Waiting for Barak
{for our Israeli Readers and Participants}
Elections are here and now. We Israelis have
waited for this moment for three years. Don't let the impressive poll results fool you
into complacency. The polls were wrong in 1996 - and they could be wrong today. Even the
people who are running the polls do not quite believe the results. And the polls also
indicate large right wing contingents will get into the Knesset. So remember - if you stay
home and we get Bibi again and a Knesset full of Begin supporters - you will have only
yourself to blame. The issues are clear! We don't want to have another Internet blackout
next year. Blank
Ballots - Essay
Changing the government will not solve
all problems. Barak is running as a military hero and not as a man of peace, and his
constituency will expect him to act accordingly. But changing the government will open a
pathway of hope for peace. PEACE and PeaceWatch will still have work to do, and we will be
here no matter who wins - but I, for one, hope that all Webmasters will have to change all
those old 'BibiWatch' links.
Ami Isseroff
Rehovot
May 14 - Polls predict decisive Barak victory - As the
Israeli election nears, latest polls show Ehud Barak with a lopsided lead over PM Bibi
Nethanyahu. In round 2, Barak would get 54% of the vote according to the polls, and might
even win in round 1 on May 17. The major reason for the dramatic turnaround has been
Barak's success in changing the minds of Russian immigrants. Most Israelis favor a
national unity government even if the right or the left get a decisive majorityMay 13 polls.
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.
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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