Politics – January-February 2020
Q&A
Trump
Labour-Meretz Merger
Bushfires
University of Bristol partners with Ben-Gurion University
Did You Know?
Israel’s Decade Achievements
Gem of the Month – St. Martin in the Fields Concert
Gem of the Month – Wellcome Galleries
Movie of the Month – Same Kind of Different as Me ****
Monthly Poem
Light Side
Q&A
My class peace exercise
I was asked about the process of the peace exercise I conducted in my class, whether I divided the class into two separate groups.
Yes. We studied the peace process. The students picked their side, Israel and Palestine. Nos. came even, so there was not an issue. They received guidelines from me prior to the debate about procedure. I was the moderator and mediator (USA). I instructed that each delegation will open with a 5-10 minute statement, and that they should start the negotiations with the relatively easy topics, build trust, give and take. If one side is willing to make a concession on one issue, it is expected that the other side will make concessions on the next issue. Of course, they needed to know on what issues the sides are likely to make concessions, and to delineate red lines.
Suleimani assassination
Suleimani was responsible for the death of many scores of people all over the world. He lived and died by the sword. Iran will retaliate at the time and place that its leaders will find most suitable. I reckon that a team of Iranian experts on terrorism are presently examining the potential targets.
Netanyahu’s conduct
The most powerful Netanyahu was willing to drag Israel into two additional and futile elections in order to evade trial. When he dragged the country to the second elections I thought he was irresponsible. When he dragged the country to third elections I remained speechless. I thought there won’t be third elections because no party wanted third elections, and when no party wants something, there is no reason for it to happen. I was utterly wrong. There was one person who thought that third elections are better for him, and he drove the entire political system to the default of third elections. This served him, and him alone, at the expense of the best interests of Israel.
Netanyahu will use each and every trick in the book to evade justice. But I still believe in the Israeli justice system. Eventually, Netanyahu will stand trial. No one, not even Netanyahu, is above the law. Justice might be delayed, but it cannot be avoided.
Prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations
Abbas had an option to close a deal with Olmert. While not the optimal deal from his perspective, it was the best peace deal that was ever offered by an Israeli prime minister. Abbas got cold feet and never replied to the proposal. This was the last missed opportunity in a string of missed opportunities, from Rabin to Peres to Barak and most recently Olmert.
Netanyahu wants peace on his own terms, which are very distant from the Palestinian terms. I do not think there will be an agreed peace deal as long as Netanyahu is in office. Whether Netanyahu will remain in office for much more time is an open question.
How should Hamas be treated in any peace negotiations?
Abbas has three conditions for a successful conciliation with Hamas: resolving governance in Gaza, allowing the national unity government to operate all Gaza Strip offices and agencies, and putting Hamas’ armed forces under government command. This conditions are in tandem with Israel’s interests.
On specific matters, Israel is willing to negotiate with Hamas via third parties, most often via Egypt. No peace between Israel and Hamas is possible as long as Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel and is unwilling even to recognize Israel’s existence. Israel does not appear on Hamas maps. Hamas is continuing to educate children to “resist”, to uphold violence against its enemies, and to sacrifice their children’s future for distant generations, for “one bright day” when Hamas will have the upper hand and take over the whole Palestine.
Israel rightly refused to engage with Hamas when the two state solution was on the cards. Israel negotiated only with the PLO. Terrorists who believe in destruction cannot be a party for peace negotiations. Furthermore, having monopoly on weapons is a sine qua non. No country should agree that rival militias have weapons to destroy the process. Israel had to pass its Altalena test, https://web.nli.org.il/sites/nli/english/library/reading_corner/pages/altalena.aspx . The Palestinians need to pass this hurdle as well.
Hamas is first and foremost a Palestinian problem. The Palestinian should resolve their internal rivalries and have one representative, monopoly on weapons, and ability not only to deliver peace but also to abide by its terms.
What current United States policies are hindering progress towards peace in Israel and Palestine?
Without entering into the details of the Trump plan, it is wrong to engage only with Israel. Trump has alienated himself from the Palestinians. He decided to take the side of the Likud, not necessarily of Israel as there are many Israelis who believe in two state solution, and who believe that settlements hinder the peace process. Trump sent people who endorse settlements to represent him. The Palestinians tried to engage with the Trump men. When they realised what their agenda was, they disengaged. A few weeks ago, Netanyahu and Gantz were invited to the White House to participate in the ceremonies of launching the peace plan. No Palestinian was invited. I do not believe that peace should be enforced. I believe peace should be negotiated. I believe the terms for negotiations should be just and reasonable for both sides; otherwise the children of both sides will continue to suffer.
Trump
It was an ingenious act on his part to invite Benny Gantz to the White House, thereby having the two main Israeli leaders endorsing his plan. If Israeli-Arabs had any hopes from Gantz, those were dashed.
You ask me what are the differences between Likud and Blue-and-White on the Palestinian issue. I honestly cannot say.
Labour-Meretz Merger
After months of deliberation, Labour-Gesher and Meretz announced that they would run together in Israel's March 2, 2020 general election. Labour chairman Amir Peretz and Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz reached a deal. Peretz had staunchly resisted pressure to do so in the April and September elections. But now he said: "We must head toward merging with Meretz."
https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Peretz-We-will-negotiate-with-Meretz-about-running-together-613942
Bushfires
Like millions of people, I was distressed to see and read the scenes from Australia. Here are some practical ideas:
Australia does not have a national task force to prevent and combat bushfire. The Australian government should dedicate all necessary resources to ensure that the tragedy we witness this year will not reoccur. This should be Australia’s foremost priority.
I hope Australian media will pick the idea of a national task force and pressure the government to do this asap. People should write articles, petition and push this idea forward. Otherwise, Australia will continue to face this challenge every year, with horrendous consequences.
Bushfire has been a challenge for Australia for decades but this is the worse I remember. The government should seek explanations for this and ways to address the problem.
As this is a matter of social security, The Lowy Institute can and should step in.
ANU should establish a dedicated center for the study of bushfires. ANU has Climate Change Institute but this is not enough. Australia needs its best brains together in a dedicated institute that will issue policy reports and recommendations.
Australia needs a leader who understands the severity of the situation.
University of Bristol partners with Ben-Gurion University
University and the UK’s University of Bristol have signed an agreement to collaborate on cyber security and Artificial Intelligence research. It formalizes their many ongoing ad-hoc research projects and exchange opportunities.
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2019/december/ben-gurion-mou.html
Did You Know?
Israel is the only country in the world where the coffee is already so good that Starbucks went bankrupt trying to break into the local market.
Israel’s Decade Achievements
Some of Israel’s major achievements in the last 10 years, summarized in 138 secs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CByPSI-bmOA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CByPSI-bmOA
Gem of the Month – St. Martin in the Fields Concert
Antonín Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances and Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Violins in A Minor RV522 played by three soloists, one Irish, another Muslim and the third Jewish. Music is a universal language.
Gem of the Month – Wellcome Galleries
The Wellcome Collection features Medicine Man about the history of medicine, and how medicine has been practiced in different parts of the world. A fascinating way to spend 2-3 hours. Very much recommended.
Movie of the Month – Same Kind of Different as Me ****
This is an uplifting, emotional and sensitive drama, based on a true story, about a friendship between a couple who wanted to give to the world and an angry homeless person. This is a story about human compassion, friendship and love.
Greg Kinnear, Renée Zellweger and Djimon Hounsou are all superb. This movie touched me deeply. It may also touch you.
**** on Rafi’s scale.
Monthly Poem
No man is an island
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John Donne
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John Donne
Light Side
Israel is the only country in the world in which not being a sucker is a national value.
Peace and Love. Yours as ever,
Rafi
My last communications are available on Israel: Democracy, Human Rights, Politics and Society, http://almagor.blogspot.com
People wishing to subscribe to this Monthly Newsletter are welcome to e-mail me at r.cohen-almagor@hull.ac.uk
Twitter at @almagor35
