DOCSLIB.ORG

The Conundrum of Israeli-Arab Citizenship by Mordechai Nisan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Conundrum of Israeli-Arab Citizenship by Mordechai Nisan The Conundrum of Israeli-Arab Citizenship by Mordechai Nisan ssued in the midst of a sustained attempt by the IPalestinian Arabs to destroy it at birth, Israel’s 1948 declaration of independence urged them “to participate in the upbuilding of the state on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and perma- nent institutions.”1 The invitation to these inveterate foes to be fellow citizens was based on the Photo: Frank Scherschel belief that once their aggression Golda Meir (center) congratulates Moshe Sharett after had been defeated, they would signing Israel’s declaration of independence, May 14, 1948, as David Ben-Gurion (left) looks on. Israel promised resign themselves to a minority its Arab citizens “full and equal citizenship.” But many status in the nascent Jewish state. Israeli Arabs openly challenge the principles underpinning Seventy-two years on, the Israel’s existence. fulfillment of this assumption seems as remote as ever. Not only has Arab integration in Israeli society not led to general acceptance of the legitimacy of Jewish statehood, but the more affluent and more established the Arab population has become, the stronger its Palestinian identification to the point of openly challenging the fundamental principles underpinning Israel’s existence. 1 “The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel,” Provisional Government of Israel, Tel Aviv, Official Gazette, no. 1, May 14, 1948. MIDDLE EAST QUARTERLY Summer 2020 Nisan: Israeli Arabs / 1 This seemingly unbridgeable gulf between eight in 1992 to fifteen in 2020, confirming Israel’s Arabs and Jews raises the need for the general trend of Arab progress and a profound redefinition of the concept of participation in Israel’s public life. citizenship in a way that would satisfy the These major advances notwithstanding, Arabs’ national identification and protect opinion polls, despite their fallibility, offer a their civil and religious rights without en- more complex picture. Since the late 1970s, abling them to undo Israel’s Jewish national and all the more so after the launch of the character. Oslo “peace process” in 1993, Israeli Arabs have increasingly self-identified as Pales- tinians and revealed their emotional and Israel’s Arab Citizens and ideological distance from the Jewish state. A Their Political Leadership survey from May 2001 found that 46 percent Since Israel’s establishment, its Arab of Arabs rejected Israel’s Jewish identity, citizenry has grown twelvefold—from while a 2006 survey claimed that 56 percent 156,000 people in 1949 to just over 1.9 of the Arabs were not proud of their Israeli million in 2019 although its relative size has citizenship with twice as many of the remained virtually unchanged (growing from respondents feeling greater attachment to the 5 18 to 21 percent of the total population).2 In Palestinian people than to Israel. A 2012 line with the declaration of independence’s survey by Sami Smooha of Haifa University commitment to “complete equality of social found that 70 percent rejected Israel’s right to and political rights to all its inhabitants maintain a Jewish majority, preferring a 6 irrespective of religion, race, or sex,” the binational state over a Jewish one, which the official, state-financed Arabic language Israel Democracy Institute corroborated in educational system promoted both literacy 2017, reporting that 67 percent opposed 7 and the communal identity and cohesion of Israel’s Jewish character. A recent survey the Arab minority. Some 16 percent of the from 2020 shows a growing Arab acceptance total university population is Arab.3 Arabs of their “Israeli” identity and a decline in constitute 38 percent of the pharmacists in their “Palestinian” identification; yet this Israel, a third of the doctors, and 20 percent finding is compromised and complicated by of the nurses.4 The number of Arab members of the Knesset jumped from two in 1949 to 5 Asher Arian, “Israeli Public Opinion on National Security,” Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, 2 “Population, by Religion,” Population: Statistical Tel Aviv University, memo. no. 60, Aug. 2001, Abstract of Israel 2019, no. 70, Israel Central p. 19; Uzi Arad and Gad Alon, “Patriotism and Bureau of Statistics (ICBS), Jerusalem, Sept. 26, Israel’s National Security Survey 2006,” Institute 2019. for Policy and Strategy, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, “Key Findings.” 3 “Students in Universities, in Academic Colleges and in Academic Colleges of Education among 6 Sami Smooha, Lo Shovrim Et ha-Kelim: Madad Persons Aged 18-29, by Sex, Age, Population Yahasei Arvim-Yehudim be-Israel 2012 (Haifa: Group and Degree,” Population: Statistical Haifa University, 2013), p. 14. Abstract of Israel 2019, no. 70, ICBS, Sept. 26, 7 2019. Tamar Hermann, Or Anabi, William Cubbison, Ella Heller, and Fadi Omar, A Conditional Partnership: 4 The Times of Israel (Jerusalem), Aug. 24, 2015; Jews and Arabs (Jerusalem: Israel Democracy Israel21c (San Francisco), Oct. 31, 2018. Institute, 2017), p. 64. MIDDLE EAST QUARTERLY Summer 2020 Nisan: Israeli Arabs / 2 the majority denying the existence of a Jewish Temple on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, and by implication—the millenarian Jewish attachment to the Land of Israel.8 When on March 9, 2020, Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz promised to form a “patriotic government,” Knesset member (MK) Ahmad Tibi censured this use of words as “unfortunate.”9 Israel clearly does not inspire patriotic feelings among its Arab citizens though most of them have indicated over the years that they would rather be in Israel—with its educational opportunities, social benefits, personal and political liberties, and material advances— than elsewhere.10 A personal utilitarian con- Knesset member Azmi Bishara was sideration coexists with an Arab nationalist suspected of passing security information to conviction. Hezbollah during the 2006 war and fled Israel to avoid prosecution. Many Israeli Arab students and politicians are as a Arabs do not exhibit patriotic feelings rule stridently anti-Israel. University cam- toward the state. puses in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa experience boisterous Palestinian nationalist demonstrations with participants waving Arab municipalities in Israel,” the effective Palestinian flags and denouncing Israel and leadership of the Israeli Arabs, issued a the Israel Defense Forces.11 Intellectuals and lengthy document outlining its “Future public figures from the community issued the Vision for the Palestinian Arabs in Israel.” Haifa Declaration in 2007 that called for The document rejected Israel’s continued Palestinian refugees to “return”12—the Arab existence as a Jewish state and demanded its euphemism for Israel’s destruction via substitution by a system that would ensure demographic subversion. For its part, the Arab “national, historic and civil rights at “national committee of the heads of local both the individual and collective levels.”13 MK Azmi Bishara, founder of the ultranationalist Balad party, proposed to 8 Pluralism Index 2020, The Jewish People Policy redefine Israel as a “state of all its Institute, in The Jerusalem Post, Apr. 21, 2020. citizens”—yet another euphemism for 9 “Tibi Meuchzav me-Gantz: ha-Bitui ‘Memshala Israel’s transformation into an Arab state in Patriotit’ Lo Mutslah,” Galei Zahal (IDF radio, which Jews would eventually be relegated to glz.co.il), Mar. 16, 2020. a permanent minority. Bishara was later 10 Daniel Pipes, “The Hell of Israel Is Better than the suspected of passing security information to Paradise of Arafat,” Middle East Quarterly, Spring 2005, pp. 43-50. 11 See, for example, The Jerusalem Post, Dec. 29, 13 2008, Nov. 14, 2019. “Ha-Hazon ha-Atidi la-Aravim ha-Falestinim be- Israel,” Ha-Vaad ha-Artzi Shel Roshei ha- 12 “The Haifa Declaration,” Mada al-Carmel, Haifa, Rashuyot ha-Arviyot be-Israel, Nazareth, 2006, 2007. p. 9. MIDDLE EAST QUARTERLY Summer 2020 Nisan: Israeli Arabs / 3 Hezbollah during the Hanin Zoabi 2006 Lebanon War and Arab Knesset members joined the armed pro- fled Israel to avoid have behaved dislooyally Palestinian Mavi Marmara prosecution. in a variety of waays. ship to Gaza in 2010, The Islamic Move- whose “peace activists” ment in Israel is reli- violently attacked Israeli giously and rhetorically soldiers.16 militant, inciting against the state and dis- Ayman Odeh was scheduled to meet crediting any sign of “Israelization” within with the presidents of Jewish organ- the Arab community. The leader of its izations in Manhattan in 2015 but northern branch, Raed Salah, was imprisoned refused to enter the appointed room for aiding Hamas in 2003 and yet again in adjacent to the Jewish Agency offices 2020 for encouraging and supporting terror because of its Zionist mission and the attacks by his followers. The spirit of display of the Israeli flag.17 incitement undoubtedly contributed to the Basil Ghattas was apprehended in July 2017 murder of two Druze police 2016 and sentenced to two years in officers in Jerusalem by two Arabs from prison for attempting to smuggle cell Umm al-Fahm, Salah’s home town. He also phones and SIM cards to incarcerated accused Israel of conspiring to destroy al- terrorists whom he visited.18 Aqsa Mosque and to deny free Muslim Jamal Zahalka off the Balad Party worship on the Temple Mount (even though pledged solidarity with Hamas and the Muslim waqf or endowment has Hezbollah. In August 2018, in re- administered this most sacred religious site sponse to the new Basic Law: Israel 14 for the Jewish
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Annual Report 2020
    Neve Shalom -Wahat al Salam ANNUAL REPORT 2020 A Message from the Director Dear Friends, As a graduate of the School for Peace and staff member for the last fourteen years, I was honored to have received the support and confidence of the staff and board of the NSWAS educational institutions in being chosen as the new director of the School for Peace. I began in October 2020 with the challenge of filling Nava's 'big shoes' and building the direction for the future. I'm happy to say that I feel very much at home and look forward to carrying the organization forward. The arson attack at the SFP this September left us with the big challenge of rebuilding the school and raising the necessary funds. I am happy to say that after the fire we were able to quickly organize and find additional space in the village to continue our important work. The support we received from all of our friends in the region and abroad helped us once again realize how significant the School for Peace is to all of us. The political situation in the country reminds us on a daily basis that there are few places where Jews and Palestinians can meet and work together as equals and the uniqueness of our work and methodology has become much more apparent and indispensable. In the coming years, the SFP will work to help our graduates become more active and influential in peace activities. Based on our unique voice, we will strengthen our connections with peace activists nationally and internationally as we continue operating our important programs.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel 2020 Human Rights Report
    ISRAEL 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Israel is a multiparty parliamentary democracy. Although it has no constitution, its parliament, the unicameral 120-member Knesset, has enacted a series of “Basic Laws” that enumerate fundamental rights. Certain fundamental laws, orders, and regulations legally depend on the existence of a “state of emergency,” which has been in effect since 1948. Under the Basic Laws, the Knesset has the power to dissolve itself and mandate elections. On March 2, Israel held its third general election within a year, which resulted in a coalition government. On December 23, following the government’s failure to pass a budget, the Knesset dissolved itself, which paved the way for new elections scheduled for March 23, 2021. Under the authority of the prime minister, the Israeli Security Agency combats terrorism and espionage in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. The national police, including the border police and the immigration police, are under the authority of the Ministry of Public Security. The Israeli Defense Forces are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Defense. Israeli Security Agency forces operating in the West Bank fall under the Israeli Defense Forces for operations and operational debriefing. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security services. The Israeli military and civilian justice systems have on occasion found members of the security forces to have committed abuses. Significant human
    [Show full text]
  • Israel and Middle East News Update
    Israel and Middle East News Update Tuesday, June 15 Headlines: ● New Israeli Gov't Approves Nationalist March in Jerusalem ● Gantz Pushes for Meron Probe Rejected by Previous Gov't ● Center-Left Coalition Seeks Ahmad Tibi's Help ● Lapid Vows to Rebuild Intl Ties After ‘Reckless’ Last Gov't ● Hamas Leader Haniyeh to Visit Lebanon, Iran ● PA Perturbed About Egypt-Hamas Rapprochement ● UAE, Bahrain Welcome New Israeli Government ● Erdogan Meeting With Biden Was 'Fruitful, Sincere' Commentary: ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “Lapid’s Package of Benefits’’ - By Amihai Attali ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “The Restart Government’’ - By Raanan Shaked S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 1725 I St NW Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President News Excerpts June 15, 2021 Reuters New Israeli Gov't Approves Nationalist March in Jerusalem Israel's new government approved a Jewish nationalist march in Jerusalem, a step that risks inflaming tensions with Palestinians hours after Benjamin Netanyahu handed over power to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. In the flag-waving procession, far-right groups will march in and around East Jerusalem's walled Old City, where tensions have remained high since 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas in May. Palestinian factions have called for a "day of rage" against the march, with memories of clashes with Israeli police still fresh in the contested city's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and in a neighborhood where Palestinians face eviction in a court dispute with Jewish settlers. After meeting with the police chief and other security officials, newly sworn-in Internal Security Minister Omer Barlev approved the march and said police were well-prepared, according to a statement.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dynamics of Inclusion and Exclusion of Settler Colonialism: the Case of Palestine
    NEAR EAST UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PROGRAM WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO EXIST? THE DYNAMICS OF INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION OF SETTLER COLONIALISM: THE CASE OF PALESTINE WALEED SALEM PhD THESIS NICOSIA 2019 WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO EXIST? THE DYNAMICS OF INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION OF SETTLER COLONIALISM: THE CASE OF PALESTINE WALEED SALEM NEAREAST UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PROGRAM PhD THESIS THESIS SUPERVISOR ASSOC. PROF. DR. UMUT KOLDAŞ NICOSIA 2019 ACCEPTANCE/APPROVAL We as the jury members certify that the PhD Thesis ‘Who is Eligible to Exist? The Dynamics of Inclusion and Exclusion of Settler Colonialism: The Case of Palestine’prepared by PhD Student Waleed Hasan Salem, defended on 26/4/2019 4 has been found satisfactory for the award of degree of Phd JURY MEMBERS ......................................................... Assoc. Prof. Dr. Umut Koldaş (Supervisor) Near East University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of International Relations ......................................................... Assoc. Prof.Dr.Sait Ak şit(Head of Jury) Near East University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of International Relations ......................................................... Assoc. Prof.Dr.Nur Köprülü Near East University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Political Science ......................................................... Assoc. Prof.Dr.Ali Dayıoğlu European University of Lefke
    [Show full text]
  • Israel Elections 2019 Update
    Israel Elections 2019 Update September 10, 2019 With no party succeeding in forming a government following the elections that took place in Israel in April, 2019, a brand new election will now take place next week, on September 17. JFNA is pleased to present the following backgrounder summarizing what has occurred, and what may happen in the coming weeks and months. JFNA has also prepared a background briefing on why a second round of elections are taking place – which can be seen here, as well as a paper on how Israeli elections work. Elections: Round Two Perhaps the most crucial take away from the backgrounder papers (linked above) is that in practice, Israeli elections have two “stages.” The first - the actual elections - occurs when the population elects the 120-members of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. Those are the national elections, but once the results of these elections are known, we don’t always have a clear picture of who will lead the country. This only occurs during what we can call a “second stage” when a potential prime minister seeks to form a governing majority coalition of at least 61, from among those 120 newly elected MKs (represented through their parties). September 2019’s theme: Mergers In the months that have passed since second elections were called, there has been little, if any, debate about policy or major issues of substance; or even discussions about personality. Instead, the focus has been on tactics, strategy and coalition building. So, in many ways, the September 2019 look like a redo of the elections that took place in April.
    [Show full text]
  • Forgotten Palestinians
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 THE FORGOTTEN PALESTINIANS 10 1 2 3 4 5 6x 7 8 9 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 1 2 3 4 5 36x 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 1 2 3 4 5 36x 1 2 3 4 5 THE FORGOTTEN 6 PALESTINIANS 7 8 A History of the Palestinians in Israel 9 10 1 2 3 Ilan Pappé 4 5 6x 7 8 9 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 1 2 3 4 YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS 5 NEW HAVEN AND LONDON 36x 1 In memory of the thirteen Palestinian citizens who were shot dead by the 2 Israeli police in October 2000 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 Copyright © 2011 Ilan Pappé 6 The right of Ilan Pappé to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by 7 him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. 8 All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright 9 Law and except by reviewers for the public press) without written permission from 20 the publishers. 1 For information about this and other Yale University Press publications, 2 please contact: U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION the CURRENT: What Does the Gantz
    THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION THE CURRENT: What does the Gantz-Netanyahu coalition government mean for Israel? April 21, 2020 PARTICIPANTS Host: Adrianna Pita, Office of Communications, Brookings Guest: Natan Sachs, Fellow and Director, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings (MUSIC) PITA: You’re listening to The Current, part of the Brookings Podcast Network. I’m your host, Adrianna Pita. Israel has been in a prolonged political crisis for the last year, as three successive elections each failed at producing either a conclusive majority or a coalition government. On Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival, Benny Gantz, came to an agreement on a coalition deal, after weeks of talks following the last round of elections in March. With us to discuss what this means for Israel is Natan Sachs, fellow and director of our Center for Middle East Policy here at Brookings. Natan, thanks for talking to us today. SACHS: Thanks so much, Adrianna, it’s my pleasure. PITA: During the last election, Benny Gantz ran pretty strongly on in fact refusing to serve with Netanyahu because of the criminal charges against him. So, how did this wind up coming about? SACHS: Yes, this is a major shift for Gantz. He ran very explicitly on the idea that he would not serve under a prime minister who has been indicted and will serve will stand trial very shortly for corruption charges, including bribery. But Gantz really weighed the options, and I think two things led to this decision. One, he thought of the alternatives. He had managed to block Netanyahu forming a government three times now, in these three elections within 12 months, but he had also failed to form a government himself.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel and the Middle East News Update
    Israel and the Middle East News Update Friday, May 15 Headlines: ● Netanyahu Postpones Government Swearing-In Until Sunday ● Peretz Joins New Gov’t as Minister of Jerusalem Affairs ● Bibi, Gantz Will ‘Take a While’ to Decide on Annexation ● Senate Legislation Seeks to Lessen Dependence on China ● EU Condemns Hate Speech in Palestinian Textbooks ● Palestinians Vow to Foil Annexation and Trump Plan ● Clashes Erupt in Wadi Ara Over Sheba Stabber's Death ● Netanyahu Orders Opening of Schools in 'Safe' Areas Commentary: ● Israel Hayom: “Politicians Can Scent Weakness from Afar” − By Matti Tuchfeld ● Ma’ariv: “Tar and Feather” − By Ben Caspit S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20004 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President News Excerpts May 15, 2020 Ynet News Likud Rebellion Delays Knesset Swearing-In Prime Minister Netanyahu delayed the swearing-in of the new government, just hours before it was due to take place, until Sunday. The prime minister has not yet finalized a new position for seven of his close supporters most of whom were ministers in his recent cabinet. A significant portion of the posts have not yet been filled, leaving responsibility for budgets worth tens of billions of shekels to last-minute horse trading. "It's stuck with some of the ministries. Netanyahu has yet to reach a deal with Yoav Galant, Ze'ev Elkin, Nir Barkat, Gila Gamliel, Tzipi Hotoveli, David Amsalem and Avi Dichter," Likud officials said. The former Shin Bet chief told his associates: "Such disrespect is not shown only to me, but spits in the face of 130,000 Likud officials who elected me to the top 10 of the Likud." Blue & White leader Benny Gantz agreed to the delay in order to give Netanyahu more time to allocate cabinet posts to those Likud members, a joint statement said.
    [Show full text]
  • The Haredim As a Challenge for the Jewish State. the Culture War Over Israel's Identity
    SWP Research Paper Peter Lintl The Haredim as a Challenge for the Jewish State The Culture War over Israel’s Identity Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs SWP Research Paper 14 December 2020, Berlin Abstract ∎ A culture war is being waged in Israel: over the identity of the state, its guiding principles, the relationship between religion and the state, and generally over the question of what it means to be Jewish in the “Jewish State”. ∎ The Ultra-Orthodox community or Haredim are pitted against the rest of the Israeli population. The former has tripled in size from four to 12 per- cent of the total since 1980, and is projected to grow to over 20 percent by 2040. That projection has considerable consequences for the debate. ∎ The worldview of the Haredim is often diametrically opposed to that of the majority of the population. They accept only the Torah and religious laws (halakha) as the basis of Jewish life and Jewish identity, are critical of democratic principles, rely on hierarchical social structures with rabbis at the apex, and are largely a-Zionist. ∎ The Haredim nevertheless depend on the state and its institutions for safeguarding their lifeworld. Their (growing) “community of learners” of Torah students, who are exempt from military service and refrain from paid work, has to be funded; and their education system (a central pillar of ultra-Orthodoxy) has to be protected from external interventions. These can only be achieved by participation in the democratic process. ∎ Haredi parties are therefore caught between withdrawal and influence.
    [Show full text]
  • Changing Road Signs in Israel: Production and Perception
    CHANGING ROAD SIGNS IN ISRAEL: PRODUCTION AND PERCEPTION BY NAGHAM FAISAL AWADALLAH THESIS Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Linguistics in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011 Urbana, Illinois Master‟s Committee: Professor Rakesh Mohan Bhatt Professor Eyamba G. Bokamba ABSTRACT In Palestine/Israel the struggle to control the land and the people is not merely conducted through physical violence. More subtle attempts for controlling the region and labeling it as belonging for one side rather than the other are implemented. This paper focuses on an Israeli suggestion to change the orthography of city names on road signs so that they are transliterations of the Hebrew name of the city. This one event, the Israeli suggestion to change city names on road signs, is represented to the public by two competing, and mostly opposing, discourses. This paper uses critical discourse analysis to analyze four articles, two of which are written by Arabic media sources, and the other two are written by Israeli ones. This analysis is paired with a quantitative and a qualitative analysis of the reactions of participants of different political affiliations to chosen excerpts of the articles. The paper aims at showing how one event is represented differently through different discourses, and how people who are affected be specific discourses react to them. ii To my loving and supportive husband, Samer, and to my parents. This would not have been possible without
    [Show full text]
  • Israel and Middle East News Update Friday, December 4
    Israel and Middle East News Update Friday, December 4 Headlines: ● Katz to Meet with Gantz in Bid to Stave off Elections ● Amir Peretz Announces Run for President ● Israel May Get COVID Shots This Month, Start Vaccinating ● Israel Urges Citizens to Avoid Gulf, Cites Iran Threat ● Ashkenazi Meets Jordanian Counterpart ● Gantz Urges Palestinians to Return to the Negotiation Table ● Trump, Sisi Discuss Middle East Peace ● Qatar: 'There Are Some Movements' on Gulf Dispute Commentary: ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “Everyone is to Blame’’ - By Sima Kadmon ● Ma’ariv: “The Price of Retaliation” - By Alon Ben David S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 1725 I St NW Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President News Excerpts December 4, 2020 Times of Israel Katz to Meet with Gantz in Bid to Stave off Elections A day after giving preliminary backing to a bill to dissolve the Knesset and call early elections, Defense Minister and Blue & White leader Benny Gantz said that he would meet with Finance Minister Israel Katz (Likud) next week in a last-ditch effort to try and avoid elections. “Finance Minister Israel Katz has reached out to Benny Gantz, requesting a meeting to present a budget for 2020-2021. The two are expected to meet next Sunday,” Gantz’s spokesperson said. Blue & White and Likud are reportedly using the time until a final vote to seek a compromise to avert elections, though most analysts believe Israel will return to the ballot box between March and June. If the Knesset dissolution bill isn’t ultimately approved, the government has until 12/23 to pass a 2020 budget or the government will fall and elections will automatically be scheduled for March 2021.
    [Show full text]
  • Benny Gantz's Year in Politics: Netanyahu's Complete Opposite Inches Closer to PM Seat
    Benny Gantz's Year in Politics: Netanyahu's Complete Opposite Inches Closer to PM Seat Gantz almost quit after the Iranians hacked his phone – but quickly learned to navigate Israeli politics By Chaim Levinson Jan 04, 2020 On December 27, 2018 at 2:38 P.M., public relations consultant Itay Ben Horin issued a terse message that in retrospect marked the beginning of political whirlwind that Israel finds itself in: “This is to announce that a short time ago, Benny Gantz’s Israel Resilience Party was registered. Details to follow.” Exactly a year later, it’s possible to characterize the political conduct of this former army chief of staff. This relaxed man, who at first glance would appear to be light-years from the political cunning characterizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has become the first person since Ehud Barak in 1999 to threaten the prime minister politically. On the current political map, Gantz is the person closest to becoming Israel’s next prime minister. Gantz is no Netanyahu. In fact he’s Netanyahu’s opposite, which is also the secret of his power. Voters who are sick of Netanyahu and who have switched parties with every election have jumped on his bandwagon. Gantz’s political behavior is deceiving. Netanyahu is passionate about politics. Gantz can’t stand politics. Netanyahu jumps from one intrigue to the next, from plan to plan, based on the latest news flash. Gantz is organized. Gantz during a meeting of his party, Kahol Lavan, in December 2019. Tomer Appelbaum A palpable difference The difference between the two is palpable from the very first encounter.
    [Show full text]