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Israel: Alternative Regional Options in a Changing Middle East
Report June 2013 Israel: alternative regional options in a changing Middle East By Yossi Alpher1 Executive summary Today Israel confronts broad regional security challenges reminiscent of those it faced in the early decades of its existence. Then it responded to the threat posed by the hostile Arab states that surrounded it by developing the “periphery doctrine”. It formed strategic ties with Iran, Turkey and other non-Arab, non- Muslim or geographically distant Arab states and minorities that shared its concerns. The original periphery doctrine ground to a halt between 1973 and 1983 and was in many ways replaced by the Arab-Israel peace process, both bilateral and multilateral. Eventually, the failure to register significant progress toward a solution of the Palestinian issue blunted this momentum. Currently Israel sees itself increasingly ringed by hostile Islamists in Egypt, Gaza, southern Lebanon and probably Syria, as well as non-Arab Turkey and Iran. Once again it confronts the spectre of regional isolation. But it is far better equipped than in the past to deal with a hostile ring of neighbours. Its policy options include not only a “new periphery” (Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Greece and Ethiopia, among others), but also the projection of both soft (particularly economic) and hard power, a search for accommodation with political Islam beginning with Hamas in Gaza, and a partial or comprehensive two-state solution agreement with the West Bank-based PLO. Introduction hostile Arab states motivated by Arab nationalism and led Today Israel confronts broad regional security challenges by Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser. These neighbouring that in some ways are reminiscent of those it faced in the countries were smarting from a string of military defeats at early decades of its existence. -
Peace Between Israel and the Palestinians Appears to Be As Elusive As Ever. Following the Most Recent Collapse of American-Broke
38 REVIVING THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS: HISTORICAL LES- SONS FOR THE MARCH 2015 ISRAELI ELECTIONS Elijah Jatovsky Lessons derived from the successes that led to the signing of the 1993 Declaration of Principles between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization highlight modern criteria by which a debilitated Israeli-Palestinian peace process can be revitalized. Writ- ten in the run-up to the March 2015 Israeli elections, this article examines a scenario for the emergence of a security-credentialed leadership of the Israeli Center-Left. Such leadership did not in fact emerge in this election cycle. However, should this occur in the future, this paper proposes a Plan A, whereby Israel submits a generous two-state deal to the Palestinians based roughly on that of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s offer in 2008. Should Palestinians find this offer unacceptable whether due to reservations on borders, Jerusalem or refugees, this paper proposes a Plan B by which Israel would conduct a staged, unilateral withdrawal from large areas of the West Bank to preserve the viability of a two-state solution. INTRODUCTION Peace between Israel and the Palestinians appears to be as elusive as ever. Following the most recent collapse of American-brokered negotiations in April 2014, Palestinians announced they would revert to pursuing statehood through the United Nations (UN), a move Israel vehemently opposes. A UN Security Council (UNSC) vote on some form of a proposal calling for an end to “Israeli occupation in the West Bank” by 2016 is expected later this month.1 In July 2014, a two-month war between Hamas-controlled Gaza and Israel broke out, claiming the lives of over 2,100 Gazans (this number encompassing both combatants and civilians), 66 Israeli soldiers and seven Israeli civilians—the low number of Israeli civilians credited to Israel’s sophisti- cated anti-missile Iron Dome system. -
Last 24Th of July, the New York Times Published a Story on a New
New trends on international communication The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa, Corona del Mar, CA, 92625 September, 23, 2009, Teresa La Porte Assistant Professor of International Political Communication . Last July 24th 2008, the New York Times published a story on a new communication strategy started by Hamas, the Islamic fundamentalist group of Palestine. The headlines said: “Hamas shifts from rockets to culture war”. And latter explains: “Hamas has suspended its use of rockets and shifted focus to winning support at home and abroad through cultural initiatives and public relations”. After describing some of the events organized with that purpose (such as a theater play, a movie premiere, a presentation of a book of poems), the New York Times highlights a statement of the minister of culture from Gaza (Osama Alisawi): “We are not terrorists but resistance fighters, and we want to explain our reality to the outside world. We want the writers and intellectuals of the world to come and see how people are suffering on a daily basis”. I do not know yet what the reaction of other countries was, but at least in Spain, only some days later from this story, main newspapers brought out a report on Palestine children trying to get a Guinness Award. The challenge was to fly simultaneously the largest number of kites ever: pictures showed a beach, packed with young Palestinians trying to fly three thousand kites. Although nobody from Guinness World Records was there to register the event, the strategy set by Hamas had achieved it first hit being present in Spanish front pages with a different image. -
Leveraging the Israeli Diaspora in the US
Conceptual Framework for the ILC's Potential Leadership Role Leveraging the Israeli Diaspora in the US Final Draft for Comments Submitted to ILC Management and Board Kislev 5772 December 2011 1 November, 2011 Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ 2 Guidelines for Quick Reading ....................................................................................... 4 Background and Introduction ....................................................................................... 5 Part 1: The ILC’s Playing Field: Changes taking place among the Israeli Diaspora .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Background: Jewish Peoplehood is taking center stage - The changing relations between Israel and the Jewish world ............................................................................ 7 Major trends affecting the Israeli Diaspora: the current mindset ............................. 8 Major Trends affecting the Israeli Diaspora: the changing reality ......................... 10 The emergence of a new type of identity: The Israeli ‘New Tipus’ ......................... 12 Development of 'New Tipus' identity .......................................................................... 13 Who is the ‘New Tipus’? .............................................................................................. 16 The potential of the 'New Tipus' towards -
Fathom Journal Issue 22
Fathom Journal Issue 22 DEBORAH FINEBLUM AMOS YADLIN SHABTAI SHAVIT GARY KENT JOEL SINGER NADAV EYAL RAPHAEL ALMAGOR PAUL IDDON JOHN LYNDON LIAM HOARE ADAM LEBOR JAMES SORENE PHILIP MENDES ALAN JOHNSON JOHN STRAWSON YOCHANAN PLESNER ERAN EZTION 1 YADLIN| ISRAEL’S STRATEGIC CHALLENGES FOUR STRATEGIC THREATS ON ISRAEL’S RADAR | A SPECIAL BRIEFING BY FORMER IDF INTELLIGENCE HEAD AMOS YADLIN AMOS YADLIN Speaking at a private forum in late 2018, Director of the Institute for National Security Studies, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Amos Yadlin presents an overview of the different regional threats facing Israel as well as the ongoing challenge of the Russian presence in the Middle East. Below is an edited transcript of his remarks. Introduction Israel faces numerous strategic security challenges both on its borders and hundreds of miles away. Its main security challenges come from Hamas in Gaza, Iran’s entrenchment in Syria, Leb- anese Hezbollah, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In order to fully understand the scope of these threats, one must analyse them on a scale of immediacy and severity [see infographic 1]. Hamas is the most immediate threat Israel faces, but the least severe. The next most immediate threat is the Syrian civil war coupled with Iran’s entrenchment in the country. After that comes the medi- um-term threat posed by Hezbollah, a far more severe challenge. The most severe and long-term threat Israel faces is Iran’s nuclear ambitions. This essay will analyse the scope, severity, and im- mediacy of these threats. Infographic 1: Threats to Israel’s National Security 2 FATHOM 22 The threat from Hamas When analysing the situation in Gaza, one cannot disconnect it from Israel’s other three main se- curity challenges – the Syrian civil war, Hezbollah, and the Iranian nuclear threat. -
The Gatekeepers: Geopolitics and the Limits of Power
March 2013 THE GATEKEEPERS: GEOPOLITICS AND THE LIMITS OF POWER By Amos N. Guiora Amos Guiora is a Professor of Law, SJ Quinney College of Law, University of Utah. He is the author of numerous books and articles addressing national security issues, including Legitimate Target: A Criteria-Based Approach to Targeted Killing (Oxford University Press, forthcoming April 2013). Guiora served for 19 years in the Israel Defense Forces, Lt. Col. (retired); from 1994-1999 he was directly involved in the implementation of the Oslo Peace Process. He will be speaking under FPRI auspices in New York City (October 28, 2013) and Philadelphia (October 29, 2013). The Israeli movie The Gatekeepers, nominated for an Oscar award earlier this year, serves as extraordinary background for a discussion of critical issues -- and not just with respect to the Israel- Palestine conflict. What makes the movie compelling is the direct, unapologetic and reflective manner in which the limits of power is addressed. What makes the movie even more compelling is that six retired heads of the Israeli intelligence agency, the Shin Bet, address the subject. Speaking frankly, without pathos and devoid of undue emotion, the six look directly into the camera to say there is a limit to the effectiveness of power. Their frankness is particularly noteworthy because all six authorized the use of force against suspected Palestinian terrorists. The second part of their message is that Israel must negotiate directly with the Palestinians – that the conflict can be resolved only through the pen, not the sword. The Gatekeepers is particularly relevant to America on two distinct levels: American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and the recently released Department of Justice White Paper articulating drone policy, including against US citizens. -
Hizb Ut-Tahrir Ideology and Strategy
HIZB UT-TAHRIR IDEOLOGY AND STRATEGY “The fierce struggle… between the Muslims and the Kuffar, has been intense ever since the dawn of Islam... It will continue in this way – a bloody struggle alongside the intellectual struggle – until the Hour comes and Allah inherits the Earth...” Hizb ut-Tahrir The Centre for Social Cohesion Houriya Ahmed & Hannah Stuart HIZB UT-TAHRIR IDEOLOGY AND STRATEGY “The fierce struggle… between the Muslims and the Kuffar, has been intense ever since the dawn of Islam... It will continue in this way – a bloody struggle alongside the intellectual struggle – until the Hour comes and Allah inherits the Earth...” Hizb ut-Tahrir The Centre for Social Cohesion Houriya Ahmed & Hannah Stuart Hizb ut-Tahrir Ideology and Strategy Houriya Ahmed and Hannah Stuart 2009 The Centre for Social Cohesion Clutha House, 10 Storey’s Gate London SW1P 3AY Tel: +44 (0)20 7222 8909 Fax: +44 (0)5 601527476 Email: [email protected] www.socialcohesion.co.uk The Centre for Social Cohesion Limited by guarantee Registered in England and Wales: No. 06609071 © The Centre for Social Cohesion, November 2009 All the Institute’s publications seek to further its objective of promoting human rights for the benefit of the public. The views expressed are those of the author, not of the Institute. Hizb ut-Tahrir: Ideology and Strategy By Houriya Ahmed and Hannah Stuart ISBN 978-0-9560013-4-4 All rights reserved The map on the front cover depicts Hizb ut-Tahrir’s vision for its Caliphate in ‘Islamic Lands’ ABOUT THE AUTHORS Houriya Ahmed is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC). -
Review of the Film 'The Gatekeepers' (April 2013). (Posted on The
Review of the film ‘The Gatekeepers’ (April 2013). (Posted on the Yachad website) By the time 'The Gatekeepers' (Dror Moreh, 2012) reaches London it will already have been seen in Israel, for months, and in the US, where its Director was nominated for the best documentary feature at the Oscars. It has also of course created much fuss. That means that a reviewer has to stand on the shoulders, or in the shadow, of many reviews which have preceded it. The reviews have mostly just expressed their astonishment at the frankness of former heads of Israel’s intelligence and security apparatus who, with Meir Dagan, the recently retired head of Mossad, have become the psychological leaders of Israel’s opposition. The film consists of material from lengthy interviews with six former heads of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security apparatus mainly charged with preventing terrorist attacks. That in itself is remarkable in a country where security is exceeded only by falafel in the hierarchy of obsessions. More remarkable still is the extent to which the interviews give solace to what is broadly called ‘the left’ in Israel – ‘left’ denoting a vast range of attitudes which are more or less in favour of the ‘two-state solution’ and peace negotiations with Palestinian representatives. (Even George W. Bush would count.) One after another the interviewees say that their experience as heads of what they readily admit is a ruthless and cold-blooded organization leads them to believe that ‘it cannot go on like this’, that ‘one must speak to everyone’ and – in two cases at least – that the Occupation and the settlement movement are eroding, or have already irreversibly damaged, Israel’s democratic ethos. -
The Primacy of Praxis Clerical Authority in the Syrian Conflict
MiddleMiddle EastEast InstituteInstitute THE PRIMACY OF PRAXIS CLERICAL AUTHORITY IN THE SYRIAN CONFLICT SHIRAZ MAHER OCTOBER 2018 POLICY PAPER 2018-10 CONTENTS * SUMMARY * KEY POINTS * 1 INTRODUCTION * 2 CONTROLLING THE FIRE * 6 INTERNATIONAL JIHAD * 10 JIXADI PRAXIS AS AUTHENTICITY * 12 CONCLUSION * 15 ENDNOTES * 17 ABOUT THE AUTHOR * 18 ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE © The Middle East Institute The Middle East Institute 1319 18th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036 SUMMARY A close look at the competing claims, actors, and movements for authority within the Syrian civil war reveals three distinct periods of political and religious influence: that of Syrian scholars, who were the first to inject religious language into the revolution; that of Salafi scholars predominantly from the Gulf; and lastly, that of jihadi organizations like ISIS and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, who were active on the ground. This paper focuses on which figures relied on action—rather than theoretical abstraction—to establish legitimacy and authority on the ground in Syria. Tracing the conflict from the first clerical attempts to coordinate the Syrian opposition to the conflict’s regionalization, and, later, internationalization, this paper demonstrates that the words of actors on the ground are more likely than those of far-off figures—however popular—to resound effectively. KEY POINTS * The initial exile of clerics during the Syrian conflict’s early stages gave rise to a second wave of Gulf Salafi clerics who internationalized the conflict. * As the influence of domestic and regional religious scholars faded, a vacuum of clerical authority in the conflict emerged. This space became dominated by brutal jihadi actors. -
The 13Th Annual International Conference of The
THE 13 TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR COUNTER-TERRORISM World Summit on Counter-Terrorism: With the Support of Keren Daniel Terrorism’s Global Impact It takes a network to beat a network,” said Dr. Boaz Ganor, Ronald S. Lauder chair for Counter-Terrorism, depuM dean, Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy “ & Strategy, and founder and executive director, the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Israel, speaking at the opening of the th Annual Conference on Global Terrorism. Dr. Ganor described how ICT’s world summit on counter- terrorism provides a dynamic platform for over leading experts and decision-makers to network, establish essential cooperation and exchange views on the challenges faced by counter-terrorism oZcials. Scheduled to coincide with and commemorate the / terrorist a]acks on America, the conference has received worldwide acclaim since its inception. 40 // IDC WINTER 2014 Special Feature: th Annual ICT Conferencee rof. Uriel Reichman , founder and presi- the IDF’s military capa bility.” MK Dr. Yuval Pdent of the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Steinitz, Ministry of International Relations, Let us remember the innocent Herzliya, proudly told participants in his Intelligence and Strategic A$airs, said Israel was civilians murdered by welcoming address that this year’s conference not involved in the chaos in Syria, but if Israel marked !" years of IDC Herzliya. He said that was dragged into the con&ict, it would respond suicide bombers who did not IDC Herzliya has brought a revolution to edu- “with a strong hand, and an outstretched arm,” distinguish between civilians of cation in Israel, as it is the #rst private academ- a reference to the biblical phrase. -
John Zavage on Salafi-Jihadism: the History of an Idea
Shiraz Maher. Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. 256 pp. $29.95, cloth, ISBN 978-0-19-065112-1. Reviewed by John Zavage Published on H-War (September, 2017) Commissioned by Margaret Sankey (Air University) Post-9/11 observers struggle not only to un‐ for Western scholars and policymakers striving to derstand the radical ideology that drives fghters understand one of the strongest adversaries of to sacrifice their lives to kill innocents but also to our generation. identify its scope and to even name it. Scholars Maher’s most straightforward contribution to and policymakers refer to Islamist-motivated ter‐ understanding the ideology of these extremist rorists by almost as many different names as fighters is to simply identify and define the main there are attempts to understand them: extrem‐ components of Salafi-Jihadist thinking. This Ma‐ ists, jihadis, salafis ... the list goes on. It is safe to her does with precision, in identifying and de‐ say that Western understanding of the religious scribing fve main components of the Salafi-Ji‐ narrative that motivates such adversaries is elu‐ hadist belief that distinguish it from more main‐ sive. For these reasons, Shiraz Maher’s book, stream Islam. According to the author, these fve Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea, is a criti‐ components are jihad, takfir (excommunication), cally important work. Maher clarifies and pack‐ al-wala’ wa-l-bara ’ (loyalty and disavowal), ages these adversaries’ historical and religious tawhid (oneness of God), and hakimiyah (rule of narrative with unique skill, while giving these God, referred to often as political Islam). -
Zavage on Maher, 'Salafi-Jihadism: the History of an Idea'
H-War Zavage on Maher, 'Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea' Review published on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Shiraz Maher. Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. 256 pp. $29.95 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-19-065112-1. Reviewed by John Zavage (Air University, Air War College) Published on H-War (September, 2017) Commissioned by Margaret Sankey Post-9/11 observers struggle not only to understand the radical ideology that drives fighters to sacrifice their lives to kill innocents but also to identify its scope and to even name it. Scholars and policymakers refer to Islamist-motivated terrorists by almost as many different names as there are attempts to understand them: extremists, jihadis, salafis ... the list goes on. It is safe to say that Western understanding of the religious narrative that motivates such adversaries is elusive. For these reasons, Shiraz Maher’s book, Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea, is a critically important work. Maher clarifies and packages these adversaries’ historical and religious narrative with unique skill, while giving these fighters a well-researched and well-justified name, an anchor of sorts to understand their theoretical and historical motivations. In the process, he does more than simply provide Western readers with an outline to help understand how and why the Salafi-Jihadist narrative is so compelling for its adherents. He also introduces Salafi thinkers who believe the narrative but reject the violence. Most important, for policymakers, Maher makes a strong case for how military intervention into Muslim lands, both before and after 9/11, serves as motivation that fuels transformational growth of Salafi-Jihadism.