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Home , Ayoob Kara, Benny Gantz, Meir Shamgar, Ofer Cassif

Schlaglicht Nr. 18/19 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen

16.-31. Oktober

Die Themen dieser Ausgabe

1. mit Regierungsbildung beauftragt ...... 1 2. Gefährliche Unruhen im Libanon ...... 3 3. Meir Shamgar 1925-2019 ...... 5 4. Medienquerschnitt ...... 7

1. Benny Gantz mit Regierungsbildung So dürfte auch Gantz große Schwierigkeiten haben, beauftragt seine Mission zu erfüllen. Sollte er scheitern, kann Nachdem Israels Ministerpräsident Benjamin Netan- binnen drei Wochen jede_r Abgeordnete versuchen, yahu die Koalitionsverhandlungen für gescheitert 61 -Mitglieder für eine Koalition zu gewin- erklärte, ist es nun an Benny Gantz, dem Chef der nen. Gelingt auch dies nicht, droht Israel die dritte Liste Blau-Weiß (Kachol-Lavan), Partner für eine Parlamentswahl binnen eines Jahres. Bereits bei Regierungsmehrheit zu finden. Bei der Parlaments- der Wahl im April hatte es keinen klaren Sieger wahl im September hatte Netanyahus 32 gegeben, was schließlich zu den Neuwahlen im Mandate erreicht, Blau-Weiß kam auf 33 Sitze. September führte. Netanyahu machte Gantz für das Scheitern der Koalitionsgespräche verantwortlich. Er habe große Netanyahu's era is over, Israel is on a new path Anstrengungen unternommen, um den früheren (…) in the decade of Netanyahu's rule, his situation Generalstabschef an den Verhandlungstisch zu has never been worse (…) the latest elections were bekommen und eine Regierung zu bilden. Gantz a heavy blow not just for Netanyahu, but for the habe sich dem aber immer wieder verweigert. Der whole of the Likud and the entire right-wing. (…) The Streit darüber, wer an der Spitze der künftigen Re- right-wing is smaller than the central-left (…) The gierung stehen soll, ist Hauptgrund dafür, dass Likud choices Netanyahu has made lately, including in the und Blau-Weiß nicht zueinander finden. Gantz week before the elections, are the choices of a schloss die Kooperation mit Netanyahu aus, solange frightened and weak man, who's willing to do any- dem Ministerpräsidenten eine Anklage wegen Be- thing - including going to war against the advice of stechlichkeit, Betrugs und Vertrauensmissbrauch the entire Israeli security forces - to keep his seat drohe. Erschwerend kam Netanyahus Festhalten an and not face the wrath of the justice system. The der Zusammenarbeit mit den ultraorthodoxen Par- election results are proof that the people are fed up teien hinzu. Gantz hingegen strebt eine liberale with Netanyahu. Benny Gantz may not be viewed as Regierung ohne die Einbeziehuung der religiösen the ultimate leader, but he is viewed as a viable Parteien an. Keiner der Blöcke hat eine Mehrheit, alternative to Netanyahu, and an alternative is what was auch an Avigdor Liberman liegt. Der Chef der Israel wants. (…) If there had been someone in the nationalistischen Yisrael Beitenu ist weder bereit, mit April elections who could have stepped forward and den Ultraorthodoxen noch mit der antizionistisch- usurped the leadership, like once did to arabischen Vereinten Liste () zu koalieren. the Likud, Israel wouldn’t have had to have a second

1 round of elections. (…) we're dependent on people Gantz must pick Netanyahu over Odeh who haven't shown a sliver of leadership skills, and The question of whether Israel should have a coali- it's hard to imagine any of them showing any today. tion based on support from the Joint List, even if it is But now, we have someone who stepped up, and he from outside the government, has been tying the was the one who brought the revolution (…). Avigdor heads of Blue and White party in knots in recent Liberman is not only the winner of these elections, weeks. (…) Two surveys conducted this year both he's also the one who gets to choose the identity of show that a clear majority of the Arab public sup- the next government. (…) the chairman of Yisrael ports some form partnership in an Israeli coalition Beytenu could very well change the face of the government. The problem remains the colossal gap country. And now the Likud, whose members signed between the will of the Arab public and the will of its a declaration of eternal loyalty to Netanyahu, needs leadership. The heads of Blue and White are not the to act. It's not easy turning your back on a leader, only ones being put to the test - Joint List Chairman especially in a party like the Likud, but it's inevitable. and co. are also in the spotlight, with If the Likud doesn't pull itself together, we could find declarations from over the past decade showing that ourselves on a slippery slope to a third round of they are no coalition partners. (…) Almost every elections. (…) possible scenario for a future government is met by Sima Kadmon, YED, 18.10.19 pundits saying - and rightly so - that the chances of it being formed are slim. (…) out of all the options, a Majority now minority government supported from outside by (…) no one to the Left of Likud has full-throatedly members of the Joint List, even if not all of them, is denied or condemned a minority government de- not the least likely scenario. But if all parties stick to pending on the Joint List (…) Gantz called three out their election pledges, the worst scenario will be- of four Joint List leaders on Wednesday night – it come a reality and Israel will undergo its third round should not be ruled out as a possible result of the of elections in less than a year. Therefore, Blue and current coalition talks. And that is unfortunate. (…) White must sacrifice one of its two core principles in the Joint List (…) openly opposes the founding order to form a coalition – either team up with Net- ethos and continuing character of Israel as the Jew- anyahu (…) or a partnership with the Joint List, ish state, and has sided with some of Israel’s ene- despite promising it wouldn't happen. Blue and mies in word and, in some cases, deed. (…) Re- White acts under the banner of bringing back sanity gardless of what one thinks on that topic, a minority into politics and reducing polarization in society, but government is a recipe for disaster for another rea- establishing a government with the support of pro- son. The Israeli political scene has been in turmoil vocative lawmakers such as Joint List's for a year, ever since Liberman resigned as defense would only make things worse and Israel would minister, throwing Israel into a pre-election frenzy. become even more polarized. (…) the choice must Then we had an election, Netanyahu’s unprece- be a unity government. Netanyahu will get several dented failure to launch a government, his decision additional months as prime minister, but it's less bad to call another election, and now his second failed than a minority government, which itself is less hor- attempt. This has a negative impact on our econo- rible than another round of elections. (…) my, our security, our international relations and in Ben-Dror Yemini, YED, 24.10.19 just about every area where the government needs to make decisions and cannot do much because it is Gantz, drive Netanyahu crazy and save the day an interim government. And socially, this has been a (…) the only pragmatic solution to ending the current year of highlighting and deepening the schisms stalemate and avoiding a third election, which has a between different population groups. (…) What good chance of leading us right back to where we Israel needs now is a solid coalition, built on a ma- started, but with a bigger mess (…) is a unity gov- jority of the Knesset’s seats, so that it can last long ernment of Likud and Benny Gantz's Kahol Lavan enough to repair the damage of the last year’s cha- with ’s or the os. Gantz should keep this in mind and not be ultra-Orthodox, with Netanyahu apparently as prime tempted to form a government that will barely be a minister. (…) To go for this painful compromise each reprieve from the country’s stormy situation. (…) side would have to sacrifice something: Netanyahu Editorial, JPO, 24.10.19 would have to agree at some point to give up what to him is his divine right – the premiership – and Kahol Lavan would have to sit in a government with

2 him despite its pledge to its voters. (…) Kahol La- ing coalition so that we can discuss what steps that van, whose political acumen has proved pretty de- we can take in order to fight against the Iranian cent, has no mandate to enter a government with an menace and deal properly with other issues affect- achievement any less than the one mentioned ing our region. This is why Gantz’s stalling tactics above, and even that wouldn't pass muster with were a national disgrace. After all, religion and state some of its voters. In this context, we should be fair discussions are non-issues compared to what we and praise Labor-Gesher leaders and already lost by not having a proper government. Orli Levi-Abekasis, who, it was repeatedly said, Rachel Avraham, IHY, 28.10.19 would save the Netanyahu government in a secret deal. But they haven’t gone offside. If they had, we’d Who is afraid of Arabs in the coalition? now be in a bad and bitter place – with a terrible (…) While many Jews perhaps view this scenario as government bolstered by social democrats. Even a bad dream, I would like to ask them to stop for a though the right-wing bloc pledges loyalty oaths to moment and try understanding how for many other Netanyahu morning, noon and night, Kahol Lavan is Israelis – this is a good dream. More than a dream; in a better bargaining position (…). For the first time it would be an important step toward realizing the in more than a decade, Netanyahu isn’t in control, desires of a sector that wants to see its representa- which is agonizing for a man afflicted by such a bad tives become partners in the decision-making pro- case of paranoia. This should be Gantz's strategy in cesses that shape our shared future here. (…) the the near future: Drive Netanyahu crazy, even if he’s desire among many Arabs to integrate into daily life already crazy. (…) A government probably won’t in Israel has steadily grown. The leaders are more come out of this, but you have to enjoy life some- attentive than ever to this aspiration, and the majori- times. ty of the Arab public openly voices its wish to see its Ravit Hecht, HAA, 25.10.19 elected officials in the Knesset join a coalition and even sit in the government. Just as Arabs serve in Electoral crisis causing Israel to miss major important and influential positions in government opportunities ministries, banks, universities, politics, and the jus- (…) Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party wasted tice system. (…) there's no need to play dumb – a everyone's time by refusing to sit in any coalition large part of Jewish-Arab relations is tied to the that included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And we can appreciate yahu (…) while Gantz put his self-interest before that Arab citizens have faced difficult dilemmas that of the nation, Israel is missing out on major regarding the tensions between their Israeli citizen- opportunities because we presently lack a governing ship and this conflict with the . But it coalition. For starters, US President 's would be a missed opportunity on a historic scale to "deal of the century," arguably one of the most pro- ignore the fact that in 2019, the Arab public is ready Israel peace plans ever presented, was never able for its elected officials to join or support a coalition. to see the light of day. (…) In , the masses The option currently on the table is support for a are protesting against corruption and poverty, and coalition headed by the Blue and White party (…). these protests can easily transform into anti- One thing bears noting: A huge taboo in Arab society rallies. (…) As former Likud Minister about joining Israeli political institutions has been Ayoob Kara noted (…) “Every day, the pro-Iranians broken. We can insist on seeing this as a threat; or, have more and more power. The one thing that conversely, we can choose to see it as pragmatism, makes Hezbollah loses is if loses. One thing maturation and yes, even rapprochement. that could give a chance for hope is that people Jalal Bana, IHY, 29.10.19 agree in , Lebanon, Iraq, etc. that the ayatol- lahs are extremists and they do not value life and a good future, and they start to fight this fundamental- 2. Unruhen im Libanon ism.” This is precisely why Israel should assist not Unter dem Druck anhaltender Massenproteste ge- only the Syrian Kurds but also the Iraqi and Leba- gen Korruption und Misswirtschaft trat der libanesi- nese protesters. If Iran is booted out of Lebanon and sche Ministerpräsident Saad Hariri von seinem Amt Iraq, it would lose its land corridor to the Mediterra- zurück. Kritiker_innen werfen der Regierung vor, nean Sea. And if the Kurds could regain what they Reformen über Jahre verschleppt zu haben. Viele lost in Syrian Kurdistan, Iran would lose out even fordern nun eine Reform des politischen Systems, in more. For this reason, Israel needs a proper govern- dem die Spitzenposten nach konfessionellem Pro-

3 porz vergeben werden. Mitbedingt durch den Krieg mention of Israel. The same was true of the Arab im benachbarten Syrien, steckt der Libanon mit Spring in 2011. Israel simply isn’t relevant to the seinen rund sechs Millionen Menschen plus einer Middle East. But instead of learning its lesson, it’s Millionen syrischer Flüchtlinge in einer tiefgreifenden doubling down: Sometimes it bombs Iraq, Syria and Wirtschafts- und Finanzkrise. Der Kleinstaat ist Lebanon. (…) It’s truly discouraging that the army massiv überschuldet und kämpft mit Problemen bei (…) is currently out of work, as it has no one to der Müllentsorgung sowie ständigen Stromausfällen. vanquish. On the other hand, and here we have Vor allem die Armen und Arbeitssuchenden, für die some good news, even the most militant group in teure Generatoren kaum bezahlbar sind, gingen auf Israel has no plans for further occupations (…). die Straße. Zum ersten Mal seit dem Bürgerkrieg vor Consequently, the Israeli defense establishment is 30 Jahren setzt sich eine Mehrheit der Liba- probably suffering under a terrible nervous strain. All nes_innen über ihre konfessionellen Grenzen hin- its enemies – , Iraq, Syria, and Leba- weg. 15 Jahre lang bekämpften sich verschiedene non – have evaporated. They’re all busy fighting Fraktionen im Bürgerkrieg, der das Land entlang der their true battles, which are domestic ones. Kocha- religiösen Trennlinien gespalten hat. Die rund zwei vi’s warnings spark pity. (…) If we don’t change our Wochen andauernden Proteste sind bislang weitge- mindset, Israel will continue to be a foreign implant. hend friedlich verlaufen, haben das öffentliche Le- And even its empathy for the people of the Middle ben in Beirut aber teils lahmgelegt. Banken, Schulen East will be greeted with suspicion and anger as und Geschäfte blieben geschlossen. Präsident Mi- long as it continues to imprison millions of Palestini- chel Aoun rief zur Bildung eines Expertenkabinetts ans. auf. Die Minister der künftigen Regierung sollten Odeh Bisharat, HAA, 28.10.19 "nach ihren Kompetenzen und nicht nach ihren politischen Treueeiden ausgewählt" werden. Hezbollah has become Lebanon's main problem (…) Lebanon is in chaos. (…) In theory, Lebanon Israel, make peace with the region should be a template for a future peaceful Middle The only official response to the enormous wave of East. It is the only Middle East country which, by its demonstrations in Lebanon has come (…) from the very constitution, shares power equally between army’s chief of staff, , who warned of Sunni and Shiite Muslims and Christians. Theory, the danger of conflict in both the north and the south however, has had to bow to practical reality. Leba- of the country. (…) Hundreds of thousands are non has been highly unstable for much of its exist- demonstrating in Lebanon and threatening the cor- ence, and its unique constitution has tended to ex- rupt political order there, but in Israel, people have acerbate, rather than eliminate, sectarian conflict. rushed to place themselves on the opposite side – (…) As regards the economy, Hezbollah has large that of the corrupt politicians. When the mighty hu- investments in the Lebanese banking sector and in man wave against Hosni Mubarak’s dictatorship in a wide range of businesses. On the political front, it Egypt burst forth, giving hope to the entire world, the is stronger than ever. (…) Many Lebanese, even Israeli establishment declared nationwide mourning, those of Shiite persuasion, resent the fact that Hez- lest the Muslim Brotherhood take power and a war bollah is, at the behest of Iran, fighting Muslims in a of Gog and Magog threaten Israel. (…) And if by any neighboring country – activities far from the purpose chance you’ve lost the Israeli establishment’s phone for which the organization was founded. They resent number, don’t worry. You’ll find its members in the the mounting death toll of Lebanese fighters. Mass prestigious club of Enemies of Their Own People. unrest has shaken Lebanon before – it had its share (…) all Israel did – we’ll ignore the Palestinian issue of “Arab Spring” upheavals in 2011 – but for the first for now – was conduct an ongoing romance with time protests are just as evident in the south of their oppressors, both domestic and foreign. And Lebanon, an area tightly controlled politically by now, the butcher of Riyadh, the Saudi crown prince, Hezbollah, as in the rest of the country. That Leba- who is massacring children in Yemen and dismem- non’s masses may be rebelling against the strangle- bering the bodies of his opponents, is the knight in hold that Hezbollah has exerted on the country is, shining armor who melts the hearts of senior Israeli perhaps, the most hopeful aspect of the current officials. (…) it needs to understand that the Arabs situation. no longer have any attention to spare for Israel; they Neville Teller, IHY, 29.19.19 aren’t even interested in it. Look at the demonstra- tions in Lebanon, where there’s been almost no

4 The mask is off: Lebanon is Hezbollah living conditions, soaring unemployment and corrup- (…) there has been no state of Lebanon for some tion. Demonstrations have occurred in Shiite- time now. The entity to the north of us is nothing but majority areas and have been directed at the Shiite- a mask covering up the bitter reality – the state is a dominated government and political parties often state of Hezbollah, and its ruler is Hezbollah leader supported by Iran. In Lebanon, Iranian backed Hez- Hassan Nasrallah. Its agenda is dictated by Tehran, bollah has been unable to sway resigning Prime Hezbollah's army is stronger than the official Leba- Minister Saed Hariri from his decision to step down. nese army, and the economy is designed to serve Hariri resigned amid growing protests against the Nasrallah's goals. (…) The public is well aware of rampant corruption of the political class that has the situation and is furious about it. (…) The unifying collectively led Lebanon into a major economic slogan has been "Everyone – as in, everyone," crisis. Hariri's resignation has left a political vacuum, meaning – get rid of all the ministers because they though the prime minister had agreed to Lebanese are all corrupt, including the ministers that Hezbollah President Michel Aoun's request to stay at the helm has placed in the government. of a caretaker government. On Wednesday, Iranian Nasrallah and his Iranian sponsors are afraid that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the mask will fall off, break, and expose the coun- Saudi Arabia the and Israel for try's true face – which is the face of Hezbollah – to spreading " insecurity and turmoil". Iraqi and Leba- the world at large. If that happens, the world will stop nese protesters have been corresponding and sup- selling weapons to the Lebanese army (…) and stop porting each other's causes over WhatsApp. lending the country money that just goes to support Smadar Perry, YED, 31.10.19 the thieving regime Hezbollah has put in place. (…) Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigned, along with the rest of the government, including 3. Meir Shamgar 1925-2019 Hezbollah ministers – meaning the demonstrators' Der frühere Präsident des Obersten Gerichtshofes first demand has been met. Their second demand is in Jerusalem Meir Shamgar verstarb am 18. Oktober to appoint a government of non-party-affiliated ex- 2019 im Alter von 94 Jahren. Staatspräsident Reu- perts to run the country. It appears that Nasrallah ven Rivlin trauerte um den „Gründervater der israeli- won't object to the idea, if only to keep his mask on. schen Rechtsordnung“. Zu den zahlreichen Positio- He will, however, make sure that the "experts" will nen, die Shamgar im Verlauf seiner beruflichen do what he tells them to. That way, he can play for Karriere innehatte, gehört der Posten des militäri- time, but the public could take to the streets again if schen Generalstaatsanwalts. Er prägte den Begriff they realize they were fooled. (…) The sense of der „verwalteten Gebiete“, womit er den israelischen togetherness that has blossomed in the nation's Standpunkt untermauerte, dass Judäa und Samaria squares, the "festival" that has gone on for two sowie der Gazastreifen nicht als besetztes Territori- weeks already, the major role the women of Leba- um gesehen werden können, da sie bis zum Sechs- non are playing in the protests, and the national tagekrieg keinem international anerkannten Souve- flags with their stylized cedar trees and the slogans rän unterstanden. Von diesem Standpunkt ausge- being shouted are all signs that the genie is out of hend sah er den Staat Israel als für die palästinensi- the bottle, and at this stage is refusing to go back in. sche Bevölkerung in diesen Gebieten verantwortlich If, heaven forbid, a few dozen of the protesters were und sorgte dafür, dass Palästinenser_innen vor dem killed, it might be the final nail in the coffin. Or it Obersten Gerichtshof ihr Recht einklagen können. might not. Nasrallah is sweating bullets, that's for Shamgar war 1939 im Alter von 14 Jahren mit seiner sure. Familie aus Polen ins damalige Palästina geflohen, Dr. Mordechai Kedar, IHY, 30.10.19 wo er sich der revisionistischen, paramilitärischen Gruppe anschloss. Die britische Besatzungs- Growing concern in Iran over Iraq, Lebanon macht verurteilte den jungen Shamgar wegen anti- demonstrations britischer Operationen zu vier Jahren in einem Haft- There is growing concern in Iran over continued lager in Eritrea, wo er sein Jura-Fernstudium auf- anti-government demonstrations in Iraq and in Leb- nahm. Mit der Staatsgründung 1948 kehrte Sham- anon. (…) Anti-government protests in Iraq have gar nach Israel zurück picked up momentum in recent days, with a reported 100 people killed and over 5,000 injured since Fri- day. The protests were sparked over deteriorating

5 Justice Meir Shamgar’s legacy Palestine as a teenager in 1939. The Jewish settle- Former Supreme Court President Meir Shamgar (…) ment (…) was dominated by two streams of thought, represented a complex worldview that incorporated the ruling Labor Zionists, who controlled the Jewish the many tensions in Israeli society. He supported Agency (…) and the upstart Revisionists, who ulti- Israel as a Jewish state while also standing up for its mately evolved into the Likud party (…). Shamgar liberal-democratic character. Shamgar had a com- chose to affiliate with the Revisionists, and joined mitment to Israel’s security, but also to minority and their underground paramilitary organization, the human rights. He advocated a free economy, but not Irgun Tzva Leumi, or “Etzel”. (…) He was arrested at the expense of looking after the common citizens and deported to a British internment camp in Eritrea, and their well-being. (…) It’s difficult to imagine a where he remained for four years. Upon his return to greater contrast between Shamgar’s values and his the newly-founded State of Israel in 1948, he joined legal outlook, and that of the anti-liberal government the IDF to fight in the War of Independence, and headed by , which has turned then rejoined the military after completing his legal its back on the legacy of Ze’ev Jabotinsky and Men- studies. His formal career in public service, from achem Begin. As a practical matter, Shamgar made military attorney, to Chief Prosecutor of the IDF, to his special mark on all of the institutions that in re- Attorney General of the State of Israel, Supreme cent years have been under unbridled attack by Court Justice, and finally Chief Justice, lasted more Netanyahu and his partners on the right wing: the than 40 years, ending with his mandatory retirement Supreme Court, the military advocate general’s in 1995 upon turning 70. Even in retirement, howev- office, the attorney general’s office and the govern- er, Justice Shamgar headed numerous public com- ment’s judicial branch. Shamgar understood well missions, and continued to have a major impact on that a government drunk on its own power could public life in Israel. If there was one theme that was become tyrannical. He therefore called for balancing consistent across Justice Shamgar’s many rulings government power to ensure human liberty, most and reports, it was respect for the rule of law, re- importantly through an independent, apolitical court gardless of the political consequences. While serv- system. He understood that the rule of law was ing as the IDF’s chief legal officer in the years lead- impossible without an attorney general whose posi- ing up to the Six-Day War of 1967, Shamgar laid out tion is both structurally and ideologically independ- the blueprint for Israel’s ultimate control of the West ent; and without a judicial system that is an inde- Bank. (…) Given Shamgar’s own background in the pendent and impartial bastion for every citizen. (…) Irgun, it’s probably not hard to guess where his There was no one who understood the danger in- personal sympathies were, but this was totally irrel- herent in a corrupt government conduct better than evant to his role in the military. His loyalty was owed Shamgar. At the same time, one also cannot avoid solely to the rule of law and the principles of interna- noting Shamgar’s contribution to the normalization tional law that Israel had taken upon itself. More of the Israeli occupation. In his various roles, he than fifty years have passed since Shamgar’s in- gave the stamp of approval to actions that enabled structions were implemented in the , and the state and the defense establishment to continue the criticisms from right and left have not ceased. controlling the occupied Palestinian population and (…) There are always those who will claim, when it its land while depriving them of their basic rights, as suits them politically, that the laws are being ma- individuals and as a people. But it is only through nipulated against them. For Chief Justice Shamgar, the civil rights that Shamgar enshrined in Israeli law however, the rule of law was an intrinsic value, re- that freedom of expression and freedom of the press gardless of which way the political winds happened (…) are ensured. The fight for the values expressed to be blowing at any particular time. (…) in Israel’s Declaration of Independence, for Israel’s Clifford M. J. Felig, TOI, 22.10.19 liberal image and for the independence of the court is a fight for Shamgar’s legacy. In memoriam: Meir Shamgar: 1925 – 2019 Editorial, HAA, 20.10.19 (…) Shamgar’s qualities were recognized, not only by the military elite but also by the political elite: Justice Meir Shamgar: A life dedicated to the straight as a die; pedantic and thorough; hard work- rule of law ing; decisive and fair; a centralist who takes respon- (…) For Justice Shamgar, the rule of law was a sibility; a person who does not cut corners and who paramount value. Shamgar’s worldview was largely speaks his mind; honest, measured, and focused; a a result of his personal story. Shamgar moved to trustworthy commander who leads by example. In

6 the ever-expanding army tasked to secure Israeli limited, now live in serious discomfort because of borders during turbulent times, Shamgar had the the change in direction their country has been tak- ability to identify loopholes and then devise mecha- ing. In the year that preceded his death, Haim Gouri nisms to close them. His criticisms were always described Israel as a country that was going through constructive. For him, law was law even when it a “bad” period. Uri Avnery, supposedly the ultimate concerned generals. In 1963, Shamgar laid the optimist, characterized the Israeli experience in his groundwork for the legal infrastructure of Israel in final months as “ugly.” Yossi Sarid, who was 15 the event that it would occupy the West Bank and years younger than them, died of a broken heart Gaza. Some argue that this shows that Israel had (according to his family) because of the deterioration long planned the occupation of these territories. (…) of the state of Israeli society. Amos Oz spoke in his he denied that this was the case. He explained that last lecture about the “restoration disease,” the fa- as the head of the military legal apparatus, he made natical messianism that threatens to become the sure to prepare for any development. The documen- center of the Israeli experience. (…) Tens of thou- tation he prepared were “drawer plans,” not opera- sands of Israel’s elderly are now spending their final tive plans; he wanted to ascertain that the military years in a sense of despair, which reinforces from was prepared for any scenario that might develop. day to day their feeling that the world they are living (…) Shamgar was particularly proud of his decision in is shattering. This is neither about sobering up to give Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza the from a daydream nor about rejecting an unrealistic possibility to appeal directly to the Supreme Court vision. Rather, it is a brutal, unexpected blow of when they had grievances against the state and the reality for Israel’s elders – who for most of their lives army. He saw this as a basic human right. Humans experienced a different Israel. Under Prime Minister are humans regardless of where they reside. They Benjamin Netanyahu’s rule, these Israelis have are entitled to Israeli justice because they are gov- despaired of hoping for change. There is nothing erned by the State of Israel. (…) Shamgar’s most they can do but cry over the fact that they have been important project in recent years was a constitution sentenced to carry their sense of frustration, pain for Israel. (…) The idea, however, was not actual- and fury to their graves over those who ruined and ized (…). Shamgar was candid and helpful. He was destroyed the country. (…) The grief of the members always calm and calculated, measured in his of Shamgar’s generation and his disciples is not just speech, articulate and clear. (…) Shamgar was a a bunch of retirees reminiscing about the old times, noble man in his posture, walk and talk. Tall and colored retrospectively in a flattering light, nor is it impressive, measured and thoughtful, he made just an optical illusion that ignores the flaws of those immense contributions to Israeli law and society. He times – and doesn’t recognize the fact that every represented much of what is good and valuable in society matures and changes. Their sorrow is the Israeli society. He will be greatly missed by many grief of those who feel helpless in the face of the who were fortunate to know him. His legacy, I trust, destructive forces that are shattering the foundations will live on for many generations to come. upon which Israeli society was built and conducted Raphael Cohen-Almagor, JPO, 24.10.19 life and are smashing its hopes to see its rehabilita- tion. The pain of those who are about to die Uzi Benziman, HAA, 25.10.19 When former Supreme Court President described the character of his predecessor (…), Meir Shamgar (…), he mentioned the anguish 4. Medienquerschnitt he suffered in his final years in the face of the dete- riorating status of the Supreme Court and the de- 25 Jahre Frieden mit Jordanien mise of putting the nation’s interests before political and personal interests. Shamgar was not the only After 25 years of peace, Israel-Joran relations one who experienced frustration in his final days need a restart over the dismemberment of his life’s work. He Jordan will not celebrate this month’s 25th anniver- shared this angst with an entire generation of elderly sary of the festive signing of the historic peace Israelis who contributed – each one in their own way agreement with Israel in Wadi Araba. The winds of – to making Israel a country where it was good to reconciliation that blew at the time, the dreams, live and respectable to be one of its residents. have long since dissipated. (…) The security as- These involved Israelis, whose remaining time is pects of the peace accord run smoothly, reflecting

7 the security-oriented approach of the outgoing gov- skyrocketed. (…) Not all is lost. We can try to start ernment, an approach that prioritizes security rela- cooperating in our various cyber technology compa- tions over all other aspects, believing that no pro- nies and inventions. We are after all a world leader gress on them is possible, in any case. (…) Can a in the field and the young intelligent Jordanians are limited relationship that begins and ends with ties yearning jobs. So simple. (…) Israel is already very between defense officials carry the weight of the familiar with Jordan's problems, problems that have entire agreement for long? (…) The peace agree- been aggravated by the arrival of about a million and ment with Egypt has also been emptied of real con- a half refugees from Iraq and Syria. Added to this is tent, being largely limited to security cooperation – Israel's decision to block the Jordanian intention to and normalization nowhere on the horizon. Many in sell agricultural and consumer goods to the West Israel believe that given the opposition to normaliza- Bank, a decision that has led to much frustration on tion by many Jordanians and Egyptians, there is no their part. An agreement could have been reached choice but to make do with what is available – secu- on the subject, but who cares? (…) In December rity cooperation that does, indeed, save lives and 2009, then-Jordanian King Hussein gave an historic provides security and defense. (…) The Palestinian and exclusive interview to 's sister publication issue is central to Israeli-Jordanian relations. (…) Yedioth Ahronoth. In that interview he said how For Netanyahu, the Palestinians are no longer rele- devoted he was for peace and told of his willingness vant and Arab states have abandoned their cause. to shine a light on the usually clandestine relation- However (…) Jordan greatly fears escalation in the ship between the two countries. Today, when we West Bank, and especially in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa read the interview, what is left but to cry? Mosque, and seeks better lines of communication Smadar Perry, YED, 27.10.19 with Israel. With a relatively modest investment and prioritization of the relationship with the Kingdom, Israel could save itself the repeated embarrass- ments it has recently experienced in relations with Jordan. (…) The peace agreement with Jordan, just like the Jordan River, tends to dry up over time un- HAA = less efforts are made to nurture it. (…) Israel could YED = Yedioth Ahronoth / Ynetnews win back Jordan with the right media coverage and JPO = Jerusalem Post attention, by revving up significant economic pro- IHY = Israel HaYom jects that would help resolve Jordan’s water short- TOI = Times of Israel ages and create jobs, with an effort to break though GLO = Globes the deadlock in the Palestinian arena. In the final analysis, Jordan is right here, within touching dis- tance and not in the dark beyond. Anyone who re- stores Jordan to the top of Israel’s list of diplomatic priorities would do wonders for the relationship be- tween us, benefiting all sides. Veröffentlicht im: November 2019 Ksenia Svetlova, JPO, 27.10.19

Verantwortlich: The slow death of a promising peace Dr. Paul Pasch, (…) There is a new player on the field: Israel's atten- Leiter der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel tion is drawn towards Saudi Arabia, an adversary of

Jordan. (…) king Abdallah uses the recent border Redaktion: disputes along the Jordan River with Israel as pun- Susanne Knaul ishment, demanding certain Israeli enclaves in Jor- Judith Stelmach dan to return to full Jordanian control. (…) a worsen- ing in the status quo is apparent: Israelis – only Homepage: www.fes.org.il Jews, not Israeli Arabs – are forced to bribe cab and Email: [email protected] transport drivers to take them across the Jordanian border. (…) if you're in Amman, it's better for you to hide your Israeli identity and the prices for the short flights to Jordan have, for want of a better phrase,

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