The political intrigues of the Israeli Knesset are enormously complicated and cannot be affected much by the results of the upcoming U.S. election, journalist Elli Wohlgelernter said Wednesday evening in a talk sponsored by the Oregon Hillel.
Wohlgelernter is a copy editor for Haaretz, a politically moderate daily newspaper published in Tel Aviv, Israel. Professor of Communication David Frank described Haaretz as The New York Times of its country.
"I have great respect for that newspaper," Frank said. "It is probably the best newspaper in Israel."
Wohlgelernter's talk was entitled, "The Day after November 2nd: Still Engaged to the Disengagement Plan?" It focused on recent machinations within Israel's Knesset, or parliament. He tried to present all sides of a complicated issue to the largely pro-Israel audience of about 35.
"I'm not here to advocate a view. I'm here to present issues," Wohlgelernter said.
Wohlgelernter described the new policy that is splitting the Israeli government. In what is seen as a sudden turnaround, embattled Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a member of the conservative Likud party, has announced a unilateral "disengagement" from the Gaza Strip, an area that has been a major spot of contention in the Palestinian peace process. This disengagement would mean the removal of thousands of Israeli settlers from their Gaza homes.
Sharon's action has led to a confusion of alliances. The more conservative Zionist elements who have historically been Sharon's most ardent supporters are strongly opposed to disengagement from Gaza. Israeli liberals, who have long held Sharon in low regard, are strongly in favor of this move. The shifting alliances mean that the immediate future of the disengagement order and the Sharon government itself are matters of great uncertainty, said Wohlgelernter.
Wohlgelernter emphasized that he believes Sharon is completely committed to the withdrawal and will "go down in flames if it fails." He described Sharon as more of a strategist than a hawk, and he argued that this decision was a strategic one. Professor Frank agreeed.
"I think he is completely sincere, because he has recognized that holding on to Gaza is counterproductive," he said.
As he discussed the disengagement plan, Wohlgelernter reminded the audience of the "human cost" for displaced Israeli families. He also outlined the financial cost, now estimated to be between $1.5 billion and $2 billion dollars. He did not comment on the cost to Palestinians of a continuing Israeli presence.
"He did not look at the conflict from a Palestinian point of view, nor did I expect him to," said Shlomo Libeskind, a professor of mathematics who attended the talk.
Near the end of the evening, Wohlgelernter turned to the question of the influence of the U.S. election on Israeli affairs. While he said the internal politics of Israel were more important than any Washington influence, he also commented on the Israeli public opinion of the election.
"A majority of Israelis believe Bush is the greatest leader in U.S. history," Wohlgelernter said. He attributed this strong support to Bush's continuing support of Sharon and his refusal to meet with Yassir Arafat, a pariah even to liberal Israelis.
Frank agrees that most Israelis support Bush. However, he believes a John Kerry presidency would hold more promise for the peace process.
"I hope he can take a more Clintonesque approach," said Frank. "It's in Israel's self-interest to have an administration that would take a more even-handed approach."
While Israeli politics remain unpredictable and often confusing, audience members at Wednesday's talk remained cautiously optimistic.
"The future of Israel I have no doubt about," said Libeskind. "It's the future of peace that is uncertain."
Thomas Munro is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald
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