Juliane von Mittelstaedt writes a lot about the Middle East and is a regular contributor to Der Spiegel. After reading her article "The Politics of Stasis" I thought some of her observations were accurate and to the point, but found a number of her conclusions far too sweeping .Nevertheless, I sent a number of people a link to the article. Here it is again:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,765960,00.html
Ignoring her controversial comments I have selected some of her well based observations for your consideration.
Ms von Mittelstaedt reasoned why she believed Israelis have become increasingly resigned to life without peace. "The majority of the country's population seems to have given up hope."
For extra emphasis she quoted Israeli historian Tom Segev who told her, "For the first time in my life, I think the way the majority of Israelis do. I no longer see the possibility of peace."
Segev, a well known author and journalist has long been associated with the'New Historians,' the group that has often challenged many of the government's traditional narratives.
"From the Israel perspective, a life without peace is now possible. There is hardly any terrorism, there is no war, and there are no major decisions that could trigger arguments at the breakfast table," says Segev. "Netanyahu is so strong, because he pursues a policy of doing nothing about the Palestinians. He has managed to make his policy the consensus.
The feeling of being in a constant state of emergency helps reinforce this consensus. No one has as many enemies as Israel, no other country has been threatened to be wiped off the face of the earth by Iran, and nowhere else in the world is the trauma of the extermination of a people so deeply rooted. For a nation that constantly fears for its survival, everything it does is self-defence."
Elaborating on the prevailing public mood Ms. von Mittelstaedt says, "The government backs illegal settlements and ignores the Israeli Supreme Court's rulings on the clearing of the settlers' outposts. This has inured the Israeli public to a constant breach of the law, which needs a justification. The justification provided is that the occupation is essential to the survival of the Israeli nation.
Nevertheless, peace at the cost of compromise seemed necessary, as long as the attacks continued. But since they have ended, many Israelis prefer the current calm over the effort and uncertainty associated with a peace treaty. And since the security barrier was erected and the Iron Dome missile defence system installed, the lack of peace seems more like a technical problem that can be controlled."
Reassuring her readers she says, "Israel is still a free country, with a dynamic democracy, a free press and an independent judiciary." But, she cautioned, new controversial legislation introduced by the present government certainly won't enhance our dynamic democracy.
In her search for the people who filled the city squares protesting for peace von Mittelstaedt asks, "And what of Israel's left, its peace activists, artists, entrepreneurs and liberals? What has happened to the country's silent, secular majority?
The old elites, who once dominated the politics of peace, have largely withdrawn from the political process. Most have gone to Tel Aviv, the liberal enclave where Palestinians, settlers and Orthodox Jews seem equally far away. They are more likely to become involved in environmental causes than political parties. Tel Aviv is also home to those who are enjoying the economic boom and its benefits, including the many new restaurants, spas and wine bars that have opened in recent years. The effervescent, lively and overwhelming city of Tel Aviv is synonymous with this flight from politics."
Following on from the Der Spiegel article it seems that the present "Arab Spring" is not conducive to a peace initiative. The key player in the region, Egypt has yet to get its own house in order and its interim military government isn't about to broker new peace negotiations. Syria's Assad is too busy killing his own people. Lebanon fears a spillover from Syria and the long-delayed Hariri Tribunal findings to get involved in anything liable to endanger the fragile status quo. However, Hezbollah fears the outcome of regime change in Syria. If Assad is ousted a Sunni Muslim government will probably replace his regime. It's unlikely that it will continue supporting Hezbollah. So far Jordan has managed to appease some nascent protests and it remains to be seen how far King Abdullah is prepared to go with reforms to keep his kingdom quiet.
A few weeks ago Yediot Ahronot's op-ed columnist Alex Fishman wrote about the difficulty in dealing with mass civilian protests. He mentioned the search for innovative non-lethal weapons to counter the "Horde Phenomenon," namely attempts to move large numbers of Palestinians/Arabs across our borders. The Majdal Shams incidents taught us a valuable lesson.
An unprepared and ill-equipped small IDF force failed to contain the first mass crossing of the border. However, the would-be infiltrators in the second attempted crossing made last month had to contend with new obstacles and were stopped before they could reach the border fence. Fishman recalled the "Hatzatzit" a military vehicle adapted to fire a hail of gravel at demonstrators. It was developed during the days of the first Intifada, retired later on and finally sold for scrap. At that time some of his fellow journalists disparaged the stone pelting machine. They wondered how the IDF's R & D people could field a Stone Age contrivance instead of something more hi-tech.
Already work has started on erecting a new improved border fence along the border with Syria. The Lebanese border will also get an upgrade to combat mass infiltration. A new and varied arsenal of non-lethal weapons will soon be at the IDF’s disposal.
Israel’s defence industries were strongly represented at the recent Paris Air Show. The show attracts exhibitors and prospective buyers from all over the world..
The veteran defence industry RAFAEL displayed a range of air defence missiles – including the “Stunner", scheduled for full system-testing this year, the Iron Dome Counter-rocket missile system, and the Medium Range Spyder, presented as a complete mobile system. Airborne ordnance on display included precision guided air/ground weapons, multi-purpose guided missiles and air/air missiles (all designed and made in Israel).
Elbit Systems, another leading Israeli defence industry featured the Multi-Spectral Infrared Countermeasure (MUSIC) system. Elbit is the first company marketing a compact, low-power affordable solution suitable for medium size aircraft such as C-27J and Boeing 737,767 and a number of helicopters.
It operates as a stand-alone unit, with Infrared Passive Approach Warning System (PAWS) sensors developed by Elbit Systems’ Elisra subsidiary. It monitors the surrounding area in search of potential threats. When a missile warning is issued, PAWS tracks the threats and directs the DIRCM (Directional Infra-Red Counter Measures), employing a unique Fiber Laser emitter conducting the laser beam through a mirror turret, to illuminate and disrupt the threat’s guidance mechanism, altering its flight course off the protected aircraft.
On Saturday morning my wife and I will board an Alitalia plane and fly to Canada. We will be visiting friends and family in Toronto and Edmonton.
While we are away (for almost a month) I won’t be sending my weekly newsletter.
Keep well Beni 23rd of June, 2011.
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