Peace Poll - Most
PeaceWatch readers seem to think Palestinians did the right thing by postponing the
statehood declaration. What do you think?
Orient House Closing [May 11] - An Israeli Supreme Court
injunction obtained by the Ir Shalem group delayed closing of Orient House until
a hearing to be held after the elections next week. Earlier, efter negotiations for
a compromise solution broke down, the Israeli government announced that closure orders
will be issued against three offices of the Palestine National Authority in the Orient
House in East Jerusalem. <more>
Palestinians Pessimistic [May 8] - Palestinians are
pessimistic about peace following postponement of the statehood declaration and orders to
close Orient House. A majority of Palestinians thought the postponement of statehood was a
mistake. <Opinion Poll
Results>
An outsider looks at the Palestinian - Israeli Conflict -
Anyone interested in creative solutions to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict must read this
essay by Matthew Hogan PEACEMAKING
VIA NON-IDEOLOGY or CONFESSIONS OF A PRO-ISRAEL ANTI-ZIONIST.
New - The PEACE Deir Yassin Memorial Web site - history of
a massacre that some people try to deny - has been updated. The update includes an English translation of the original
Red Cross report available for the first time, and reflections on how the issue - and the Web site have been
exploited and misunderstood by both sides.
Barak Lead Growing - [May 11] Latest
opinion polls show candidate Israeli PM Candidate Ehud Barak taking a decisive lead of up
to 17 percent (according to Israel Channel 2) or 13 percent (according to Israel TV
Channel 1. A poll of a larger sample, taken May 7 showed a 12 point lead in the Israeli
election campaign. The polls also show that both
Barak's One Israel party and the leftist Meretz party are gaining support, while the
center and right are losing. Both Arieh Deri's Shas party, and the anti-religious Shinui
party of journalist Tommy Lapid are gaining seats in the Knesset. Lapid, a political novice who started his campaign
at the last moment before the elections and has very little television time, may get as
many as 6 Knesset seats!. These results should be treated with utmost caution. In 1996 the polls showed Shimon Peres with a similar lead, at
an earlier date, though he went on to lose the election. A Givat Haviva study released earlier this week shows that only
62% of Israeli Arabs plan to vote in the crucial run off elections - Arabs would vote
overwhelmingly against PM Nethanyahu. Right-wing votes are consistenly under-reported in
the polls for various reasons. The casting of blank ballots by many Arabs and Jewish
radicals could also have a decisive effect. Blank Ballots
- Essay. However, Barak's lead has been building steadily over several weeks, while
Peres's was dwindling in the final days of the 1996 campaign. Factors:
The
One Israel party has run an astute campaign, stressing Barak's military record and
patriotism, thereby successfully winning the labile vote of Russian immigrants.
Nethanyahu's
Likud party is using the same tactics they used against Peres in 1996, but some of their
efforts have backfired. Notably, they tried to use a silly remark by entertainer Tiki
Dayan to show that the One Israel party is 'elitist.'
Israelis
are not buying Nethanyahu's claim that he is responsible for getting the PNA to postpone
declaration of a Palestinian state.
Detailed Poll results: [May 7 polls]
Palestinian State [May
4] - Palestinian leaders showed good sense and moderation in refraining from
declaring a state today. The PLO Executive Council decided to
postpone their decision on declaration of a Palestinian state until after the Israeli
elections. The move came after President Clinton sent Yasser Arafat a letter recognizing
Palestinian rights and promissing to renew the peace process negotiations after the next
elections, with a view to concluding an agreement within a year. If PM Nethanyahu is
re-elected, they will declare a state. If Barak or Mordehai are elected, the Palestinians
will allow a grace period to 'give peace a chance.'' The Nethanyahu government is claiming
this as a 'victory,' but nobody should have any illusions about what will probably happen
after the elections if Nethanyahu stays in power. Tell us what you think:should
Palestinians declare a state unilaterally? Kosovo poll - most favored use of ground
troops now.
Click to vote and to view previous results.
The Mideast Humor page
has been updated!
Kosova and the Arab World - Adel Darwish reveals close
support and warm relations of Muammar Gadaffi and Serbian regime of Milosevic. Gadaffi has
reportedly been supplying oil to Yugoslavia in defiance of the international embargo as
part of an ongoing relationship. More
at The Scotsmen
Blank Ballots: What is all this Work to You? - Israeli
Jewish and Arab radicals will cast an estimated 100,000 blank ballots in the next
election, which just might be enough to reelect Bibi Nethanyahu, just as it was decisive
in getting him elected in 1996. Essay
Feature
- Palestinian - Israeli Media Seminar sponsored by
Yakar and PACE offers insights, a chance for dialog and perhaps - improved cooperation. A first hand report.
Mideast
News Sites - News Links had been updates with links to
numerous Mid-East news services and journals. Besa is an
internationally recognized scholarly journal on the Middle East with in-depth analyses and
news of conferences and other activitivies. JMCC
provides daily translations from the Palestinian press and a subscription news service.
Elections and Jews Abroad
- A recent article in the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot alleges that Australian
millionaire Yosef Gutnick has paid generous sums to Likud politicians in order to stop
compliance with the Wye accords. Mervyn Cassidy explains
how money from abroad is being used to influence the elections. Murray Polner discusses how Jews in USA and elsewhere view
the Israeli elections. Click 4 More
Jerusalem - Beloved and
divided city - PEACE participants and guests are invited to contribute articles - your
personal views of Jerusalem and how to make it a real city of peace. Click 4 More
Water and Politics
- How water and politics mix poorly in the Middle East.More
Virtual Reality - As the Israeli economy declines and the 'Peace
Process' heads for a bloody denouement, right wing Israeli commentators try to find a
silver lining and pretend that everything is fine. A very dangerous game! |
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