Here are some frequently asked questions about today’s Israeli elections:
- What happened to the Israeli Left?
- The right-wing parties (Yisrael Beiteinu, The Jewish Home and the National Union) seem poised to do a lot better this time. What does that say about the chances for peace?
- With Barack Obama in the White House, will Israel feel pressured to pursue a final peace?
- Will Israel’s next government freeze settlements?
- What impact did the Gaza intervention have on the election?
During the last few elections, Israel has seen a trend of the electorate towards the centre, which includes Labor, Kadima and Likud. With continued threats from outside parties, including Hamas and Hezbollah, Israelis have chosen to elect governments that put security first, while still maintaining the position that peace is the long-term goal. In addition, with the international economic crisis, Israelis are turning to leadership who can stimulate the economy and ensure that businesses succeed.
While Yisrael Beiteinu is likely to win more seats, there is still a national consensus that most Israelis are willing to make real concessions for a true, lasting stable peace with a two-state solution. However, at the same time, many Israelis understand that the Palestinian leadership, divided between Fatah and Hamas, is unwilling or unable to make such an agreement right now. So a number of people are voting in favour of defending Israel and its citizens as they pursue their normal lives.
Israel has always been prepared to negotiate a lasting peace with its neighbours as long as a reliable partner is in place. Unfortunately, with the rise of Iran – a regime that intends to “wipe Israel off the map” – and a Palestinian leadership split between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank, Israel does not have a reliable partner right now. Israel will maintain a deterrence and defensive stand against security threats until it has a partner for a lasting and stable peace. Whomever forms the next government will work to preserve the best possible relations with Obama’s administration as long as it does not involve risks to Israeli national interests and the security of its citizens.
Israel’s real experience with Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and with respect to Gaza clearly demonstrate that in the interest of peace, Israel is prepared to cede land, dismantle settlements, and abandon even legitimate claims. Settlements are not an obstacle to peace – they are simply one of many issues to be resolved in a genuine peace process. The only obstacle to peace is the rejection of the legitimacy of a Jewish state in the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people. All recent Israeli governments have declared they will not establish new settlements. However, consistent with the policy of previous governments, any new leadership will allow for the natural growth of existing communities.
Israel had one strategic objective during the military action in Gaza: to eradicate the threat of Hamas rocket fire. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis were terrorized by an endless barrage of missiles from Gaza, and the Israeli government decided that enough is enough. The Gaza war underscored Israel’s need to address its immediate security concerns, but in the long-term Israel strives for a lasting peace with its Arab neighbors.
/cijainfo
@CIJAinfo