Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 13/13 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 03. – 16. Juli 2013 1. Umsturz in Ägypten Mohammed Morsi, erster demokratisch gewählter Präsident Ägyptens, ist vom ägyptischen Militär am 3. Juli aus dem Amt geputscht worden. Ein Jahr nach seinem Amtsantritt hatten die schwierige wirtschaftliche Lage des Landes sowie fortschreitende Einschränkungen für Medien, das Justizsystem und andere demokratische Einrichtungen zu Massendemonstrationen gegen Morsi und seine Muslim Bruderschaft geführt. Seitdem ist es immer wieder zu blutigen Ausschreitungen gekommen, bei denen es viele Tote gegeben hat. In Israel äußerte sich die Regierung nicht offiziell zu den Ereignissen im Nachbarland. Allerdings ist klar, dass ein instabiles Ägypten ein hohes Gefahrenpotential bedeutet. Andererseits hat Israel stets beste Beziehungen zum ägyptischen Militär besessen, das nun an der Macht ist. Fraglich bleibt, wie die USA sich zukünftig gegenüber Ägypten verhalten werden. Laut US-Gesetz muss Staaten, in denen demokratisch gewählte Regierungen vom Militär gestürzt werden, jegliche Finanzhilfe verwehrt werden. The price of tyranny "Behind the anger lurks the great gap between the life you wanted to live and reality. That's what is generating the wave of global protests. And since in Egypt the gap between expectations and reality is huge, the consequences are even more serious.[…] Morsi did not recognize minority rights and the limits of power. He was not ready to make concessions or form alliances with secular parties. He passed an Islamist constitution and oppressed the legal system, academia and the media.[…] The result was that Egypt suffered two financially disastrous years. Tourism collapsed, investors fled and wealthy Egyptians began to smuggle their fortunes abroad.[…] These problems can't be solved in two or three years, but no one has the patience to wait even a year. After all, any ruler who would dare cut the budget or reduce subsidies on food and fuel would face demonstrations by millions and be toppled.[…] Egypt is poised to pay a heavy price for the tyrannical Islamic regime that stole the revolution of 2011, overthrew Hosni Mubarak but also toppled itself and took all of Egypt with it." Nehemia Shtrasler, HAA 12.07.13 A new dawn on the Nile? ”If the millions of Egyptians who demonstrated in the streets demanding the ouster of the Morsi regime triumph, it could herald normalcy for their country and perhaps also for major parts of the entire region. The role played by the army in the upheaval, though much criticized abroad, may actually have paved the road toward eventually establishing[…] democratic rule.[…] All things considered, the possible demise of Islamism as the major political force in at least parts of the Arab world could eventually lead to a more secular, down-to-earth and less dogmatic and intolerant attitude on the part of our neighbors also to peace and to the Jewish state – and also on the plus side, it could weaken Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood’s local kid brother." Zalman Shoval, JPO 10.07.13 We'll miss Morsi when he's gone "The year Morsi has been in office has not harmed Israeli-Egyptian relatio ns. Quite the contrary.[…] Under Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood did the unthinkable when it affirmed the Camp David peace accords with Israel.[…] Over the past year, under Morsi's rule, the army has been sent on more focused and forceful operations against Al-Qaida elements that have taken over parts of the peninsula, and more importantly for 1

Israel, it has demolished large numbers of smuggling tunnels.[…] The differences between Sunni Egypt and Shia Iran have widened under Morsi, and any chance of cooperation now seems very remote." Anshel Pfeffer, HAA 04.07.13 Rule of the people "Overthrowing[…] Morsi required the army to step in, but the army did not initiate his ouster. Rather it was millions of Egyptians, represented by the many demonstrators who took to the streets[…]. This week's revolution wasn't only against a failing president, but against an ideology that runs contrary to the wishes of most of the public. Egypt, the demonstrators made clear, will not settle for a procedural democracy based on election results.[…] Egypt's citizens[…] s oon realized they had chosen for themselves a failed leadership.[…] One may of course question the essence of a democracy that needs an army to achieve its goals, but it is wrong to judge the protest movements for their impatience with the product of their demonstrations." HAA 05.07.13 Editorial The Egyptian army rules for now "The young people of Cairo's Tahrir Square are satisfied today and are confident in an army that will remove any leader who will not act in line with the 'nation's' expectations, but they forgot that that is not how a democracy is built. The ousting of Morsi sets new game rules which are no less tough than the ones that Egypt has known in its past.[…] Until further notice, hallowed is the name of the army. But with all due respect that the officers heard the'will of the people', their motivation to clean out the stables was mainly prompted by the power struggle with the Muslim Brotherhood. The demonstrations gave them the excuse." Jacky Hougy, GLO 04.07.13 Reflections on the situation in Egypt "Can one sustain a democracy in a situation where the majority is, at best, not committed to democracy, or at worst favors a non- democratic system?[…] The secular liberals might have ignited the demand for change,[but] they do not constitute a majority among those seeking change, and their agenda is not that of the majority of Egyptians. The only reason things appear to be moving in a direction which they favor is the military, which is committed to its own vested interests – not to democracy.[…] However, if anyone thinks that somehow democracy will emerge from the current mess, he is dreaming. What is likely to emerge, if there is no counterrevolution, is a system similar to that which existed in the days of Mubarak[…] or, if the Muslim Brot herhood somehow manages to recover from the shock it is in, and hits back – an even less liberal Islamic regime than that run by Morsi." Susan Hattis Rolef, JPO 07.07.13 Arab Spring still here "The rivalry between the camps supporting and opposing the president is splitting the Egyptian society in an unprecedented manner.[…] A year ago,[…] Morsi vowed to serve as president of all Egyptians and work to achieve the goals of the January revolution. The steps he took were controversial and his policy failed to pull Egypt out of the serious crisis it is in. The economic situation and the internal security went from bad to worse.[…] Many in the opposition circles say that the president has failed to deal with internal problems because he is committed to the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood[…]. The Islamization of the country and soci ety is the issue at the heart of the battle between the president's supporters and opponents." Yoram Meital, JED 03.07.13 Egypt's hangover "The Egyptian army[…] deposed[…] a determined Islamist movement that is experienced in situations involving a siege and delegitimization and has millions of followers in Egypt. Therefore, it is not at all certain that President Morsi's ouster will bring Egypt the coveted political stability. What's even less certain is that the transitional regime will succeed in alleviating, even a little, the economic distress in the Arab country and increase the personal security of the citizens.[…] As far as Israel is concerned, it appears that Morsi's ouster will not have a direct effect on us, certainly not in the short term. It is clear that the army will have fewer resources and less time to dedicate to the goings on in Sinai and Gaza, but we should not expect a dramatic change in the relations between Israel and Egypt." Ron Ben-Yishai, JED 04.07.13 2

In Egypt, US stuck in time warp "Not only did Washington belatedly realize that Mohammed Morsi's regime had lost legitimacy in the eyes of broad sections of the Egyptian populace, but U.S. officials have also reacted with almost complete indifference to the dramatic violence taking place in Cairo[…]. While there were already signs of the dictatorial and intolerant characteristics of the Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt last year, the White House didn't produce a stick to accompany the carrot of economic aid[…]. Obama's undoing was his prolonged clinging to the concept that elections with democratic characteristics absolutely guarantee that societies will be democratic and pluralistic.[…] Hopefully, Uncle Sam will now wake up from the world of illusions and finally recognize the large gap between the Western democratic model and the nature of existence in the Middle East." Abraham Ben Zvi, IHY 08.07.13 America must aid Egypt's new regime "The world is watching with concern from the sidelines over the Egyptian military's move, but many give their blessing over the coup's result, wishing to secure the success of the interim civilian government. It would be absurd if America[…] suspends its annual aid to Egypt because the Brotherhood regime has been deposed.[…] Secular Egypt needs to know that the U.S. is not an enemy, but on the contrary.[…] An American dec ision to deny the new secular Egyptian government its annual billion dollars-- aid granted to the previous Muslim Brotherhood regime-- could have destructive consequences, especially for the relationship between a liberal, secular Arab regime and the West. It would be illogical." Yossi Beilin, IHY 07.07.13 Morsi’s fall "For Israel there are both dangers and opportunities in the wake of Morsi’s ouster. The renewed dominance of the military could be a positive development for Israel.[…] It is the military that seems most likely to protect the Camp David peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. And it is the military that has a vested interest and the capabilities to maintain control in the near lawless Sinai Peninsula.[…] And this setback for the Muslim Brotherhood is likely to have a moderating effect on Hamas.[…] Much hinges on how the Obama administration interprets developments.[…] The US could make its continued economic support conditional upon concrete headway toward building a more democratic, pluralistic government that does more to defend embattled minorities such as the Coptic Christian community and the smaller Baha’i and Shi’ite pop ulations. More thought should be given to saving Egypt’s catatonic economy." JPO 04.07.13 Editorial 2. Ein neuer"Gefangener X" Im Februar enthüllten australische Medien die Identität von Ben Zygier, einem israelischen Geheimdienstagenten, der aufgrund ungeklärter Vergehen 2010 zehn Monate in Israel in Isolationshaft gefangen gehalten wurde und schließlich Selbstmord beging. Da sein Name und das Verfahren gegen ihn geheimgehalten wurden, wurde er von den Medien "Gefangener X" getauft. Nun berichtete die israelische Zeitung Yedioth Ahonot, dass es einen weiteren anonymen Gefangenen gibt. Der zweite"Gefangene X" sitzt bereits seit 2010 ein und wird weiterhin in strengster Isolation gehalten. Details zu seinem Verfahren sind nicht bekannt. Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Minister für Öffentliche Sicherheit, verteidigte die Geheimhaltung. Er sagte, dass es sich um einen Fall mit schwerwiegensten Sicherheitsimplikationen handele, dass die Familie des Gefangenen jedoch unterrichtet sei und das Verfahren alle legalen Erfordernisse erfüllt habe. Secrecy has its reasons "Why all the secrecy? Why hide their names, the reason for their arrest and the offense they committed, and why keep them in torturing isolation and prevent them from making contact with other prisoners?[…] When a person[working for the secret service] commits an offense, stands trial and his real identity is exposed and reported in the media[…], the ho stile elements he spied against can learn very important additional details about his mission[…]- for example, who worked with him and helped him among the target population – thus, putting someone's life in immediate and serious danger.[…] There is no need to prove that Israel and its citizens are under a serious threat, and that it is therefore in the status of a democracy defending itself. Alongside being a law-abiding state, it must defend its security-related interests and those of its citizens. 3

Because maintaining the rights of the individual, like ethics and justice in general, are not a definite matter but require a balance between interests and basic values which sometimes contradict each other – in the case of Prisoner Y as well, the right balance appears to have existed between his legal rights and the need to protect the basic right of the State of Israel's citizens and emissaries for personal and national safety." Ron Ben-Yishai, JED 11.07.13 X-men A recent poll[…] was unequivocal: Israelis trust the security forces, have faith in government decisions, understand the security threats we face and are willing to forgo sensational reporting to defend against them. Nearly twice as many people polled thought it was a mistake to report on the second Prisoner X than those who thought that it was wise to report it.[…] They know that[…] there are no"Prisoner Xs" in Israel. No one has been made to disappear. No one is imprisoned illegally. No one is put into a holding cell or a prison cell without a trial or a defense attorney." Gonen Ginat, IHY 12.07.13 Human beings are no X's "In a democratic country, even prisoners have a name and they aren't hidden from the public under a veil of secrecy. There is no other way, nor can there be, to preserve the basic human rights to which even those charged and convicted of security offenses are entitled.[…] The Zygier case showed that strict secrecy mainly serves the security establishment, which wants to whitewash embarrassing failures and cover up for the people responsible for them.[…] Until the case was published, the governmental, parliamentary and legal supervisory systems all participated in a conspiracy of silence. 'Disappearing' people is a practice befitting benighted regimes[…]. S tate secrets must be protected, but not at the price of such a severe violation of human rights." HAA 12.07.13 Editorial 3. 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 einen gewaltsamen Übergriff auf einen ultraorthodoxen Soldaten durch andere UltraOrthodoxe("Haredim"), die den Militärdienst für streng Religiöse ablehnen: Our own jihad in Mea Shearim "A haredi soldier was recently attacked on the streets of Jerusalem; not by lawbreakers from east Jerusalem or the outskirts of Ramallah, but by our own lawbreakers, supposed'haredim' – in the middle of a haredi neighborhood.[…] Unfortunately, in a certain part of our sector people are looking to devour one another, slander and mock to the point of physical violence[…]. Signs against people who use smart devices or the Internet – even for work purposes – have been placed at the entrances to homes in haredi neighborhoods. Our soldiers[…] have become a target for some us, and no one says a word. Sometimes I wonder if – God forbid – there is no difference between a Muslim from Hamas and a Jew of our own. Both worship a religion in an extremist manner which lets the blood of others. Both sides have jihadists who operate out of the same motives in the name of religion, while all means are legitimate for the sake of the sacred goal." Shalom Freund, JED 15.07.13 Two wrongs don't make a right "Several reckless youth from the neighborhood harassed an ultra-Orthodox soldier who wanted only to visit his relatives in the area.[…] Yet it would be a mistake to belabor the reaction and forget the catalyst.[…] The political reality has created a new situation. Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett and Finance Minister Yair Lapid, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are ruling with a heavy hand, and have managed to bring the rotten cheese from the margins to front and center. Torah scholars are the apple of the eye of each haredi person[…] and any attempt to harm their status is going to set people off.[…] And I am saddened, deep in my heart, about the atmosphere that these government representatives created with their[…] disingenuous attempts to integrate haredim into the IDF. 4

It must be understood that the haredi public cannot willingly accept that the very same proud, uniformwearing haredim who come from their community could soon be chasing down yeshiva boys to rip them away from the Talmud and throw them in military prison. The events in Mea Shearim were written on the wall, inscribed by those very public representatives." Dov Povarsky, IHY 11.07.13 Über eine in der Süddeutschen Zeitung veröffentlichte Karrikatur: Two faces of anti-Semitism "A recently published cartoon by the German Sueddeutsche Zeitung portraying Israel as a monster'Moloch' devouring weaponry is just another confirmation that anti-Semitism is still in vogue, but with a new more dangerous twist.[…] 'New anti-Semitism,' a more recent phenomenon, substitutes hatred of the Jew with demonization of Israel. [The] cartoon that recently appeared in the largest German daily broadsheet reviving images of the dark Nazi times. It depicted Israel as a wild, hungry, monster, being served by a woman with a text under the cartoon stating,'Germany is serving. Israel has been given weapons for decades – and partly free of charge. Israel’s enemies think it is a ravenous M oloch…'[…] Anti- Semitic cartoons[…] endanger Jews and undermine the special German-Israeli relations." Ora Shapiro, JED 12.07.13 Über mehrere Todesfälle , bei denen Kleinkinder starben, nachdem sie von ihren Eltern in deren Autos vergessen worden waren: Price of irresponsibility "Unfortunately, the recurring incidents in which parents forget their children in cars during the hot summer days prove once again that parenthood does not guarantee responsibility. The State must intervene to make certain that a negligent parent pays the price. Some will say parents who are grieving over a child they forgot in the car suffered enough punishment. Therefore, they will say, there is no need for criminal punishment.[…] But these parents must be prosecuted for negligence[…]. So they and other parents will understand that they are responsible for the child they brought into this world and will be punished- not just mentally- for any negligence." Nechama Duek, JED 05.07.13 Stickers for life "These sorts of tragedies tend to peak during summertime. Routines are disrupted, parents attempting to juggle work with children on vacation are more easily distracted, and the higher temperatures make a closed car a deadly trap.[…] What can be done to prevent the next tragedy? Some h ave questioned the police’s decision not to press charges[…]. However, what can be more of a deterrent than knowing your own carelessness can cause the death of your most beloved?[…] Now[…] it is time for the state to get involved.[…]. At the very least, a campaign should be launched to help raise awareness, using[…] stickers as a r eminder not to forget babies in cars. The stickers can be distributed at gas stations, health funds, car licensing outlets and elsewhere. Launching a campaign now could prevent the next tragedy, and the state should be a part of it." JPO 02.07.13 Editorial HAA= Haaretz JED= Jedioth Ahronoth JPO= Jerusalem Post IHY= Israel HaYom TOI= Times of Israel GLO= Globes Veröffentlicht am: 17.Juli 2013 Verantwortlich: Dr. Ralf Hexel, Leiter der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel Redaktion: Maike Harel Stefan Pantekoek Homepage: www.fes.org.il Email: fes@fes.org.il 5