Al-Liqa’ Center for Religious and Heritage Studies hosted in the Wednesday Evening Forum on 27 October 2010 Professor ‘Aziz Haidar of the Institute of Regional Studies at Jerusalem University in which he focused in his analysis of Israeli policies and horizons of solving the Palestinian Problem.
Professor Haidar discussed the strategic study that was issued by the Institute of National Security Research at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv. The study points out that the Israeli policies received three setbacks: deteriorating Turkish-Israeli policies and the rise of Iranian power and advances in Iran’s further developments in nuclear arms, American pressure by the Obama Administration and setbacks in U.S. Israeli relations, and the delegitimization of Israel in mass media and non-governmental organizations in Europe. Professor Haidar, in addition, spoke of the coalition ruling Israel. He spoke about the several directions in the government of Israel. There is a group who refuse peaceful settlement of the conflict out of ideological reasons and loss of confidence in Palestinians. Another group rejection is based on national security reasons while others stress the fact that a solution of the conflict might cause civil war. Other groups appose peaceful solution on economic grounds as seen in the position of Shas movement.
There are other groups in the Israeli government who prefer a peaceful settlement in order to stop deteriorating relations with the U.S., Europe and certain Arab government and isolation in the world that could threaten the Jewishness and the existence of the state.
The present governmental composition favors the more radical elements as seen in public opinion polls. The government of Natanyaho and radical Israelis bet on changes in American administration to favor the Republicans. As long as the Likud, the governing body, in power now, the chance for peace is minimal. The new conservatives in Israel planned the return of Natanyaho to power and they are in alliance with the new conservatives in the United States.
These new conservatives are spearheading campaigns in Israel against so called liberal academic and journalistic circles and against the judicial apparatus in Israel as well non-governmental organization and in the mean time transforming the conference of Hertzalia into decision making circles.
The Likud, as a result, is in the power center in Israel. “Leftist” parties have been weakened as seen in the Labor and Merits parties.
