7. Politics and Diplomacy
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Amir Peretz Begins As Defense Minister by J. Zel Lurie
Amir Peretz Begins as Defense Minister by J. Zel Lurie While this three-day symposium [at AJ Committee — with Yehoshua] was going on in Washington, Ehud Olmert was introducing his new government in Jerusalem. Most newsworthy are the two of the five new Labor ministers, Amir Peretz, minister of defense and Yuli Tamir, minister of education. Peretz confronts a large group of army officers and bureaucrats who have been coddling and cooperating with the settlers for decades They are accustomed to running the West Bank arbitrarily and no one dared question their decisions. Here is one small example of what Peretz is up against: A couple of Saturdays ago, the Jewish settlers in Maon, south of Hebron, wearing masks, attacked Israeli soldiers who were escorting 18 Arab kids to the regional school in at-Tawani. On the following Saturday, Peace Now received the army’s permission to send two busloads of peaceniks to a demonstration in at-Tawani. At Gush Etzion junction the buses were stopped. “Since we gave permission, the area has been declared a closed military zone,” the Peace Now demonstrators were told. “You cannot proceed.” Ran Cohen, a Meretz M.K., was on one of the buses. He called Peretz who must have raised the roof with his army subordinates. After an hour the buses were allowed to continue on their journey and hold their demonstration. Brigadier General Ilan Paz, who recently retired after 28 years in the army, seven of which were in the West Bank. commented: “For 18 months the settlers in Maon have been harassing kids passing their farm on their way to school. -
Command and Control | the Washington Institute
MENU Policy Analysis / Articles & Op-Eds Command and Control by David Makovsky, Olivia Holt-Ivry May 23, 2012 ABOUT THE AUTHORS David Makovsky David Makovsky is the Ziegler distinguished fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Koret Project on Arab-Israel Relations. Olivia Holt-Ivry Articles & Testimony his week, the world's major powers resumed negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. Should they fail, T the specter of a possible Israeli strike looms large, seeming to grow more likely as Tehran's nuclear program advances. In recent weeks, however, the conventional wisdom has shifted to favor the view that Israel is not on the cusp of a strike against Iran. This has been driven in part by public comments from former Israeli security officials -- notably former Mossad head Meir Dagan and former Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin -- questioning the wisdom of such an attack. An Israeli strike is not feasible, the thinking goes, so long as its security community remains divided -- and the thinly veiled threats of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are therefore mere bluster. Don't be so sure. Dagan and Diskin's views aren't likely to tell us much about the likelihood of a strike on Iran one way or the other. For starters, they're former officials -- given the sensitivity of this issue, and the recent media misinterpretation of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Benny Gantz's remarks earlier this month, no other current members of the security establishment are likely to go public with their views. -
The Labor Party and the Peace Camp
The Labor Party and the Peace Camp By Uzi Baram In contemporary Israeli public discourse, the preoccupation with ideology has died down markedly, to the point that even releasing a political platform as part of elections campaigns has become superfluous. Politicians from across the political spectrum are focused on distinguishing themselves from other contenders by labeling themselves and their rivals as right, left and center, while floating around in the air are slogans such as “political left,” social left,” “soft right,” “new right,” and “mainstream right.” Yet what do “left” and “right” mean in Israel, and to what extent do these slogans as well as the political division in today’s Israel correlate with the political traditions of the various parties? Is the Labor Party the obvious and natural heir of The Workers Party of the Land of Israel (Mapai)? Did the historical Mapai under the stewardship of Ben Gurion view itself as a left-wing party? Did Menachem Begin’s Herut Party see itself as a right-wing party? The Zionist Left and the Soviet Union As far-fetched as it may seem in the eyes of today’s onlooker, during the first years after the establishment of the state, the position vis-à-vis the Soviet Union was the litmus test of the left camp, which was then called “the workers’ camp.” This camp viewed the centrist liberal “General Zionists” party, which was identified with European liberal and middle-class beliefs in private property and capitalism, as its chief ideological rival (and with which the heads of major cities such as Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan were affiliated). -
AMIR PERETZ Member of Parliament, State of Israel
SESSION 3 • Saturday, October 16, 2010 page 1 AMIR PERETZ Member of Parliament, State of Israel First of all I would like to thank the IFRI organization for the conference that is taking place here in Morocco. Here with me, are two other members of the Israeli parlimant - Meir Sheetrit, former minister of justice and Ahmad Tibi who represents the Arab – Israeli citizens. I was born in Morocco and feel that a big part of my values as a person were acquired here. Even though I left as a young boy, the strengths that I received here have been a part of me all through the way. I want to send a message of peace to his Majesty the king of Morocco and wish him all the very best. For a big part of Israeli citizens his majesty and the Kingdom of Morocco, remains a lasting symbol and example of possible coexistence, rooted deep in our hearts. Ladies and gentlemen, I could have talked about many issues which occupy many countries around the world - Financial crisis, human rights and poverty. I could have talked about security threats, Iran and it’s race for obtaining unconventional weapons, sources of terror and their effect on personal security in each and every country. But today I want to focus in the chance for an optimist future in all the Middle East states, especially a better future between Israel and the Palestinians. Members of the conference, Some of us are experienced in war, and we all know that war comes at a heavy price for all sides. -
Kadima for Half Price? the Formation of a National Unity Government in Israel
Israel Office_____________________________ Kadima for half price? The formation of a national unity government in Israel . The formation of a national unity government strengthens Prime Minister Netanyahu and gives him new leeway during negotiations. Kadima’s entry to the government strengthens moderate forces and weakens the hardliners. There will be no real change in policy. Kadima failed in opposition, and as a government party it will be even less able to push through a different policy. The agreement between Mofaz and Netanyahu was motivated in the main by domestic political reasons. This is the primary field in which moderate changes will take place rather than in foreign policy. There will be new Israeli offers of talks in the peace process, but no real progress should be expected, together with no surmounting of the present stalemate. It is not clear whether Mofaz will join the moderates or the hardliners in Netanyahu’s security cabinet over the Iran question. Dr. Ralf Hexel FES Israel, May 17, 2012 1 More political power for Netanyahu secure an influential ministerial position for himself? Or is he seeking a change in policy? In a surprise move on May 8, 2012, the opposi- tion Kadima party (28 seats), led by former No early elections - a national unity gov- army head and defense minister Shaul Mofaz, ernment instead joined prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right leaning-religious government coalition (66 When the Knesset convened on the morning of out of 120 seats). Netanyahu now has a gov- May 7, parliamentarians and public were abso- ernment comprising seven parties; this has a lutely sure that the votes needed to hold early parliamentary majority of 94 and can rightly be elections on September 4, 2012 and to dissolve called a national unity government. -
Research Memo
Research memo From Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu: The Evolution of Israel’s National Security Strategy By Jacob Nagel and Jonathan Schanzer May 13, 2019 Every White House has an offi cial National Security Strategy (NSS) thanks to the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986.1 Th e law mandates annual revisions to the NSS, but the accepted practice is for the White House to publish a new strategy every four years. Th e public nature of the strategy ensures that the document is full of latitudes.p Nonetheless, the requirement to produce the NSS ensures that each president’s national security team conducts a thorough review of U.S. foreign and defense policy. Th e resulting document represents, at least in principle, the authoritative view of the commander in chief. Israel, despite being a country that is under constant threat and thus in constant need of updated national security strategies, has offi cially released only one such document. David Ben-Gurion, the country’s fi rstrime p minister, wrote Israel’s fi rst and only offi cially approved national security document. It was the product of approximately seven weeks of work in 1953, when he took a leave of absence to write it in his small home in the southern desert kibbutz of Sde Boker. Since then, Israel has not published an offi cial, updated security concept. Th ere were at least eethr serious attempts, which this report details. None, however, were successful in becoming offi cial Israeli government documents. Israel is now on the cusp of producing a new national security strategy. -
The Saban Forum 2005
The Saban Forum 2005 A U.S.–Israel Dialogue Dealing with 21st Century Challenges Jerusalem, Israel November 11–13, 2005 The Saban Forum 2005 A U.S.–Israel Dialogue Dealing with 21st Century Challenges Jerusalem, Israel November 11–13, 2005 Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies Tel Aviv University Speakers and Chairmen Shai Agassi Shimon Peres Stephen Breyer Itamar Rabinovich David Brooks Aviezer Ravitzky William J. Clinton Condoleezza Rice Hillary Rodham Clinton Haim Saban Avi Dicter Ariel Sharon Thomas L. Friedman Zvi Shtauber David Ignatius Strobe Talbott Moshe Katsav Yossi Vardi Tzipi Livni Margaret Warner Shaul Mofaz James Wolfensohn Letter from the Chairman . 5 List of Participants . 6 Executive Summary . 9 Program Schedule . 19 Proceedings . 23 Katsav Keynote Address . 37 Clinton Keynote Address . 43 Sharon Keynote Address . 73 Rice Keynote Address . 83 Participant Biographies . 89 About the Saban Center . 105 About the Jaffee Center . 106 The ongoing tumult in the Middle East makes continued dialogue between the allied democracies of the United States and Israel all the more necessary and relevant. A Letter from the Chairman In November 2005, we held the second annual Saban Forum in Jerusalem. We had inaugurated the Saban Forum in Washington DC in December 2004 to provide a structured, institutional- ized annual dialogue between the United States and Israel. Each time we have gathered the high- est-level political and policy leaders, opinion formers and intellectuals to define and debate the issues that confront two of the world’s most vibrant democracies: the United States and Israel. The timing of the 2005 Forum could not have been more propitious or tragic. -
Australian Politicians
Asem Judeh Melbourne 19 October 2009 The Hon Arch Bevis MP Chair Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Mr Bevis Supplementary Submission on re-listing Hamas’s Brigades and PIJ As you know the politics of Israel-Palestine issue is always attracting the international community attention and always there are important development day-to-day basis. Because of that I am writing this supplementary submission that summarises the important developments in relation to re-listing the Brigades and PIJ since I submitted my original submission to PJCIS. The recent development supports all the facts, analysis and serious allegations included in my previous submission. These recent facts and reports show clearly the root causes of the violence and terrorism in Palestine. It proves that occupation is violence and terrorism; colonization is violence and terrorism. This new evidence proves that ASIO’s assessment report is politically motivated and misleading the parliament and public. Finally, when I appear before the Committee to give oral evidence, I will present more facts and answer all clarifications and questions from the Committee members. Sincerely yours, Asem Judeh Supplementary Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Review of the re-listing of Hamas' Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and PIJ Page: 1 of 1 Asem Judeh’s Supplementary Submission on re-listing Hamas’s Brigades and PIJ 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 4 2. UN FACT FINDINGS MISSION ON THE GAZA CONFLICT ................ 4 WHY UN FACT FINDINGS MISSION ON THE GAZA CONFLICT REPORT IS RELATED TO PJCIS INQUIRY? .................................................................................................... 5 ISRAEL AND HAMAS RESPONSE TO UN FACT FINDING MISSION AND UNHR DECISION ENDORSING THE REPORT, OCTOBER 16. -
No Exit? Gaza & Israel Between Wars
No Exit? Gaza & Israel Between Wars Middle East Report N°162 | 26 August 2015 International Crisis Group Headquarters Avenue Louise 149 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 502 90 38 Fax: +32 2 502 50 38 [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i Recommendations..................................................................................................................... iii I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. Gaza after the War ............................................................................................................ 2 A. National Consensus in Name Only ............................................................................ 2 B. Failure to Reconstruct ............................................................................................... 4 C. Coming Apart at the Seams ....................................................................................... 5 D. Fraying Security Threatens a Fragile Ceasefire ......................................................... 8 E. Abandoned by Egypt .................................................................................................. 10 F. Israel’s Slight Relaxation of the Blockade ................................................................. 12 III. The Logic of War and Deterrence ................................................................................... -
Withdrawal from the Withdrawal Plan?
One Hundred Days After the Elections: Withdrawal from the Withdrawal Plan? Lars Hänsel / Katharina von Münster Executive Summary Israel's one-sided withdrawal from Gaza in the summer of 2005 has brought the country a period of profound changes. The evacuation of Israeli settlements on the West Bank, the historic motherland of Eretz Israel, which was initiated by the Sharon administration, constituted for many a breach of a national and religious taboo for which, however, there were reasons. On the one hand, the failure of the Oslo process had destroyed the trust between Israelis and Palestinians; on the other, demographic forecasts had already prognosticated that the Jewish population would lose its numerical majority in the region between the Mediterranean and the Jordan. After Sharon's retirement from policy, the subject of withdrawal – Tochnit HaHitkansut – became the central campaign issue under his successor, Ehud Olmert. Mr Olmert's convergence plan not only envisaged a complete evacuation of the settlements scattered all over the West Bank, but also the integration of all settlements situated close to the border into blocks belonging to Israel. The withdrawal has also changed the country's party landscape for good. At the end of November 2005, Ariel Sharon announced his resignation from the Likud and the foundation of his own party called Kadima, resulting in the collapse of the Likud. When the 73-year-old retired from politics after an apoplexy in January, Mr Olmert, a former mayor of Jerusalem who was little known until that day, took over the business of government– an administrator who represented a political style which differed greatly from that of the general. -
Livni's Outlook: Political and Policy Options in Israel
PolicyWatch #1403 Livni's Outlook: Political and Policy Options in Israel By David Makovsky September 23, 2008 In the wake of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's narrow Kadima party victory over Shaul Mofaz last week, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert resigned on Sunday night. The following day, Israeli president Shimon Peres asked Livni to form a new governing coalition, but if she is unable to do so in the next six weeks, Israel will head for new elections. Regardless of the coalition's makeup, prospects remain bleak in the short term for a breakthrough on either the Palestinian or Syrian track. Political Options If Livni successfully puts together a coalition, Israel would be the only known country where women head all branches of government. Dalia Itzik and Dorit Beinish -- both women -- lead the Israeli parliament and supreme court respectively. Furthermore, a Livni coalition would mark the first time a woman has been an Israeli prime minister in the thirty-four years since Golda Meir. Livni's best prospect for cobbling together the needed sixty-one parliamentarians would be to replicate the existing coalition comprising Kadima (twenty-nine), Labor (nineteen), Shas (twelve), and the Pensioners (seven). As Livni heads into negotiations, she has several advantages. In terms of character, Israelis view her as a counterpoint to Olmert, who is facing a swirl of corruption allegations. And since Mofaz's decision to take a "time out" from Israeli politics, opposition to her within Kadima seems to have quickly dissipated. Moreover, the parties comprising the current government seem to have little interest in challenging the political order because of the significant uncertainty in early elections. -
Interest in Past Leaders Reflects the Crisis on the Israeli Left
Interest in Past Leaders Reflects the Crisis on the Israeli Left by Prof. Hillel Frisch BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 875, June 26, 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The crisis of the Israeli left is reflected in the sharply declining interest within Israel in Yitzhak Rabin compared to Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir. The opposite trend is visible abroad. The problem of the left is that it is Israelis who vote, not the world community. A search for the term “Yitzhak Rabin” in Hebrew in Google Trends reveals a sharp decline in interest since 2005, the tenth anniversary of Rabin’s assassination. The decline is precipitous in the years immediately following 2005 and then levels off. Still, the decline over time is substantial. If searches for Rabin in 2004 represent 100, the high point, this figure was down to 6 by October 2017 – less than one-twelfth the number of searches 13 years before. Interest in Rabin is also sharply correlated to the period of commemoration that occurs in November of each year on the anniversary of the assassination. Obviously, official remembrance days heighten awareness in any particular year, but they have done little to arrest the overall decline in interest in Rabin. “Yitzhak Rabin” in Google Trends The same exercise regarding Menachem Begin and Shamir shows a stark contrast. Whereas interest in Rabin has declined sharply, interest in Begin and Shamir remains surprisingly constant – not only over the years, but within the calendar year. These comparisons say nothing about the absolute number of searches over time among the three leaders. They do say something conclusive, however, about trends in interest and therefore in the collective historical memory.