Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 20/11 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 30. Oktober – 13. November 2011 1. Irans Atomprogramm Im kürzlich veröffentlichten Bericht der Internationalen Atomenergiebehörde IAEA wurde erstmals festgestellt, dass das iranische Atomprogramm entgegen der Aussagen des Regimes in Teheran auf den Bau von Nuklearwaffen ausgerichtet ist. Während die USA und die EU-Staaten nun schärfere Sanktionen einleiten wollen, werden diese im UNSicherheitsrat weiterhin von Russland und China abgelehnt. Zugleich gibt es in Israel eine intensive öffentliche Diskussion über das Für und Wider eines Militärschlages zur Zerstörung iranischer Nuklearanlagen. Und es hat in den letzten Wochen mehrere Militärübungen gegeben. Während der ehemalige Mossad-Chef Meir Dagan vor einem Angriff warnte, veröffentlichten verschiedene Medien Gerüchte, denen zufolge Premierminister Benjamin Netanyahu und Verteidigungsminister Ehud Barak eine Abstimmung über einen Angriff auf den Iran im Regierungskabinett planen. Dennoch bewerten die meisten Kommentatoren das Säbelrasseln der israelischen Regierung vor allem als die Bemühung, die USA und andere Staaten zu konsequenterem Handeln gegenüber dem Iran zu bewegen. Western World has failed "The information published by the International Atomic Energy Agency Tuesday has been known to Western intelligence agencies for at least two years. […] Iran has the capabilities to produce nuclear weapons independently, without relying on any outside source. […] The immediate lesson is this: Western civilization has failed to counter[…] Iran. When a dictatorial state of Iran’s scope seeks to acquire nuclear we apons, it turns out that no moderate diplomatic or economic pressure can stop it.[…] Israel’s only hope is that the report’s publication and Jerusalem’s threats to strike would(maybe) prompt the US and Europeans will show more vigor in weakening the Iranian regime, even without the Security Council." Alex Fishman, JED 09.11.11 Waiting out Obama " Israel probably lacks the ability to completely destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities on its own.[…] Most importantly, give n the likelihood that Iran’s proxies would launch a new round of aggression against Israel in response to a strike on its nuclear installations, Israel would be beset by a multi-front war[…]. Against this backdrop, it makes sense to assume that reports of current Israeli preparations for a strike against Iran are less indications of an imminent strike than an Israeli attempt to send messages to two target audiences. First, Israel is signaling Iran that it has the capacity to strike its nuclear installations. Second, Israel is signaling the Obama administration that it is time for Washington to get serious about preparing a military operation to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, lest Israel be forced to act on its own. " Caroline Glick, JPO 07.11.11 Say'yes' to Iran strike "We must think a thousand times, ask tough questions and weigh all issues[…] yet at the end of the day we must aim to give this green light, because nobody else will be doing the job for us. […] I t is indeed a dangerous maneuver. As one who raises children here[…], I’m scared to death. Ho wever, we proved in the past already that we know how to extinguish fires. Ultimately, nuclear arms in Iranian hands jeopardize my children to a much greater extent." Amos Shavit, JED 01.11.11 Don't bomb Iran "Time isn’t right. The strategic stakes are too high, the regional constellation is too explosive, and Israel’s current leaders lack the moral license with 1

which to embark on this mother of all adventures. […] Now anyone who follows Iran knows that in its cities millions have long lost all respect for the mullahs and their baggage, and that the economic crisis in Iran is harsh. With patience, we will live to see the ayatollahs removed by the people, and their successors embrace with relish anything that to the clerics was anathema, from Israel to bikinis." Amotz Asa-El, JPO 04.11.11 Israel's reckless duo "The growing reports about the possibility that our prime minister and defense minister have already decided that Israel shall attack Iran’s nuclear sites must bother any Israeli citizen.[…] Netanyahu[…] blatantly disregards int ernational help. Even the leaders of the United States and Germany, the friendliest countries to Israel, lost their trust in him. For Netanyahu, building a few more housing units in a settlement[…] is more important than securing the support of friendly powers for a risky military move whose chances of failing without such support are very high.[…] And if this is the kind of judgment he shows when weighing a fateful military move, which Israel’s top defense officials don’t support, there is no escaping the conclusion that Netanyahu too lacks judgment and is reckless." Uri Bar-Yosef, JED 07.11.11 The other Iranian option "Entirely missing from the discussion are alternatives to either a military option or increased international political and economic sanctions. Specifically, Israelis seem not to want to consider the'radical' idea of denuclearizing the Middle East as a strategy for preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. […] Because Israeli nuclear policy is based upon 'ambiguity,' the assumption here seems to be that the world around us will ignore Israel's nuclear program, and focus only on Iran's. This won't work.[…] If there is no progress on p otential denuclearization of the Middle East, the nonproliferation treaty may collapse, creating international nuclear chaos. And in our interdependent world, Israel will not be allowed to simply stand aside." Hillel Schenker, HAA 11.11.11 An irresponsible debate " There are state secrets, and[...] there are some subjects over which it is not correct to hold a'public debate.'[…] So why the hell[…] do some of our media outlets[...] dare initiate a'public debate' on an issue so secret, so important, so existential, as the question of whether we need, or do not need, to attack Iran in order to prevent it from arming itself and using nuclear weapons against Israel? In whose name, and in the name of what, do journalists lacking any knowledge roll their eyes and decisively assert that two crazed people[…] are leading us toward destruction? What do they know, these selfappointed experts, that could lend their claims any special weight regarding such a weighty subject?" Amos Regev, IHY 02.11.11 A new nuclear reaction "If, in the past, there was a tacit agreement that subjects of this matter were not amenable to public discussion- and the military censors, aided by the media, enforced this silence- Israel today refuses to heed this old code. It appears that even the military censors refuse to enforce the disciplined silence. Unlike the past, Israel's public refuses to relay existential keys to'just two persons,' or even an inner cabinet of eight ministers. This in itself is a positive, and stunningly unprecedented, development, and it adds another restraint to a fragile system of checks and balances." Avner Cohen, HAA 13.11.11 2. Gaza und der Islamische Jihad Zwischen militanten Palästinensern im Gazastreifen und der israelischen Armee ist es einmal mehr zur Eskalation gekommen. Begonnen hatte die Gewalt Ende Oktober mit dem Abschuss einer Grad-Rakete auf israelisches Territorium. Daraufhin bombardierte die israelische Luftwaffe einen Stützpunkt der verantwortlichen Gruppe und tötete fünf Palästinenser. Im Gegenzug wurden weitere Raketen auf Israel abgefeuert, wobei ein israelischer Zivilist ums Leben kam. Erst unter ägyptischer Vermittlung konnten die beiden Seiten einige Tage später zum Waffenstillstand bewegt werden. Für den Raketenbeschuss aus Gaza erklärte sich der Islamische Jihad verantwortlich, der von israelischen Kommentatoren als"extremistischer" als die im Gazastreifen herrschende Hamas eingestuft wird. In den Medien wurde die Eskalation dementsprechend in erster Linie als Machtdemonstration gegenüber der Hamas interpretiert. 2

Defense isn't enough "We are not talking about an'escalation'[…], but rather[…] a terrorist rocket war.[…] These rockets cannot quite threaten Israel's existence, but they do kill, maim and disrupt the daily lives of Israeli civilians, and sow fear.[…] Defense alone cannot win.[…] We must take control of areas in the Gaza Strip and establish security zones, to distance the rocket threats from Israel and facilitate better interception to protect cities and communities in the south. We do not need to reoccupy Gaza, but if the battle leads to a wider campaign, to Operation Cast Lead 2, we will need to'go all the way' by toppling the Hamas regime. Hamas is not part of the solution- it is the problem." Uzi Dayan, IHY 30.10.11 End the Gaza blockade "Long years of the blockade of Gaza and the boycott of Hamas, as well as Operation Cast Lead, have not led to quiet for the inhabitants of the south. At the same time, the isolation of the Gaza Strip has augmented the international isolation of Israel and has contributed to a profound crisis in relations with Turkey.[…] The time has come for the government of Israel to reexamine the Gaza blockade policy, the total boycott of Hamas, the assassinations and the aerial attacks. The Shalit deal shows that even though the Hamas ideology does not enable it to recognize Israel's existence or contribute to negotiating a solution to the Israeli-Palestinians conflict- with Egypt's help, the organization can be an interlocutor which will help to manage it in nonviolent ways." HAA 31.10.11 Editorial Israel must topple Hamas "Netanyahu once said that the key to deterrence is that the response or perceived response to a terrorist attack must be disproportional to the terrorist attack itself.[…] Hamas, Egypt and Israel recently set a certain standard for proportionality. The freedom of one Israeli hostage was agreed by the sides to be proportional to the release of 1’027 Palestinian prisoners. Can a proportional response to Palestinian terror be formulated in a similar manner?[…] Moshe Ami of Ashkelon, a father of four, was killed on Saturday by a Palestinian Grad rocket as he was driving home from work. The principle of proportionality does not necessarily call for 1‘027 Palestinian fatalities in return. However, Israel’s government is obliged to do whatever is needed to provide its citizens the security they are entitled to. Nothing short of removing Hamas from power will achieve that legitimate goal." Ophir Falk, JED 02.11.11 Iran's and Israel's southern front "The Palestinian organization behind the attacks was Islamic Jihad.[…] The Islamic Jihad is a very different organization than Hamas. Shakaki, its main founder was disillusioned with the Muslim Brotherhood, the parent organization of Hamas. Instead he looked to Ayatollah Khomeini.[…] Over the last decade, Islamic Jihad emerged as the most reliable instrument that Iran could use when it wanted to destabilize the situation between Israel and the Palestinians. Today, Tehran's interests in promoting a military conflict between Israel and the Palestinians are multiple. First, Iran's priority is to save Bashar Assad's regime in Syria. Television pictures of IsraeliPalestinian exchanges of fire provide a useful distraction from[…] the systematic slaughter of Sunni Arabs in Syria.[…] Islamic Jihad is a better instrument for Iran than Hamas, whose interests differ from those of Tehran." Dore Gold, IHY 06.11.11 The Islamic Jihad threat "Israel and its citizens are merely a means used by the Jihad to demonstrate that it has become a major player in the Gaza theater; a player that as of late accumulated[…] military power that is equal to – and in some cases greater than – Hamas’ military capabilities.[…] The group intends to utilize this power in order to challenge Hamas and force it to continue the armed struggle against Israel.[…] The Jih ad is concerned that[…], Hamas would maintain a lull in fighting that would allow it to reinforce its rule, build up its military power, reconcile with Mahmoud Abbas and nurture its ties with the new regime in Egypt. Through its attacks on Israel, the Islamic Jihad leadership aims to prevent this development and set the future agenda in the Strip." Ron Ben-Yishai, JED 30.10.11 How Islamic Jihad is becoming a threat to Hamas "Some Palestinians in the Gaza Strip said on Sunday that Hamas is probably afraid of a violent confrontation with Islamic Jihad.[…] The organization is beginning to emerge as a major challenge to the 3

Hamas regime, especially given the fact that dozens of disgruntled Hamas members are reported to have defected to Islamic Jihad.[…] Those who are hoping that the downfall of the Hamas regime would bring a more moderate group to power are living in an illusion. It’s almost certain by now that Islamic Jihad – which is viewed by some as being more radical than Hamas – will one day rise to power in the Gaza Strip." Khaled Abu Toameh, JPO 30.10.11 The partner with the Grad rocket "It's a pleasure to do business with Islamic Jihad. […] This is the kind of confrontation Israel prefers. It does not require exhausting negotiations or mutual recognition, the cease-fire does not require withdrawal from territories, the price required of Israel is relatively low.[…] The beauty lies in the way Israel divides the conflict with the Palestinians into separate battlefields to avoid a comprehensive diplom atic solution.[…] A moment before Hamas follows in Fatah's footsteps and switches from terrorist organization to an acceptable political entity, and in this way ruins the Israeli calculus, another group must be strengthened to fulfill Hamas' role vis-a-vis the PA. This is Islamic Jihad, and so, as long as Islamic Jihad disregards Hamas, Israel can have it both ways: It can put responsibility on Hamas for what is happening in Gaza while strengthening Islamic Jihad by striking it." Zvi Bar'el, HAA 02.11.11 3. UNESCO nimmt Palästina auf Als erstes UN-Gremium hat die UNESCO Palästina als Vollmitglied aufgenommen. Dagegen stimmten nur 14 Mitgliedsstaaten, darunter Deutschland. Die israelische Regierung kritisierte diesen"unilateralen Schritt" scharf, denn, so Premier Netanyahu, nur direkte Verhandlungen ohne Vorbedingungen könnten zu Frieden führen. Im Gegenzug beschloss die israelische Regierung eine Reihe von Sanktionen, darunter die Genehmigung neuer Wohnungen in jüdischen Westbank-Siedlungen, die vorübergehende Einfrierung palästinensischer Steuergelder, die von Israel erhoben werden sowie das Einbehalten des israelischen Beitrags zur UNESCO von 2 Mio. USD jährlich. Schwerwiegender für die UN-Organisation ist jedoch, dass auch die USA ihre Zahlungen – die 22% ihres Etats ausmachen – eingestellt haben, da ein amerikanisches Gesetz die Finanzierung von Institutionen, die Palästina vor Zustandekommen eines Friedensabkommens mit Israel anerkennen, verbietet. Dennoch kritisierte die amerikanische Regierung die israelischen Sanktionen, die auch von Vertretern der israelischen Armee als problematisch eingestuft wurden. UNESCO's vote " The event was[…] not a cause for celebration but another lamentable example of the moral bankruptcy of the UN and its organizations.[…] UNESCO completely disregarded its own declared educational and cultural standards based on equality and mutual respect. Instead, UNESCO effectively endorsed the warped, hate-mongering Palestinian national'narrative' as reflected in the Palestinian Authority's official school textbooks, cultural policies and popular media.[…] Can we honesty expect any future Palestinian leader to criticize the abhorrent messages that appear in PA te xtbooks if UNESCO failed to?[…] What's more, according to UNESCO's own rules, accepting'Palestine' as a full-fledged member means that UNESCO essentially waives its right to interfere in or even criticize Palestinian education policies.[…] Seen in this light, PA President Mahmoud Abbas's statement that the UNESCO decision'is a vote for peace' is utterly incomprehensible. Rather, it is a vote for bigotry, hatred and conflict." JPO 01.11.11 Editorial Our myopic government "The government took advantage of the PA's acceptance as a full member of UNESCO[…], to declare a retaliatory action that will further undermine Abbas' position.[It] decided to move ahead with the construction of 2,000 housing units in the settlements […], and to withhold more than NIS 300 million in taxes that Israel has collected for the PA.[…] The perpetuation of the status quo will lead to the dismantling of the PA and to'throwing the keys back to Israel.' This gloomy prediction, which has the army very concerned, doesn't worry the government.[…] The political elimination of Abbas and his partners will lift international pressure on Netanyahu to freeze construction in the settlements, and will release him from the need to begin negotiations.[…] If Israel had a sober and responsible, peace-seeking leadership, it would welcome the PA's membership in UNESCO[…]. Unfortunately, and distressingly, 4

Israel is being led by a right-wing, myopic government." HAA 03.11.11 Editorial Mr. Netanyahu, let's boycott UNESCO "After halting its annual fees to the UN's cultural agency, the State of Israel should suspend any cooperation with UNESCO.[…] Jerusalem will not risk any isolation, since it’s a lready a pariah in the UN[...]. UNESCO’s next steps are under Israel’s nose: very soon the Temple Mount[...] and the Cave of the Patriarchs will be designated as'mosques' by the UN’s agency.[…] In 2009 UNESCO designated Jerusalem as the'capital of Arab culture', a false claim now finding fertile ground even outside the Islamic world. […] Indeed, UNESCO does not even recognize Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem. The organization has called for financial sanctions against Israel[…]. By gratifying UNESCO, Israel will only boost the Palestinian cultural Intifada. This is an historical battle that Israel can win with the support of Westerners who still care about the fate of their civilization." Giulio Meotti, AS 04.11.11 Israel's revenge "What, for heaven's sake, is so terrible about Palestine being accepted to UNESCO?[…] International recognition of a Palestinian state is the last chance to thwart a one- state solution.[…] But[…] the Americans and Israelis are meting out punishment[…]- stopping assistance to a cultural and scientific organization that has accepted into its ranks a nation fighting for its independence. What's left for[…] Abbas to do?[…] They tried to fight against the occupation with stones and knives but nothing happened. They tried negotiations, but these dragged on futilely for years[…]. They tried cruel suicide bombings but nothing changed. There is no one they can talk to in Jerusalem and nothing to talk about. Now they are trying to enlist the world, and what do they get in return? A punishment that may yet turn into a death sentence for the PA and the most moderate Palestinian leader there will ever be." Gideon Levy, HAA 03.11.11 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 die Ablehnung der Berufung von ExPräsident Moshe Katzav, der wegen Vergewaltigung zu sieben Jahren Gefängnis verurteilt wurde: Just like anyone else "It's hard to exaggerate the importance of the verdict. Faced with a well-oiled system that exerted enormous pressure on the complainants and made sophisticated, cunning use of the media, the justice system conducted thorough, professional hearings at every stage of the case.[…] The former president stood in the Supreme Court yesterday just like anyone else.[…] The justices even condemned the defendant's abuse of his lofty position and his conduct during the trial.[…] A shining page was recorded yesterday in the history of Israeli democracy, one that bolsters the status of women and the value of equality before the law." HAA 11.11.11 Editorial One law for all "Rejecting Moshe Katsav's appeal and sending him to jail proves that no one is above the law in Israel. […] An equally important lesson from Thursday speaks clearly to girls and women: Your body is your own.[…] Particularly when it comes to those holding high office or vested with authority.[…] The message couldn't be clearer – the high profile that such people enjoy does not give them immunity when they have violated your rights, and if you file a complaint you will be listened to, believed and granted a fair and serious opportunity to make your case through legal channels. Your case will be treated in the most serious way until justice is served." Shelly Yachimovich, IHY 11.11.11 Über einen vom Gewerkschaftsdachverband Histadrut ausgerufenen Generalstreik, um gegen die Arbeitsverhältnisse von Zeitarbeitern zu protestieren: 5

The responsible adult "One must[…] realize that the Histadrut itself[…] does not have clean hands with regard to the massive influx of contract workers into the public sector. It is the Histadrut that sanctified the rigid employment practices found in the government, the local authorities and government companies.[…] Those same unions that are now shedding crocodile tears over the bitter fate of the contract workers did not object to hiring such workers to do jobs that the regular workers refused to do, like cleaning or hauling. Yet they typically demanded that regular workers receive financial compensation for agreeing to allow contract workers in the door." Nehemia Shtrasler, HAA 08.11.11 Strikes are within the rules "The employment of contract workers is legitimate in principle.[…] In a democratic country, the freedom of occupation is reserved not only for employees, but also for employers. […] What can be done? The name of the game is bargaining power, and that is the role of the Histadrut[…] in this relationship. The Histadrut, as a large and strong union, should negotiate with employers to reach agreements. Employers have the right to resist, and the Histadrut has the right to take industrial action. These are the rules of the game of labor relations, and that is the proper balance." Shay Niv, GLO 06.11.11 HAA= Haaretz JED= Jedioth Ahronoth JPO= Jerusalem Post IHY= Israel HaYom AS= Arutz Sheva GLO= Globes Veröffentlicht: 17. November 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