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| VIEW FROM THE FIELD: CHARLES KRAUSE ON THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS November 18, 1997 |
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Questions asked
in this forum:If the peace process deteriorates, what will happen to U.S. interests in the Middle East? Will the Israeli government ever address the economic problems of the Palestinians? Are the leaders the barriers to peace, or is it the general will of the Israeli and Palestinian people? Did you experience distrust of the American press in the region?
NewsHour Coverage
November 7, 1997:
Charles Krause investigates the political pressure facing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
November 5, 1997:
Charles Krause explores the political pressure facing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
November 3, 1997:
Israel's Prime Minister on the latest round of Mideast peace talks.
Browse the NewsHour's coverage of the Middle-East.
Thomas Abdella of Fairfax, Va. asks: Israel seems to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown because of internal division exacerbated by external pressure from the United States and the rest of the world over the peace issue. Is that your impression? If so, is the mood worse than usual? Does Israel seem to thrive under this sort of pressure?
Charles Krause responds:
While it is certainly true that Israel is a deeply divided country, "nervous breakdown" is not a phrase I would use to describe the situation at this time. Nor do I think that "external pressure" is the primary cause of Israel's current political, religious and diplomatic problems.As you know, last year's election was essentially a referendum on the Oslo peace process. The outcome demonstrated quite clearly that about 45 per cent of the Israeli electorate supports the notion of reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians that would result in some sort of Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza.
Based on the election results, another 45 per cent of the electorate is opposed to any such agreement for a variety of political and religious reasons, while about 10 per cent (the "swing vote") voted for Benjamin Netanyahu because they felt that Yassir Arafat was not doing all he could to stop terrorism and that Shimon Peres was moving too quickly toward a peace agreement that might not prove durable. But that does not mean that this 10 per cent is opposed to any and all peace agreements (in fact, opinion polls show that about 70 per cent of all Israelis want some kind of peace agreement with the Palestinians and are willing to trade land to get it).
So, I think it is mistaken to think that external pressure is responsible for pushing Israel toward peace---or that external pressure is responsible for dividing Israeli society. In fact, Israelis are well educated, extremely independent and highly opinionated; their divisions on the peace issue reflect the fact that no decision Israel will have to make in the foreseeable future is of greater national importance that when, whether and how Israel will exist, or coexist, with the Palestinians.
As for the mood in Israel, the country is still deeply traumatized by the assassination of Yitzahk Rabin. While we were there, new information was revealed linking a Shein Bet informer to the assassination. Leah Rabin continues to blame Benjamin Netanyahu for creating the atmosphere of division and hatred that led to her husband's murder. Prime Minister Netanyahu refused to attend the opening ceremonies of the Peres Peace Center, despite the fact that Henry Kissinger and other figures of international importance attended the event. And the strains between Orthodox Jews in Israel andAmerican Jews remain unresolved.
So, compared to 18 months ago, when we were last in Israel, the mood is not as upbeat, not as hopeful that an end to war and violence is near. Indeed, the country seems more polarized and intolerant of other views and ideas than it was before last year's election. I don't think most Israelis prefer it this way. Nor does the country "thrive" in the current atmosphere.
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