Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 01/10 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 12. – 25. Januar 2010 1. Türkei-Krise Die diplomatische Krise zwischen Israel und der Türkei erreichte Mitte Januar einen neuen Höhepunkt. Seit dem Krieg im Gazastreifen vor einem Jahr hat sich die Türkei zunehmend von Israel distanziert – und dies immer wieder deutlich gemacht. Zu einer weiteren Zuspitzung kam es nun, als Israels Vize-Außenminister Dani Ayalon den türkischen Botschafter Celikkol zu einem Gespräch einbestellte. Anlass war die Ausstrahlung einer antisemitischen Serie im türkischen Fernsehen. Ayalon ließ den Botschafter zunächst warten und platzierte ihn dann auf einem niedrigen Sofa vor einem Tisch ohne türkische Flagge. Um sicher zu machen, dass die Rüge eindeutig war, wies Ayalon die anwesend Journalisten zudem auf Hebräisch darauf hin. Die türkische Regierung zeigte sich angesichts dieses Affronts erbost und verlangte nach einer Entschuldigung, zu der sich Ayalon schließlich gezwungen sah: Seine Kritik an der Türkei gelte jedoch weiterhin, in Zukunft werde er aber„zulässigere diplomatische Mittel“ einsetzen. Diplomatic demarche “National honor, Lieberman postulated at a recent meeting of Israel's diplomatic corps, needs to be defended. When nations behave badly toward us this country will no longer pretend no affront was taken and that relations can go on as if nothing happened. Ayalon has taken this admirable nogroveling policy and ruined it on his first try. That's too bad because Erdogan's policies beg for denunciation.[…] Turkey has been begging for a diplomatic demarche. But the way Ayalon handled his encounter with Celikkol was so amateurish that it detracted from Israel's agenda.[…] Decisions that impact on relations with a country as important to Israel as Turkey need to be coordinated between the Prime Minister's Office, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry so that all key players are on the same page and that enunciated policies reflect the government's c onsidered position.[…] Erdogan seems intent on torpedoing Israel-Turkish ties. The least Jerusalem can do is make it harder for him to achieve this goal. As for our national honor- let's try to maintain it with greater aplomb.” JPO 12.01.10 Foreign policy disaster “The Turkish television show was given more credibility by Israel's vehement response to it. However, the crisis with Turkey had far more devastating results, as it ended with an official apology to a state now widely viewed as biased against Israel – a state which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes is inching closer to Iran every day. For this reason the Israeli public and its leaders should be calling for Ayalon's resignation. His childish‘reprimand’ of the Turkish ambassador, aside from being wholly unnecessary, was so blatantly devoid of diplomatic nuance, not to mention human decency, that it ultimately forced Israel to plead for an apology from a country that has expressed nothing but denigration for our army and leaders since Operation Cast Lead.” Adi Dvir, JED 14.01.10 Was ist mit‘erst denken, dann handeln’? “Avidgor Liebermann und Dani Ayalon, die die unkluge Maßnahme[…] initiiert haben, haben nun den Schwanz eingezogen, den Kopf gesenkt und eine unterschriebene Entschuldigung nach Ankara übermittelt. Von erst denken und dann handeln haben die beiden noch nie gehört. Es ist klar, dass die Regierung die[…] Absicht hatte, gegen die pro-iranische Politik der Türkei zu protestieren, die sogar antisemitische Tendenzen aufweist.[…] Niemand konnte sich jedoch vorstellen, dass diese vernünftige diplomatische 1

Maßnahme in einen derart primitiven und beschämenden Akt ausarten würde. Die ganze Affäre spielte den Türken in die Hände.[…] Regierungsminister dürfen keine neuartigen oder unbekannten Maßnahmen ergreifen, ohne sich zunächst mit der höchsten Ebene zu beraten. Allein die Tatsache, dass Liebemann und Ayalon überzeugt waren, sie könnten eine derart ungewöhnliche Initiative auf eigene Verantwortung und nach eigenem Ermessen ergreifen, ist Grund, sich Sorgen darüber zu machen, dass diese beiden Männer für die israelische Außenpolitik verantwortlich sind.“ Dan Margalit, IHY 14.01.10 Lieberman-style diplomacy “The humiliating meeting[…] attests to a new kind of diplomacy invented by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.[…] If next week we will see another anti-Israel TV show produced in Turkey, what will we do to the ambassador then? Ask him to crawl into the room? Beat him up? What we have seen here is causing damage to our Foreign Ministry and turning international diplomatic rules into a laughing stock. […] Those dealing with this issue in the government know of the new and declared Turkish policy, whereby good ties will not be maintained between the states as long as the peace process is not renewed. Israel should address this policy head on and decide where it wishes to turn. If we don’t like it, we can recall our ambassador to Turkey, cool off the relationship between the two states, and even close our embassy in Ankara. However, we decided not to do it. We decided that our ties are important despite what happened, and Israel must conduct itself accordingly while using the familiar tools. We cannot invent a new style of diplomacy where we abuse the Turkish ambassador and show him‘who’s the boss.’” Alon Liel, JED 13.01.10 Das Zeitalter der Selbsterniedrigung ist vorbei “Man kann die Reihe der gemeinen, frechen und verlogenen Angriffe des türkischen Premierministers gegen Israel schon kaum noch auflisten.[…] Es ist an der Zeit, die Samthandschuhe abzulegen. Man muss jetzt einfach die Wahrheit sagen: Erdogan ist der letzte, der das Recht hat, den Mund aufzumachen. Es geht hier nicht nur um die mörderische Vergangenheit der Türkei mit dem Völkermord an den Armeniern, sondern auch um die moderne Türkei,[…] die Tausende von Kurden getötet hat, die Ankara sehr viel weniger bedrohen als die Hamas Israel.[…] Was Dani Ayalon[…] mit dem türkischen Botschafter gemacht hat, war völlig richtig, nur der Zeitpunkt war falsch. Es hätte schon vor vielen Monaten passieren müsse.[…] Wir dürfen nicht länger auf unsere nationale Ehre verzichten, schon gar nicht gegenüber Erdogan, dem neuen Verbündeten von Ahmadinedschad.“ Ben-Dror Yemini, MAA 12.01.10 Who has more honor? “True, there are more respectable and efficient ways to restore national honor. But the many detractors forget that the enemies are not Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon- who admitted his mistake and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.[…] The fact that the media stood up almost unanimously to avenge the national honor of the Turks while it harshly scolded those who defended Israel's honor leaves no room for doubt: Turkey's honor is more important than their own country's.” Israel Harel, HAA 14.01.10 Facing Turkey “Now that the melodrama of insults and apologies has passed, the government of Israel should seriously tackle the challenge of its relations with Turkey- one of the most important elements of our national security. What's needed is a departure from routines, and primarily the engagement of the prime minister in managing the crisis.[…] The main assets Israel still wields in its ties with Turkey are mutual economic and security interests, the need of the Turkish ruling party to take into account the opinion of the army and pro-Israeli elements, and the country's goal of playing a central role in regional politics.[…] To take advantage of its assets, Israel has to make a concerted effort, managed by the top governmental echelon. A considerable part of the damage caused last week would have been averted if the prime minister had intervened earlier.[…] It is a difficult and complex task, whose fruits will not be immediately evident. The prime minister must place it high on his agenda.” Itamar Rabinovich, HAA 19.01.10 2

2. Erdbeben in Haiti Auch in den israelischen Medien nahm das verheerende Erdbeben in Haiti, das mehr als hunderttausend Menschen das Leben gekostet hat, einen zentralen Platz in der Berichterstattung ein. Wenige Tage nach der Katastrophe hatte Israel ein 220 Mann starkes Rettungsteam der Armee, darunter medizinisches Personal und Suchtrupps, in den Karibikstaat entsandt und ein Feldkrankenhaus in Porte-au-Prince errichtet. Neben den israelischen Hilfsbemühungen und der Frage, warum sich diese Hilfsbereitschaft nicht auf die Palästinenser erstreckt, beschäftigten sich die Medien außerdem mit der Tatsache, dass Israel wie Haiti auf einem Riss zwischen zwei tektonischen Platten liegt – aber auf ein Erdbeben von ähnlicher Stärke kaum vorbereitet ist. Now the world loves us “The IDF rescue team working tirelessly in order to save some more lives in Haiti highlights Israel’s tragedy through its members’ praiseworthy efforts. In a month or two, nobody out there will remember the good deeds of the IDF soldiers in Haiti and the mad rush to the other end of the world to offer some help.[…] The State of Israel, which at this time is saving children in the disaster zone, will go back to being the world’s bad boy. These difficult days in Haiti are also days filled with praise for Israel. Again, we are at our best.[…] At such moments we can say, without any excuses, way to go, Israel.[…] Yet soon we will go back to struggling against a world that does not like to see us at our finest hour. What a pity.” Eitan Haber, JED 20.01.10 Disaster zone, one hour from Tel Aviv “Give us an earthquake in Haiti, a tsunami in Thailand or a terror attack in Kenya, and the IDF Spokesman's Office will triumph.[…] Everyone is truly doing a wonderful job: the rescuers, searching for survivors; the physicians, saving lives; and the reporters, too, who are rightfully patting them all on the back.[…] But the remarkable identification with the victims of the terrible tragedy in distant Haiti only underscores the indifference to the ongoing suffering of the people of Gaza.[…] The disaster in Haiti is a natural one; the one in Gaza is the unproud handiwork of man. Our handiwork.[…] At True, Haiti's militias are not firing rockets at Israel. But the siege on Gaza has not stopped the Qassams from coming.[…] Despite international criticism, Israel continues to keep the gates of Gaza locked. Even the images of our excellent doctors in Haiti cannot blur our ugly face in the Strip.” Akiva Eldar, HAA 18.01.10 Gaza and Haiti “After the earthquake in Haiti, some observers say Israel has traditionally been quick to dispatch aid to natural-disaster victims in distant lands while ignoring the suffering of people much closer to its borders, namely the Palestinians in Gaza, for whose welfare it bears responsibility.[…] Yet the main culprit responsible for the Gazans' condition is Hamas[…]. For this reason, the distance between the two disaster areas is irrelevant when discussing the justness of the aid mission.[…] Israel and the Israel Defense Forces gave Gazans the option to be treated at a field hospital near the Erez crossing[…]. Who prevented this? That's right, Hamas.” Yom-Tov Samia, HAA 24.01.10 Israel to the rescue “The Israeli teams certainly didn't go out seeking glory, but their mission also constituted extraordinary public relations.[…] NBC's Nightly News ran a three-minute feature on the Israeli field hospital[…]. CBS branded the Israeli hospital the Rolls Royce’ of medical installations in Haiti. A BBC report hailed the Israeli rescue efforts.[…] Here and abroad, predictably, there were also those who accused Israel of hypocrisy over the disaster, claiming that we rush across the world to save some people while oppressing others on our own doorstep. […] But there is one thing that our Haiti rescue outreach made emphatically clear, and that the Palestinians might want to ponder: If you're in trouble and you're not trying to kill us, there's no one like the Israelis to help you out.” David Horovitz, JPO 21.01.10 Die eigenen Leute gehen vor “Es ist lobenswert, dass Israel ohne zu zögern den Menschen in Haiti zu Hilfe eilte[…]. Dennoch fällt es schwer, die Tatsache zu ignorieren, dass in Israel Hunderttausende Menschen leben, die sich keine Zahnbehandlung und keine Medikamente leisten können[…]. Eine kleinere Delegation nach Haiti 3

hätte genügt. Es darf kein Geld verschwendet werden, das in Israel fehlt.“ HZO 20.01.10 The next earthquake – in Israel? “One would assume that Israel itself would surely be primed for a similar disaster, right? Well, not exactly. […] Faulty construction and lack of proper building codes are what cause tragic loss of life, not the earthquake itself. Had the buildings in Haiti been built to modern earthquake standards, there might be no need for search and rescue. Israel's earthquake safety building code[…] only was created in 1975 and really only became standard practice in 1980. That means that the majority of buildings built before 1980 are similar to those buildings in Haiti that crumbled to the ground. […] I hope that the government will learn from the terrible tragedy in Haiti and take more meaningful action to safeguard the citizens of Israel. It must, or the next search and rescue mission might be closer to home.” Josh Ben-David, JPO 10.01.10 3. Wiederaufnahme der Friedensverhandlungen? Im Rahmen eines erneuten Versuches, die Friedensgespräche zwischen Israel und den Palästinensern anzustoßen, befindet sich George Mitchell, der amerikanische Sonderbeauftrage für den Nahen Osten, zurzeit in der Region. Erschwert wird seine Mission durch die Tatsache, dass die palästinensische Führung einen umfassenden Baustopp in den jüdischen Siedlungen im Westjordanland und in Ostjerusalem fordert, bevor sie sich zu Verhandlungen bereiterklärt. Israel hatte zwar im vergangen November einen zehnmonatigen Baustopp verfügt, weigert sich jedoch, diesen auf Ostjerusalem auszuweiten. Indes zeigte sich US-Präsident Obama wenig optimistisch. In einem Interview gab er zu, seine Fähigkeit, den Friedensprozess anzukurbeln, überschätzt zu haben. Before Netanyahu pops the champagne “The Americans are coming.[…] But without a dramatic change in both Washington's and Jerusalem's positions, talks on a final-status agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will not be relaunched even after Mitchell leaves. Much has been said about Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' imminent surrender to U.S. and Arab pressure to return to the negotiating table. But it seems both the Netanyahu and Obama administrations are missing part of the picture. Abbas is far from eager to return to final-status talks without a construction freeze in East Jerusalem.[…] In any case, Abbas' people believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a return to talks merely to win points internationally, not to reach a genuine final-status agreement.[…] Perhaps the time has come for Netanyahu to simply tell the Israeli public the truth: There will be no peace agreement with the PA without Palestinian sovereignty over East Jerusalem.” Avi Issacharoff, HAA 20.01.09 It’s time to show leadership “U.S. special envoy George Mitchell, who is coming to Israel next week, suggested in an interview with the U.S. public television network PBS that Washington might withhold loan guarantees to Israel.[…] The reality is that President Barack Obama is frustrated and that threatening winds are blowing from the White House toward Israel.[…] Mitchell's visit is extremely important for renewing the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. He may bring with him a plan that Israel will not be able to say no to without damaging American interests.[…] In the current domestic political situation Netanyahu could obtain the broadest parliamentary support in Israel's history- almost 80 Knesset members will support beginning vigorous negotiations aimed at reaching a settlement and drawing permanent borders, with the active involvement and assistance of the United States. Enough already with the shticks and the tricks, it's time to show leadership.” Yoel Marcus, HAA 12.01.10 Tough words turn into a whisper “After a year in office, Obama looks back at the Middle East with anger. From his point of view, there is in fact nobody to talk to because in the Middle East there are no brave leaders able to take bold decisions. He feels betrayed and disappointed. The problem is that the leader of the world’s greatest superpower cannot afford this kind of luxury. Instead of patronizing and whining like a pampered kid that all the efforts he invested were in vain, Obama could have pounded the table and do what the world expected him to do: Take initiative, grab 4

the refuseniks by the hair, and not let go until they say‘yes.’[…] However, Obama took the easy way out: He chose to get insulted, made a face, and turned his back on both sides.[…] PM Netanyahu has no reason to celebrate the fact that Obama is disappointed. It appears that we lost the president's attention, and possibly also his concern for our wellbeing.” Orly Azoulay, JED 23.01.10 Is Abbas ignoring Israel and eyeing Kosovo? While Israel and its Palestinian neighbors await US envoy George Mitchell's return for yet another attempt at restarting negotiations, there are more indications that Palestinian leaders are less and less interested in negotiations.[…] Abbas declared that the PA would not resume negotiations until the international community unilaterally recognized the 1949 armistice line(the 1967 borders) as the boundaries of a future Palestinian state. This was in addition to its standing precondition of a full settlement freeze, including in Jerusalem. Abbas knows Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu can't agree. The Palestinians have been looking to the Balkans for inspiration, not Israel. Specifically, Kosovo's February 2008 unilateral declaration of statehood and secession from Serbia has captured the Palestinian imagination as the model for‘Palestine.’ […] Israel has good reason to be concerned. The Palestinian unilateral Kosovo strategy demands new strategic thinking. Israel is committed to a negotiated solution but must vigorously reject Palestinian abrogation of the same principle.[…] This is the only way to avoid the‘Balkanization’ of our already dangerous neighborhood and allow for Israel's vital interests to be maintained, while attempting to reach stability and perhaps peace opposite a shrewd, sophisticated and relentless Palestinian leadership.” Dan Diker, JPO 21.01.10 4. Medienquerschnitt Die Vielfalt der in Israel relevanten Themen kann in einem Medienspiegel natürlich nicht umfassend wiedergegeben werden. Um den deutschen Leser/innen dennoch einen Einblick in das große Themenspektrum, das in den Medien behandelt wird, zu gewähren, veröffentlichen wir in dieser Schlaglichtausgabe wieder eine kleine Auswahl an weiteren Themen, die in den letzten Wochen die israelische Gesellschaft bewegten. Über den Plan, einen Sicherheitszaun entlang der Grenze zu Ägypten zu bauen, und Premierminister Netanyahus Kommentar, es gebe keine andere Möglichkeit, als Israel von allen Seiten einzuzäunen: The first Hebrew ghetto “’Eventually, there will be no choice but to fence Israel in on all directions,’[…] Netanyahu said[…]. A fortified island, armed to the teeth, surrounded by minefields and fences, high cement walls, and suspicion.[…] The prime minister does not justify the walls and barbed wire and minefields by referring to fears of terrorists and invaders. Rather, he is talking about another fear.‘Israel is the only First World state that can be reached by foot from the Third World and from Africa,’ he says.‘Should we fail to fence ourselves in, Israel will be flooded by hundreds of thousands of foreign workers and illegal aliens.’[…] Netanyahu fears peace no less than he fears war. Peace is indeed a dream, but it seems to be a nightmare for him. Netanyahu is mentally unable to think of our neighbors in positive terms.[…] We only happened to get stuck in the Middle East. Our neighbors understand this message well – we’re not from around here. Yet if you’re not from here, they ask, what exactly are you doing here? We don’t like to hear it. After all, we reach out for peace. Across the fence.” Aviad Kleinberg, JED 14.01.10 Blocking the latest exodus from Egypt “Despite a raging smuggling industry, acute concerns over exposure to terrorism, and a huge influx of illegal would-be workers, Israel's 266kilometer southwestern border with Egypt[…] is astonishingly porous.[…] The white slave trade may have declined somewhat in recent years; prostitutes and those who dispatch them may have found less arduous access routes. But the terror threat, with Hamas assiduously rearming in Gaza, has rarely been more acute. And the influx of illegals is simply unprecedented.[…] The big talk and no action[…] is at least partly a function of Israel's relentless defense needs.[…] It won't be long before we discover whether there is substance, this time, behind the promises of an Egyptian border fence. The government has declared that the work, to be completed over two years, will begin within two weeks. We shall see. Or, more likely, not.” David Horovitz, JPO 15.01.10 5

Über den geplanten Auschwitzbesuch des arabischen Abgeordneten Mohammed Barakeh im Rahmen einer israelischen Knessetdelegation: Have a safe trip, Mohammed “Barakeh[…] can offer a possible bridge between the Jewish and Palestinian narratives.[…] Barakeh says that we need not compare the Holocaust with the Palestinians' tragic history, but he believes Arabs and Jews must understand the significance the events have for each population. He is taking a courageous step toward helping both sides confront traditional stereotypical conceptions of each other. A photo of Barakeh looking at the remnants of the place where so many Jews were murdered, and his expressions of empathy, should have a touching impact on Jewish souls.[…] Today, Arab MKs are not considered legitimate partners for a government coalition. Maybe that taboo can be broken. Maybe now, Barakeh and his Arab peers in the Knesset will gain more legitimacy and access to the Hebrew media. Maybe now, Arab MKs will start talking to the Jewish community, and maybe that community will begin to listen.” Mohammed Darawshe, HAA 22.01.10 Gut oder schlecht für die Juden? “Barakeh ist nicht der erste arabische Abgeordnete, der Auschwitz besucht, aber jetzt, da die Wiederaufnahme der Verhandlungen zwischen Israel und den Palästinensern wieder einmal aktuell ist, sollte Barakeh den Mut aufbringen und die Leiter des palästinensischen Schulsystems dazu aufrufen, dieses wichtige Ereignis in der Geschichte der Völker zu lernen und zu lehren.[…] Man kann ihm natürlich nicht vorschreiben, was er nach seiner Fahrt nach Auschwitz tun und sagen soll, aber man kann es sich wenigstens wünschen. Es wäre schade, wenn von seinem Marsch von Auschwitz nach Birkenau nur eine Fotografie zurückbliebe, so bewegend diese auch sein mag.“ Jakob Achimeir, IHY 14.01.10 Über die Affäre um Sara Netanyahu, die Frau des Premierministers, die beschuldigt wird, eine Angestellte misshandelt zu haben: Bibi, wake up! “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a significant brouhaha over the housekeeper his wife employed. First, there's the image issue: The suit filed by Lillian Peretz and the furious response from the Prime Minister's Bureau have destroyed the ‘New Bibi’ brand[…]. The media's preoccupation with Sara Netanyahu's behavior, and her husband's countercharges about media persecution, marked the epitome of the‘Old Bibi’- from his last term as premier.[…] The negative stereotypes are returning: mistreatment of employees, attempted cover-ups, stinginess, hurting the poor. Regardless of whether such allegations are accurate or exaggerated, they tend to stick, even if the courts later throw out the lawsuits.[…] The preoccupation with Peretz signifies the end of the calm Netanyahu has enjoyed since returning to power.[…] In the absence of any initiative or significant action, Netanyahu's agenda has been devoted to trivialities.[…] The headlines about his state visit to Germany dealt with his housekeeper. […] Only a display of leadership, of seizing initiative, can extricate the prime minister from this corner.[…] The‘housekeeper scandal’ gives him an opportunity to reboot his second chance in office. Peretz may yet wind up being more effective than Obama in finally getting Netanyahu to move.” Aluf Benn, HAA 20.01.10 HAA= Haaretz HZO= Ha Tzofe IHY= Israeli HaYom JED= Jedioth Ahronoth JPO= Jerusalem Post MAA= Maariv Die Artikel aus HZO, MAA und Medienspiegel der Deutschen entnommen. IHY wurden dem Botschaft Israel Veröffentlicht im: Januar 2010 Verantwortlich: Dr. Ralf Hexel, Leiter der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel Redaktion: Maike Harel Anita Haviv Homepage: www.fes.org.il Email: fes@fes.org.il 6