Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 11/1 1 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 30. Mai- 13. Juni 2011 1."Naksa"-Tag Palästinensische Aktivisten in mehreren arabischen Ländern riefen am 5. Juni zu Protestaktionen auf, um an die"Naksa"(arabisch:"Rückschlag“) zu erinnern, den Sieg Israels im Sechstagekrieg und die damit verbundene Besatzung des Westjordanlands, des Gazastreifens und der Golanhöhen. Wie drei Wochen zuvor, am„ Nakba-Tag“(Tag der Staatsgründung Israels), riefen Palästinenser zum Marsch auf die Grenzen Israels auf. Während es an den Grenzen zum Gazastreifen, und zum Libanon ruhig blieb, versuchten hunderte syrische Palästinenser die Grenze auf dem Golan zu überqueren. Was einigen Palästinensern vor drei Wochen gelungen war, wurde nun jedoch von der israelischen Armee verhindert. Während ein Armeesprecher angab, dass Soldaten zunächst nicht-tödliche Waffen eingesetzt und später nur auf die Beine der Protestler geschossen hätten, kamen nach syrischen Angaben 19 Menschen ums Leben, davon mindestens zwei durch Schüsse. Auch in der Westbank marschierten Palästinenser auf den Checkpoint Qalandia. In den israelischen Medien wurde insbesondere die Frage diskutiert, wie mit unbewaffneten Demonstranten vor Israels Grenzen umzugehen sei. A matter of survival "There is nothing innocent about the mass assaults we have recently witnessed on Israel's frontiers. Even if the m obs[…] had[…] been genuinely no nviolent[…]- it would make no difference. In Clausewitzian terms, this invasion is war by other means, calculated to destroy the State of Israel, and must be resisted as such." Amiel Ungar, HAA 10.06.11 IDF must not shoot unarmed people " Here’s a tip on how to deal with these unarmed Palestinians in Syria(or elsewhere) racing fearlessly in broad daylight at our well-defended borders: We should stop killing them.[…] I’m not saying we should let them come in freely. I don’t think Palesti nians or their descendants have the'right of return,' so I think Israel has the right to stop them. We should use any non-lethal, noncrippling methods necessary.[…] But you don’t deliberately shoot unarmed people." Larry Derfner, JPO 08.06.11 The age of the sniper "It's easy to identify the effort to divert attention from the lost legitimacy of Syria's minority Alawite government, and instead to try to undermine the legitimacy of Israel on the anniversary of the start of the Six-Day War, Naksa Day. The troubling question is: Why did Israel cooperate with this Syrian equation so obediently?[…] The Israeli response, which included live fire on demonstrators trying to cross the border[…] played right into Palestinian hands, providing the world with the longed- for images of killing and expulsion.[…] It isn't clear why weeks of preparation ended this way, and what the Israeli satisfaction with the results is all about.[…] Is the only message from our leaders with the analytical minds is that the brain is an obsolete organ, and if force doesn't work, use more force?" Aner Shalev, HAA 07.06.11 Guess what: Our enemies lie "On Sunday, the claims of 20-plus deaths are not borne out by any independently verifiable information.[…] There is every likelihood that the numbers were deliberately inflated by the Assad regime.[…] The false reporting of death tolls, and Israel’s unf athomable failure to confront the phenomenon, dogged Israel throughout the second intifada.[…] In short, guess what: Our enemies lie.[…] The IDF needs to take the lead in telling the world about it – in detail, in real time. If it continues to leave the field 1

clear for its enemies to lie to the world about what is unfolding, this'Arab spring' is going to turn into a long, hot summer." David Horovitz, JPO 10.06.11 Israel, the masses are coming "At this time, the IDF does not possess a modern, proper means characterized as a'non-lethal weapon' that can contend with mass riots by unarmed civilians.[…] W hat we’ve seen thus far is crimin al neglect. We saw it with the Turkish flotilla.[…] Meanwhile, the world holds greater sympathy for popular uprisings. For that reason, we shall see more flotillas as well as more marches to our borders, and the IDF won’t know what to do." Alex Fishman, JED 09.06.11 Israel needs northern wall "Israel’s current borders are long and tortuous.[…] They are not built to stop a mass wave of Palestinian'martyrs' determined to commit suicide.[…] Israel has no choice but to erect an actual wall.[…] We must present only two arguments. First, the great success of the existing wall in stopping terror attacks and infiltrations, and the simple fact that building the wall will be the only way to prevent images of massacres that Israel cannot withstand." Yosef Argaman , JED 06.06.11 Anatomy of Arab failure "The minor coverage by Arab media and the relative ly low number of participants[…] attest to the failure of'Naksa Day.' The Syrian regime also failed in its efforts to divert local and global public opinion away from the Syria uprising.[…] Israel’s decisive response[on Nakba Day] and the warnings issued by senior political and military leaders in recent days minimized the hopes for another significant achievement like the Majdal Shams border breach.[…] Authori ties in Lebanon, Gaza, the Palestinian Authority and apparently Syria as well did everything they could to prevent mass events that could spin out of control and mix them up in a major, direct confrontation with Israel." Ron Ben-Yishai, JED 05.06.11 Whose Naksa is this anyway? "Whatever other reasons the Moslem countries may have had for attacking Israel,'liberating Palestine' was most emphatically not their motive. The fact is that when Jordan occupied Judea and Samaria, and Egypt the Gaza region, they never gave the 'Palestinians' so much as a single square nanometre.[…] One wonders, then, how the'Palestinians' can claim that the Six Day War was a naksa […] for them. Israel’s crushing victory over the Arabs in 1967 was the best thing that has ever happened to the Palestinians; not merely because Israel has been the only country ever to grant them any political self-rule, the only country ever to offer them a state of their own. But also because without the Arabs’ defeat, the 'Palestinian' nation would never have been created." Daniel Pinner, AS 07.06.11 Naksa violence shows Assad desperate "The obvious aim was to stage an attentiongrabbing media spectacular.[…] There could only be one credible explanation: The entire event was well-organized in advance with sanction from above. But the biggest giveaway was that the anti-Israel marchers – who are meant to be Palestinians – made it a point to loudly chant their avid, undying support for Assad.[…] Assad would like nothing more than to have the international community focus on casualties ostensibly inflicted by Israel rather than on what he is doing to his own populace." JPO 08.06.11 Editorial 2. Kontroverse um DaganKommentare In einer öffentlichen Konferenz an der Universität Tel Aviv hat der ehemalige Direktor des israelischen Geheimdienstes Mossad die israelische Regierung und insbesondere Premierminister Benjamin Netanyahu und Verteidigungsminister Ehud Barak scharf kritisiert. Meir Dagan, der seinen Posten erst kürzlich nach acht Jahren niedergelegt hatte, betonte seine Sorge hinsichtlich der palästinensischen Pläne, im September die UN um Anerkennung als Staat zu ersuchen. Dabei richteten sich seine Befürchtungen jedoch in erster Linie auf die israelische Regierung, die – durch eine UN-Anerkennung isoliert und in die Enge gedrängt – einen Angriff auf den Iran starten könne. Er empfahl der Regierung deswegen die Anerkennung eines palästinensischen Staates in provisorischen Grenzen und drückte seine Unterstützung für die saudische Friedensinitiative aus. Vertraute von Netanyahu ließen verlautbaren, bei den Ausführungen handele es sich um ein politisches Komplott. Auch Ehud Barak kritisierte Dagan, der der Abschreckungskraft Israels sehr geschadet habe. 2

Let Dagan speak "If anyone seems motivated by narrow politics it is Dagan’s critics. One might disagree with him polit ically, but what damage to state security can Dagan have possibly caused by publicly expressing support for the Saudi initiative or voicing concern over the ramifications of a UN declaration come September? Understandably, Netanyahu and Barak are not thrilled that they have been singled out for criticism by the respected former Mossad chief. But to try to silence Dagan with the claim that he is'sabotaging democratic institutions' is itself hardly the most democratic act.[…] If Dagan’s critics think his analysis is wrong they should explain why." JPO 05.06.11 Editorial Dagan was right to speak " Even if[…] Dagan asked for another year in office and was rejected – as certain ministers claim – this does not annul the substance of the words he uttered, and more than that, does not annul the need to say those things.[…] It’s important for us to know that behind the scenes too there is a great debate about existential questions, and that among decision makers too – and not only on the Israeli street – there are fundamental disagreements in respect to the possible solutions." Ariella Ringel Hoffman, JED 08.06.11 Dagan should keep quiet "The words uttered by Dagan publicly last week are grave and must be condemned.[…] Dagan is not permitted to say what media commentators are allowed to say. The aim of Israel’s a mbiguity policy – which Dagan was a party to – is to create the impression that everything is on the table. The rest should take place behind closed doors and not in front of the cameras." Yoaz Hendel, JED 07.06.11 What Dagan knows "Some[...] fear that Dagan's comments may undermine the Israeli effort to bring about effective international action against Iran. Without real Iranian concern over the possibility an Israeli raid and without an understanding in the West that Israel may go berserk, a positive outcome seems unlikely.[…] The suggestion that Barak and Netanyahu might try to avert the looming crisis over the September declaration of independence by attacking Iran sounds like an exaggerated conspiracy theory.[…] If Dagan, as he appears to imply, indeed had opportunities to observe Netanyahu and Barak's lack of judgment up close, then the current dispute is no longer theoretical but quite practical. Voicing polite protest in closed forums is not sufficient, if this is the case. For this reason, it is no wonder that Dagan chose to ring the bells loudly." Amos Harel, HAA 05.06.11 Shush! Look who’s talking! So what made him suddenly speak out, again and again?[…] Did he look ahead in his empty diary and decide that he needed to do something with the rest of his life, and – in a route traveled by many before him – choose to pave the way for a political career? […] In Israel, the fast track from the military and security services to the dirty business of politics is almost the norm. Dagan has the right to speak out – even the duty, if he believes the situation is so dire – but there is a time and a place, and an appropriate manner." Liat Collins, JPO 12.06.11 Thank You, Meir Dagan "Is it'ok' for the Mossad chief to speak publicly after his resignation, and voice his sincere opinions on fateful issues facing the State of Israel? Ok or not ok – who cares? When a person notices a fire, he or she must shout to alert others, even if that interrupts a celebratory concert. All the more so on the Titanic. While it is impolite to disturb the musicians, it certainly isn't the time to discuss manners." Yoel Esteron, JED 11.06.11 In praise of the prattlers "There is no clearer symptom of the sickly state of public discourse in Israel than efforts at silencing Dagan, as well as the smears now directed at him. […] Those great patriots who are currently calling on him for security reasons to shut his mouth are endangering Israel much more than all his warnings. Dagan has not disclosed a single state secret. He has simply voiced his tough assessment." Gideon Levy, HAA 05.06.11 Dagan's questionable judgment "A prevailing opinion is that Dagan has a covert interest[…] in positioning himself in the'correct' polit ical place, by bringing the Saudi initiative, for example, back from the dead.[…] But those who created the uproar misjudged the maturity of the public, which understood that this was an artificial tempest, full of political and personal 3

interests. And if there were worrisome elements in Dagan's words- and there were- the subjective, cheap and sensational way they were presented led to suspicious counter-reactions. And not, as those promoting the event(which also had elements of preaching for a putsch) had hoped: mass chain reactions as in Tunisia and Tahrir Square, which would cause the downfall of the government." Israel Harel, HAA 09.06.11 3. Jerusalemtag 1968 erklärte die israelische Regierung den 28. Iyar des hebräischen Kalenders(dieses Jahr der 1. Juni) zu einem neuen Nationalfeiertag – dem Jerusalemtag, an dem an die Eroberung und Wiedervereinigung Jerusalems durch israelische Truppen im Sechstagekrieg von 1967 erinnert wird. Der Tag, der auch als religiöser Feiertag und Erfüllung eines 2000 Jahre alten Traumes gilt, wird traditionell mit Zeremonien und Kundgebungen sowie einem Marsch durch Jerusalem begangen. Auch in diesem Jahr nahmen zehntausende jüdische Israelis – vornehmlich aus dem national-religiösen Lager – daran teil. Dabei kam es vereinzelt zu Ausschreitungen, bei denen jugendliche Marschteilnehmer bei dem Gang durch arabische Viertel die Anwohner beschimpften und Steine warfen, was von Palästinensern mit gleicher Münze heimgezahlt wurde. Der Jerusalemtag bietet in den Medien jedes Jahr Anlass, den Status Jerusalems und seine Zukunft zu reflektieren. Not without Jerusalem "On May 12, 1948, before David Ben-Gurion read the Israeli Declaration of Independence[…] not one […] anywhere in that newly born country, would have envisioned owning all of Jerusalem.[…] At best, they thought, it would wind up under UN jurisdiction. At worst, it would fall into the hands of the Arabs, who would in all likelihood deny Jews access. Indeed, by the end of the 1948 war, when the smoke had cleared, Jerusalem was still not under Israeli control. Nonetheless, Jews still dreamed of Jerusalem. Their eyes still looked towards Zion. The city where David camped was still in their hearts. And, in 1967, against all odds, we claimed our birthright.[…] B ecause it is impossible to fulfill the Zionist dream without our Golden Jerusalem." Ariella Gottesman, JED 01.06.11 Obscenities as words of Torah "Jerusalem Day: Not a handful, but hundreds of young people high on hard-core nationalism wave blue-and- white flags[…]. 'Death to the Arabs, death to the leftists,' they chanted.'The Temple will be rebuilt, the mosque will be destroyed.''Kahane lives, Mohammed is dead.' […] Thus they elevate Jerusalem as their chief sin." Yossi Sarid, HAA 07.06.11 To be a Jerusalemite is to be proud "Jerusalem Day has always been a day of celebration for me. It’s a day that reminds me time and again just how special this city is and how lucky we are to live in it. It’s a city full of almost impossible contradictions that make it the most unique in the world.[…] It is on a path to success. The spirit of change has attracted masses of people, tourists and visitors of all ages, more so than ever before. No less important is the residents’ improved quality of life.[…] I have no doubt that our efforts on all these fronts will bring about significant economic growth and help reduce poverty in the city. Jerusalem is lucky. It has residents who love it wholeheartedly and who wish it well." Nir Barkat, JPO 31.05.11 Let us pray on Temple Mount "There is no longer any genuine obstacle preventing us from connecting to the site of our Temple.[…] For 44 years now, police officers have been deployed at the entrance to Temple Mount; their mission is not only to prevent the construction of the Temple, but even mere Jewish prayer. Only Muslims are allowed to express their religious feelings there.[…] On the occasion of Jerusalem Day let’s all pray, outside the Mount for the time being, that this discrimination will end by the next Jerusalem Day." Hagai Segal, JED 01.06.11 I want Jerusalem passport "The city’s demographic and geographic makeup makes the miss ion of dividing it impossible.[…] We need to create a precedent and to that end we need leaderships that possess great powers of imagination on both sides to overcome prejudice, political perceptions, faiths and ideologies – in order to establish a special city that has no equal in the world. Jerusalem should be the joint capital of two states – Israel and Palestine.[…] 4

City residents will be Israeli or Palestinian and hold Israeli or Palestinian passports, yet at the same time they will have a unique passport – that of the Jerusalem Authority. I’m sure that if I get two such passports, I’ll be d elighted to use both of them, and especially the Jerusalem passport that will have no equal in the world." Hanan Naveh, JED 01.06.11 From residents to prisoners "The Interior Ministry has made it a policy, since the city's reunification in 1967, to try to block the return home of people who[…] were born in Jerusalem, but who have relocated elsewhere, temporarily or permanently.[…] Palestinians born in East Jeru salem[…] are in fact non- citizens[…]. Unlike other people with permanent residency status, they did not choose to relocate here but rather were born into an area that was annexed to Israel.[…] The residency status, though it allows them to remain in their homes, in effect turns them into prisoners who are not allowed to freely leave their small corner of the world.[…] For many Jews, June 5, 1967, marks the breaking of the walls and barriers that for two decades made West Jerusalem a small and isolated capital. Four decades later, however, the walls of the legal ghetto imposed upon a third of the city's residents are only getting higher." Ronit Sela, HAA 03.06.11 Obama, Jerusalem Day is no joke "Jerusalem Day commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City(including the Western Wall) during the Six Day War in June 1967.[…] As wonderful as Jerusalem Day is,'Jerusalem Day' has become just that- a day for Jerusalem. Unfortunately, outside the capital this important day goes by virtually unnoticed.[…] So what can be done to raise Jerusalem awareness? Well, efforts are now being made to organize trips to Jerusalem[…] for all Israeli schools. This is certainly a step in the right direction. But perhaps we owe a'debt of gratitude' to President Obama for mentioning the 1967 lines. Had he not said what he said, it is doubtful that Prime Minister Netanyahu would have so strongly defended his own position that returning to the 1967 was not an option. In an unexpected way, Obama and Netanyahu brought about some major awareness about 1967, which is what Jerusalem Day is all about." Yonatan Sredni, AS 31.05.11 The city that was frozen together " When Netanyahu surrendered to[…] Obama's di ctate for a construct ion freeze he[…] said defiantly: Jerusalem is not a settlement. There will be no freeze there. However, on the ground in greater Jerusalem[…] the construction halt is almost total […]. Netanyahu[…] must immediately permit constru ction.[…] Official Jerusalem is well aware of what has to be done in order to fulfill the promises made over the years, by governments of both the right and the left, that the united city will remain the capital of Israel for eternity.[…] In order to increase the number of Jews we must build extensively.[…] Massive and fearless construction in those areas will also strip of content any United Nations recognition of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." Israel Harel, HAA 02.06.11 4. Medienquerschnitt Die Vielfalt der in Israel relevanten Themen kann in einem Medienspiegel nicht umfassend wiedergegeben werden. Um den deutschen LeserInnen dennoch einen Einblick in das breite Themenspektrum, das in den Medien behandelt wird, zu gewähren, veröffentlichen wir in dieser Schlaglichtausgabe wieder eine kleine Auswahl an weiteren Themen, die in den vergangenen zwei Wochen die israelische Gesellschaft bewegten. Über eine französische Friedensinitiative , die Palästinenser und Israelis wieder an den Verhandlungstisch bringen soll: Another opportunity to miss "France has placed an offer on the desk of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Begin direct negotiations with the Palestinians in September, on the basis of the Obama plan.[…] It opposes unilateral steps by either side- that is, both the expansion of Israeli settlements and the Palestinians' intention of seeking UN recognition for their state. This is a worthy proposal mainly because it can jump-start dialogue[…] and assuage[…] Netanyahu's concern over the internationalization of the conflict.[…] Abbas has accepted the proposal.[…] It will be interesting to see what pretexts Netanyahu uses this time to strike down the proposal, whose whole purpose is to bring the parties back to the negotiating table.[…] What will Israel claim in its 5

defense if it turns down even an invitation to negotiate?" HAA 06.06.11 Editorial The French connection "What was supposed to be a slam-dunk at the UN turned out to be a blocked shot thanks to the[…] intense personal lobbying by the American president. Joseph Deiss, the Swiss diplomat who is currently president of the General Assembly, declared that General Assembly action requires approval of the Security Council – where an American veto is almost certain. […] The French are offering Abbas a chance to say he got the negotiations he demanded. But Netanyahu is apparently unwilling to cooperate, even though he is no longer being asked to freeze any settlement construction or make any advance concessions. [...] Many will interpre t Netanyahu’s rejection as one more missed opportunity. It could solidify support for a rarely used UN strategy to bypass the Security Council and bring wavering countries – like Britain and France – into the Palestinian column, leaving the United States once again isolated, a challenge for its international influence." Douglas M. Bloomfield, JPO 08.06.11 Über eine Bildungsreform , die Lehrergehälter erhöhen und mehr Zeit für individuelle Betreuung zur Verfügung stellen soll, sowie den widerrufenen Plan, die Sommerferien zu kürzen: The prospect for change in education "The agreement signed Sunday in Jerusalem by the government and the Secondary School Teachers Association on a comprehensive reform of the high school education system is a first step in improving the state of education in Israel.[…] It is unfortunate that it took the government about 10 years, dealing with a reform program implemented on a limited basis in a few schools, to understand that spending on education is an investment for the future. The understanding that the education and finance ministries reached with the teachers' union[…] i mproves the pay scale of teaching staff through a generous increase of about 50 percent.[…] Another component[…] is that it provides teachers the o pportunity to work with students, whether weak or strong, in small gr oups.[…] Changes in education take time, however, and are implemented gradually. The politicians would do well to let educators fully implement the reform plan over time and free of outside pressure." HAA, 31.05.11 Editorial Shorter break doesn’t mean more learning "The entire discussion[…] may altogether miss the most important points about educational reform.[…] There are many reasons why Israeli schools are becoming less and less effective at educating[…]. The primary reason is that most schools spend a disproportionate amount of time doing discipline instead of education[…], on telling students to be quiet, on punishments, on disciplinary meetings and phone calls to parents.[…] The real reform that Israeli schools need is not in bureaucratic structures and decisions, but in teaching methods[…]. Issues such as teacher-student relationships, promoting mutual respect, active listening, differentiated instruction, effective discussions and more[…]. These are fundamental mi stakes, and overwhelm the school system. The Ministry of Education should be less focused on how many hours of teaching take place, when and where, and more focused on what actually happens during those hours." Elana Sztokman, JPO 05.06.11 HAA= Haaretz JED= Jedioth Ahronoth JPO= Jerusalem Post AS= Arutz Sheva Veröffentlicht: 15. Juni 2011 Verantwortlich: Dr. Ralf Hexel, Leiter der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel Redaktion: Maike Harel Helene Kortländer Homepage: www.fes.org.il Email: fes@fes.org.il 6