Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 8/19 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 16.-30. April Die Themen dieser Ausgabe 1. Netanyahu nimmt Koalitionsverhandlungen auf .......................................................................................................... 1 2. Trumps Jahrhunderteplan für Frieden im Nahen Osten .............................................................................................. 4 3. Pessach 2019 ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 4. Medienquerschnitt ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 1. Netanyahu nimmt Koalitionsverhandlungen die Finanzhilfen an die Hamas aus Katar, die auf Netanyahu zuließ. Ausgerechnet Avigdor Liberman, der mit seinem Rücktritt als Verteidigungsminister im letzten Jahr Israel`s election results show broad consensus mit für den vorgezogenen Termin der Parlaments- on diplomatic and defense wahlen sorgte, war Benjamin Netanyahus erster (…) beyond the harsh rhetoric, one can discern a Ansprechpartner bei den Koalitionsverhandlungen. broad consensus in Israel for the outgoing Staatspräsident Reuven Rivlin hatte zuvor den am- government’s actual diplomatic and defense tierenden Ministerpräsidenten erneut mit der Regie- policies. Both the Likud and Blue-White parties rungsbildung beauftragt. Netanyahu hatte bei den almost entirely ignored the broader Palestinian issue Parlamentswahlen am 9. April mit 35 der 120 Abge- throughout the election campaign. (…) the ordnetensitze ein Unentschieden mit der oppositio- lieutenant-generals in Blue-White (…) continually nellen Mittepartei Blau-Weiß unter dem Vorsitz von sought to prove that they were not “left wing,” and Ex-Generalstabschef Benny Gantz erreicht, galt were not contemplating any West Bank withdrawals. jedoch stets als der Politiker mit den besseren The Labor Party – still identified in the minds of Chancen für eine Mehrheitskoalition. Das Lager many with the failed Oslo process – largely evaded rechter und religiöser Parteien stellt eine klare the issue, too. (…) Nor did the anticipated launch in Mehrheit in der Knesset. Schwierig dürfte für Netan- the coming weeks or months of “the deal of the yahu werden, die Forderungen der verschiedenen century” by US President Donald Trump’s team potenziellen Koalitionspartner unter einen Hut zu generate any real debate during the election bringen. Liberman fordert die Rekrutierung der ult- campaign. (…) Israelis have no illusions about the raorthodoxen Männer. Die strengreligiösen Parteien Palestinian Authority. They are more or less in Shas und Vereinigtes Tora-Judentum lehnen die agreement with the policy practiced by Netanyahu Wehrpflicht für alle jedoch entschieden ab. Grund and backed by the defense establishment: “conflict für Libermans Rücktritt war auch Netanyahus Politik management.” This approach seeks to limit the gegenüber der Hamas im Gazastreifen. Ginge es suffering on both sides of the current situation by nach Liberman, müsse die Armee entschiedener employing “carrots and sticks” while avoiding gegen die palästinensischen Islamisten vorgehen. dangerous diplomatic gambits. (…) A huge majority Der frühere Verteidigungsminister kritisierte zudem of Israelis approved of Trump’s diplomatic gestures during the campaign – the recognition of Israel’s 1 sovereignty over the Golan Heights (…) coalition than they would sitting it out in the Netanyahu’s diplomatic prowess in developing opposition. Labor’s leaders have forgotten what strong ties with Russia, India, Brazil and eastern power tastes like. It’s been six years since their Mediterranean countries, and his good standing in representatives served in a government. By joining parts of the Arab world, were clearly among his most Netanyahu’s fifth coalition government, they would effective electoral draws. It is, however, clear that exact some degree of revenge on Blue and White, Netanyahu’s closeness to Trump (…) is problematic which siphoned 18 Knesset seats from the party and for many American Jews, whose liberal inclinations battered its members at every opportunity. (…) are well known. With the elections behind him, Gideon Allon, IHY, 16.04.19 Prime Minister Netanyahu should try to mend fences with centrist elements in American Jewry in order to Bennett and Shaked might be down, but they are shore-up bipartisan support for Israel and help stem not out a drift away from Israel among Democrats. National The former darlings of the right made a costly cohesion is a critical ingredient for Israel in mistake by splitting from their base to form a new successfully meeting the grave national security party, and they paid the price, but they also know challenges ahead. Fortunately, this election shows how to turn weakness into strength and are well- that a healthy broad consensus pertains to defense placed to stage an even more triumphant return. (…) and diplomatic matters. (…) it is simply wrong to Bennett and Shaked are now forced to maneuver in portray Israel as a deeply divided nation on these a tight spot, for even as Netanyahu ignores them, matters. tries to diminish them and turn them into an Efraim Inbar, JPO, 16.04.19 irrelevance, letting him is not an option. Leading the religious Zionist camp and trying to appeal to the Coalition government should include Labor rightwing crowd means accepting Netanyahu's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must make authority even when he pulls repeated knives on every effort to have the Labor party join his coalition, you. (…) One can say that Bennett is childish; one first and foremost in order to ensure a more stable can criticize some of the moves he carried out with a government. (…) The battered Labor party has just recklessness that defines him for good and for ill, experienced the greatest defeat in its history (…). If but the one thing one cannot take away from him is Labor remains in the opposition, it will disappear that he is driven by a real sense of mission - he entirely. The Blue and White party (…) will leave no believes in his way and he is committed to it. As for room for Amir Peretz, Shelly Yachimovich and their Shaked, who in a short time became one of the friends in Labor to maneuver. Labor’s most popular politicians in Israel, who changed the representatives will walk around the Knesset with discourse within and about the judicial system, who sullen faces, disappointed at the election failure and stood up to the attorney general and president of the lethargic. And it is unlikely any of its members will be Supreme Court when she believed it necessary, is made the head of any sort of Knesset committee. unlikely to vanish anytime soon. The fact that she is But were Labor to join the government, it would being pursued from every possible direction is a have influence over fundamental issues as well as phenomenon worth expanding on separately. She is diplomatic affairs (…). Although it seems unlikely a clear electoral asset in any situation. Nonetheless, now, if Netanyahu takes this path and succeeds in the establishment of the New Right was a slapdash convincing representatives of Labor to join his and disorganized adventure, born mainly of government, they could be afforded at least two Bennett's daring and the belief that there should a ministries, a deputy ministerial role and tasked with different kind of right-wing. It was a clumsy move chairing a Knesset committee. As a result, the blood that exacted a high price and proved that in politics, would once again pump through their veins. (…) there is no such thing as magic. One can agree with Labor leader Avi Gabbay will likely soon be ousted their path or not - but one must admit that the duo as party chairman, which will make such a move was among the most dedicated politicians when it easier to implement as although he has declared he came to their public. (…) what comes out of their would not join a Netanyahu government, his mouths is usually what is in their hearts. They declaration does not obligate other party members. brought religious Zionism to the forefront and to new They could explain to their voters that at this point in heights and left their mark. (…). time, they would be able to have much greater Moran Azoulay, YED, 17.04.19 influence on the government as members of the 2 Acknowledge and move forward Kahol Lavan may not want to function as an (…) Israel’s detractors (…) seized on the opportunity opposition, they certainly aren't ready for that, but to point a finger at the alleged hypocrisy of Israeli they will have to function as an opposition, and they democracy in which Israel “denies Palestinians in had better excel in the role. (…) Israel is marching the West Bank and Gaza the right to vote.” This confidently down a dark path, and that must be disingenuous attack is misleading because it stopped. It was done by the doctors who refused to completely ignores the existence of the Palestinian force feed prisoners on a hunger strike - they set Authority (…) and discounts Israel’s electoral history, limits to a government that lacked limits and the history of the conflict and the regional context. succeeded. In the face of a government that tailors (…) In fact, since Israel’s very first election in 1949, basic laws to the measurements of its leaders, in the Arabs have voted and served as members in the face of someone accused of bribery who plans to