romano Horing, JED 03.02.14 Avraham Burg, HAA 03.02.14 Carrot and stick: The real threat to Israel Israel failing to heed warning signs "Senior European Union officials said they had "Indeed, the European boycott is not felt agreed to freeze the proposal to boycott products in Israel yet. Israeli exports to Europe even in- from the settlements for now, […] but […] if the Is- creased in 2013. But what will happen in 2014? […] raeli side is blamed for the talk's failure, the EU will The real problem hiding behind the economic boy- renew the initiative with all its energy. […] cott and possible diplomatic boycott (and I pray that […] We have already lost this war, and we will be we are wrong) is that after it or at the same time a blamed in any event, as the Palestinians are con- wave of de-legitimization of the State of Israel may sidered the victim side, the underdog." sweep over the world. In a world of which quite a Shimon Shiffer, JED 02.02.14 large part is really anti-Semitic, that is serious trou- ble and a recipe for tough times." When hunger trumps satisfaction Eitan Haber, JED 23.01.14 "On the one hand, the leftist camp is in a panic from the sanctions that have been imposed thus far, and Scarjo and peace from those that may yet come. Without minimizing "Admittedly, Israel’s continued control over the lives the importance of the disturbing way Israel is being of over 2.5 million Palestinians is problematic, chock perceived in the West, it’s not unfounded to say that with moral dilemmas, and ultimately unsustainable. the left is engaged in magnifying the threats and However, resolving the conflict takes the coopera- marketing them vigorously. […] This exaggeration tion of both sides. Blaming Israeli businesses like stems in part from the deep shame felt by the Israeli SodaStream and the celebrities who help promote left − which sees itself as part of the liberal West, them is misguided, unfair, and unhelpful. […] with its values of freedom − over our isolationist Perhaps something good will come out of all the right-wing government, but it comes primarily from media attention given to SodaStream and Johans- the fear of a decreased quality of life. […] son after all. As Johannson noted, the 'light being On the other hand, the right, […] is trying to mini- shed on this issue' might 'contribute to the conversa- mize the threats and dismiss their importance. […] tion of a peaceful two-state solution in the near The right believes that the boycott threats are no future.'” more than another link in an ancient anti-Semitic JPO 28.01.14 Editorial genealogical chain, and a rather marginal one at that. To their mind, the real threat facing Israel is the Scarlett fever gone viral threat of destruction, pure and simple, and the boy- "When mega-star Scarlett Johansson signed on to cott threat is secondary." be the famous face of the Israeli soft drink company Ravit Hecht, HAA 05.02.14 SodaStream, she was probably unaware of the tsunami it would unleash. […] What's wrong with BDS, after all? To her great credit, Johansson was not intimidated "Put yourselves for a minute in the Palestinians’ by the deluge of detractors who […] try to smear her place […] and consider what you would do in their reputation. […] Her response […] was […] to defend position. A violent Palestinian rebellion? No way SodaStream for being a factory that promotes […], not least because it will be put down by a much peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and more violent force. […] Israelis. […] A diplomatic agreement? You’ve made Bennett and The entire episode […] dealt a blow to the BDS […] Netanyahu […] laugh. So then what? Nothing? movement in the process.[…] Should they just say thank you and shut up? Would Scarlett Johansson has opted for sanity in a sea of we remain silent and capitulate unconditionally if we lunacy, and SodaStream is not the only deserving were in their place? Suddenly it turns out that the benefactor. It has been uplifting for the rest of us, as boycott movement is not just an annoying effort to well, to witness her message of moral clarity go hit Israelis in the pocket, but a bold and innovative viral.'" attempt to achieve real diplomatic gains. […] Ruthie Blum, IHY 04.02.14 It’s a local and international expression of a totally different type of Palestinian struggle, something new The boycott mirage and not so familiar to us – nonviolent resistance. Is "So far, BDS has not achieved much success; it that also forbidden?" constitutes a bearable nuisance. […] Attempts to 2 boycott Israeli products are unlikely to be successful The argument over this country's image, its borders, in America. The American public support for Israel its character, are the most important thing for every has remained stable for the past two decades at person here. Those who think this debate can be over 60 percent. […] Even in Europe there are decided – regardless of which side – through silenc- strong pockets of pro-Israeli sentiments. The EU ing and intimidation, are making a serious mistake. itself has announced that it has no plans whatsoever Such steps will only hurt all of us, because they to boycott the Israeli economy. Israeli products orig- undermine the strongest foundation of the Israeli inating beyond the Green Line are a different story, society: Our democracy." but only a small part of the Israeli economic activity Nitzan Horowitz, JED 22.01.14 is taking place in the settlements. […] Fortunately, Israel is not internationally isolated and Free speech, free conscience and caution most of the world does not care enough about the "Education in democracy is anchored in our stu- Palestinians to sacrifice the benefits of good bilateral dents' abilities to be exposed to a vast array of ideas relations with Israel. Israel has the leeway to decide […]. The market of ideas must remain open, inter- what is good for itself." esting and stimulating. Efraim Inbar, IHY 06.02.14 The , however, must not exploit his or her position to disseminate personal beliefs among 2. Kontroverse um "linken" Sozial- . […] It does not matter if the teacher has kundelehrer right-wing or left-wing persuasions. The teacher's job is to facilitate debate without af- Nachdem eine Schülerin sich in einem Brief an den fecting its outcome. […] In light of the Adam Verete Bildungsminister Shai Piron über die "staatsfeindli- scandal, it is highly important that Israeli chen" Äußerungen ihres Sozialkundelehrers be- understand that transforming classrooms into politi- schwert hatte, leitete das Bildungsnetzwerk ORT ein cal arenas calls for a yellow card." Disziplinarverfahren gegen Adam Verete ein. Dem Haim Shine, IHY 31.01.14 Lehrer wurde insbesondere vorgeworfen, er habe die israelische Armee als "unmoralisch" bezeichnet. The Orwellian tactic of Israel's rightists Verete und viele seiner Schüler gaben hingegen an, "The affair surrounding Adam Verete […] exposes a er habe die Jugendlichen zum kritischen Denken dangerous tendency in Israel’s society. […] angeregt. Instead of protecting Verete, who says he has re- Während das ORT-Netzwerk zunächst Veretes ceived death threats, the school is trying to fire him Kündigung androhte, zog es diese nach einer zwei- because many of the parents support the view that ten Anhörung zurück. Piron sagte, es sei verboten, Verete is a treacherous left-winger. Lehrer aus ideologischen Gründen zu suspendieren, There are strong forces in Israeli society that push it sie dürften aber ermahnt werden. toward right-wing totalitarianism and theocracy and Sozialkunde ist in Israel ein besonders kontroverses make use of Orwellian tactics by delegitimizing any- Fach, da es zu Themen wie Rechte und Pflichten body who disagrees with the right wing. […] The der Bürger und dem Zusammenspiel von Religion result is that people feel free to threaten the life of a und Staat keinen gesellschaftlichen Konsens gibt. liberal teacher." 2012 war der Koordinator für Sozialkunde im Bil- Carlo Strenger, HAA 29.01.14 dungsministerium entlassen worden, nachdem er sich bemüht hatte, eine facettenreichere Debatte in Leave politics out the classroom seinem Fach einzuführen. Die Stelle ist seitdem "Unfortunately, Verete has been presented by his unbesetzt. advocates and ideological fellow-travelers as a vic- tim of an infringement of freedom of speech and 'Leftist' teacher must not be fired thought. […] "If we start firing or boycotting people over their As opposed to those who claim that the action taken opinions, we'll end up in abyss. […] against Verete is a form of 'silencing', the contrary is Political opinions are the most legitimate thing. It's true. Verete’s actions are a form of silencing in- every person's basic right in a free society. […] formed debate, imaginative, broad and open discus- And so an open debate among teenagers is a posi- sions and are a dispensary of intellectual dishones- tive thing. It's exactly what we want to encourage ty. […] among the youth: Involvement and concern. […] 3 Even if one feels that they are alienated Piron cannot speak in praise of involved teachers because of a teacher’s political diatribe, then that and curious students – and sometimes, perhaps teacher has failed their profession. This is what even critical ones – while simultaneously keeping happened in the Verete case and this is what we mum when a teacher who acted on his recommen- should be protecting our children against." dations has been put in the dock." Shimon Ohayon, TOI 02.02.14 HAA 22.01.14 Editorial

Opinionated teachers If I were a teacher "In many national-religious schools, teachers take "Here it’s forbidden to even ask if the IDF is a moral right-wing positions on issues such as settlements, army, the way Adam Verete dared to do […], as he state and religion, and IDF policies. Moreover, na- tried to present a different version of things than tional-religious high schools for boys and girls regu- what’s deemed acceptable. […] larly encourage their students to take part in demon- The job of the Israeli educational system is to pre- strations against territorial compromise or in favor of pare our girls and boys for army service. That’s a settlement expansion. […] pedagogical poem that’s scary and distorted. In no In secular schools, in contrast, the political environ- democratic state does the school system constitute ment is more diverse. Nevertheless, expressing paramilitary service, with the schools as military certain political positions, even in the classroom, are academies. But that’s exactly why they instill our considered acceptable and even desirable. A teach- pupils with all the fears and hatreds and the sense er would never be disciplined for expressing unquali- of victimhood and nationalism. […] fied support for the IDF or for defending Israel’s right If I were a teacher […]I would not try to turn my to promote Jewish immigration via the Law of Re- students into rightists or leftists; I would try to pre- turn. sent them with the truth – actually, truths, not just Ideally, however, while a teacher can and should ours. […] deal with controversial issues, particularly in civics I would teach them that all human beings are born class, he or she should do so without presenting equal, including, believe it or not, Jews and Arabs. personal political opinions in the classroom." If I were a teacher, I would never teach in the ORT JPO 03.02.14 Editorial network." Gideon Levy, HAA 29.01.14 An educator's responsibility "Can radical opinions, ones that deviate from the 3. Spannungen zwischen Netanya- values of the education system and the State of hu und Bennett Israel, be considered legitimate? […] State-run schools in Israel cannot permit Kahanistic Nach einer Äußerung von Premierminister Benjamin racist education. By the same token, there is no Netanyahu ist es zu einer kurzzeitigen Koalitionskri- place for anti-Zionist education. […] se gekommen. Netanyahu hatte im Zusammenhang There is no place in the education system for teach- mit den Friedensverhandlungen gesagt, es sei ers who support so-called 'price-tag' attacks by right- denkbar, dass jüdische Siedlungen im Westjordan- wing activists, or, on the other hand, teachers who land unter palästinensischer Souveränität bestehen support the Zochrot agenda, advocating the Pales- bleiben würden. tinian right of return." Naftali Bennet, Wirtschaftsminister und Vorsitzender Uri Heitner, IHY 29.01.14 des nationalreligiösen Koalitionspartners HaBayit HaYehudi ("Die jüdische Heimat"), reagierte darauf Shay Piron's test mit heftiger Kritik: Jüdische Bürger in einem palästi- "The education minister cannot and must not stand nensischen Staat würden von den Palästinensern aside when a teacher is being punished for trying to umgebracht werden, behauptete er. Netanyahus engage in education. […] Aussage sei ein „Verlust von Grundwerten“, und Teachers who try to discuss controversial issues "Ahnen und Nachkommen" würden einem israeli- with their students have been under attack in recent schen Führer, der das Land "aufgebe und aufteile" years. Under Piron’s predecessor, Gideon Sa’ar, the nicht verzeihen. Education Ministry itself led the campaign to silence Netanyahu drohte Bennett daraufhin mit seiner and intimidate those whose views deviated from the Entlassung, sollte er sich nicht entschuldigen. Damit permitted line. war die Regierung in Gefahr, die ohne die Unter- 4 stützung der Siedlerbewegung ihre Mehrheit verlie- direction that Netanyahu and Livni are dragging the ren könnte. country. This being the case, their continued pres- Eine Regierungskrise wurde jedoch abgewendet, als ence in the coalition actually causes damage since it Bennett sich entschuldigte. provides cover for Netanyahu. […] The best thing they can do now, […] is to leave and Spat between Netanyahu and Bennett over, but force Netanyahu to expose his true colors by bring- cold war rages on ing Labor on board to help him implement the final "The relations between the prime minister and the stages of the Oslo nightmare. economy minister are so toxic, that it’s hard to imag- In such a scenario, Netanyahu […] will be hard- ine the two surviving an entire term together. Even pressed to remain within the as it will be near- though, at the end of the day, this is the most con- ly impossible for him to look most rank and file Likud venient coalition for Netanyahu – as long as he does members in the eye." not commit the sin of making peace – and it’s cer- Yoel Meltzer, JED 04.02.14 tainly the most convenient one for Bennett, under those same conditions. […] Netanyahu versus Bennett: It's a matter of time Politically, Bennett was probably not hurt by the until the next coalition crisis squabble with Netanyahu, even though he had to "Netanyahu's associates said this week that if Ben- back down eventually. From his perspective, he did nett is suffering so much in the government he is his thing, searing into national consciousness the welcome to quit, but these are empty words: Bennett fact that leaving Jewish settlements in enemy territo- holds the keys to 12 seats, and it is only ry, or in effect agreeing to the 1967 boundaries, is thanks to them that Netanyahu still inhabits the not an option. […] If there’s one thing he learned Prime Minister's Office. Netanyahu's associates can from the episode, it’s that you have to argue sub- continue spreading fables about a coalition based stantively, not personally. To attack the issue and on the Labor's Knesset seats or on those of the not the issuer." haredi parties, but I doubt that even they believe Yossi Verter, HAA 31.01.14 them – after all, the Likud Beiteinu member will not let the prime minister establish his third term on Netanyahu's maneuvers, feints and deceptions politicians from the Left who support a withdrawal "It came as no surprise that […] Bennett so harshly from the territories, or on the black skullcap wearers attacked […] Netanyahu for the latter’s remark that with whom Yair Lapid and his friends refused to sit settlers should be allowed to remain in their homes at the same table." under Palestinian rule. Bennett […] is the emissary Shimon Shiffer, JED 30.01.14 of the settlers in the government and as such he must protect those who sent him, who see any Bennett, think before you act agreement to be signed with the Palestinians as a "Netanyahu's anger at Bennett is understandable, 'irrationality of values.' […] but it is doubtful he has any interest in allowing it to Netanyahu was not angry about the fact that Ben- destroy the coalition. The last thing Bennett wants nett’s hysterical statements harmed the negotiations now is to quit, but his statements against the prime […], but that Bennett is thwarting a tactical move minister, whether to placate or satisfy party mem- whose purpose is to present the Palestinians as bers, only serve to bring his dismissal one step 'obstacles to peace.' In fact, the prime minister is closer. complaining about the fact that officials at home are Several analysts have pondered why, in this gov- not allowing him to carry out maneuvers, feints and ernment and unlike the previous one, Netanyahu deceptions of the international community with the chose not to establish a forum of seven top minis- goal of sinking any future agreement." ters, who mull sensitive security and diplomatic HAA 27.01.14 Editorial issues. One of the main reasons is that the exclu- sive forum would have had to include Bennett -- a Bennett, leave the coalition now! concept Netanyahu could not have borne under any "I would suggest […] [to] leave the coalition now. circumstances." […] Mati Tuchfeld, IHY 28.01.14 Bennett and company need to understand that un- fortunately they, together with several good national- Toning it down ist MKs from the Likud, have no real influence on the 5 "Netanyahu explained he was not seeking to, heav- caust’s victims were anonymous and faceless re- en forbid, shut Bennett's mouth; he allows every duces friction with the Arab/Muslim world, which minister to freely speak his mind. But the problem chafes against Holocaust commemoration lest it was not with the content of Bennett's remarks, but even theoretically imply sympathy for Jews. […] rather the tone used to refer to the prime minister -- Such moral blindness cannot be ignored when as- and not for the first time. Bennett now understands sessing EU attitudes toward the Jewish state." there is a price to pay for disparaging remarks, and JPO 29.01.14 Editorial will be sure to be more cautious in the future. […] An apology was obtained, although it is clear that Anti-Semitism in Europe? Not a problem the conflict is far from over. Netanyahu has read "The Holocaust was an exclusive outcome of Euro- drafts of the American agreement and knows all too pean anti-Semitism. […] Ashton doesn’t think she well that there will be future reasons to clash with should address anti-Semitism individually – as far as Bennett. […] He will want to, or be forced to, issue she and the EU are concerned, it's just part of a statements that will automatically put Bennett on the more general phenomenon of 'racism.' offensive. This story has only just begun -- and this In the past few years, the EU has waged a con- week's skirmish promises to be the first in a long sistent battle against every effort to hold a discus- series." sion on the anti-Semitic frenzy in Europe. In 2003, a Dan Margalit, IHY 30.01.14 report commissioned by the EU on the issue was buried, mainly because it mentioned Muslim anti- 4. Medienquerschnitt Semitism. Later on, the EU […] asserted that Islam- ophobia is Europe's big problem, and that in fact Die Vielfalt der in Israel relevanten Themen kann in there is no longer significant anti-Semitism but just einem Medienspiegel nicht umfassend wieder- 'legitimate criticism against Israel's policy.' […] gegeben werden. Um den deutschen LeserInnen 'In the European foreign service, the famous and dennoch einen Einblick in das breite Themen- known anti-Israel stance has turned into open anti- spektrum, das in den Medien behandelt wird, zu Semitism long ago,' admits a senior source in the gewähren, veröffentlichen wir in dieser Schlag- European Commission, who is in constant touch lichtausgabe wieder eine kleine Auswahl an weite- with Ashton's people. ren Themen, die in den vergangenen zwei Wochen That is, apparently, the explanation for European die israelische Gesellschaft bewegten. anti-Semitism: The anti-Semites never treated anti- Semitism as a problem." Über eine Rede der EU-Außenbeauftragten Cathe- Eldad Beck, JED 03.02.14 rine Ashton anlässlich des Holocaust- Gedenktages, in der sie Juden nicht erwähnte: HAA = ; JED = Jedioth Ahronoth; JPO = Jerusa- Ashton’s lapse lem Post; IHY = Israel HaYom; TOI = Times of Israel; "It is highly doubtful that Ashton’s lapse is inadvert- GLO = Globes ent. Not everything can be ascribed to unintentional slipups. The bizarre homage Europe’s spokeswom- Veröffentlicht im: Februar 2014 an paid to 'every one of those brutally murdered in the darkest period of European history,' without any Verantwortlich: reference to their identity, strains common sense. Dr. Werner Puschra, Ashton obscured the Jewish context with a short Leiter der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel collection of hackneyed platitudes on tolerance and human rights. Redaktion: This is a cogent example of how Holocaust history is Maike Harel increasingly watered down, especially in Europe. Judith Stelmach […] By robbing the Holocaust of its uniqueness and likening it to any subsequent, yet very different eth- Homepage: www.fes.org.il nic massacre, it becomes less of a moral stain. Any Email: [email protected] corollary obligation to the Jewish people is thereby expunged. Second, the disingenuous pretense that the Holo- 6