As the Jewish nation prepares for Pesach, a new Israeli government has recently taken office. The new government won’t be afforded much breathing room as it faces immediate complex challenges on both the economic and geo-strategic plains. We, and all those to whom the state of Israel is near and dear, are hoping that the new government will succeed in dealing with the current issues.

The shift of the political balance to the right has given hope that there will be a re-evaluation of the country’s present strategy regarding the Palestinian issue. Since the Oslo accords, we have witnessed successive governments lead Israel down an extremely dangerous path whose consequences and repercussions have become increasingly damaging to Israel and its populace. Parochialism and shortsightedness of policymakers have tarnished Israel’s image as a strong country and a force to be reckoned with. Moreover, Israel’s deterrent capability has been weakened in the eyes of its enemies, which jeopardizes the country’s very existence.

As the government was being assembled, it seemed that the commitment to the two-state solution was the key sticking point between right wing and left wing parties. Tzipi Livni adamantly refused to join the Netanyahu government, citing the two-state solution as the key factor behind her refusal. Despite the public posturing, behind the scenes, in the absence of campaign slogans and PR worries, there is a general consensus, even on the left, that a two-state solution is no longer a viable option.

In a recent interview, Shlomo Ben-Ami, former Foreign Minister and an ardent supporter of the Oslo process, stated that the two-state solution has failed. In an even stronger statement, former General and head of the National Security Council, Giora Eiland, asserted that the maximum amount of land that Israel can relinquish to the Palestinians would not even fulfill the Palestinians most elementary needs. The fact that even the Olmert government, the strongest proponent of the two-state solution, limited their negotiations with Abu Mazen to a theoretical level, serves as further evidence that a peace partner is non-existent.

With the realization that the Oslo accords are a fiasco it should seem odd that the defense minister of the right-wing coalition is from the Labor party, the perpetuating force behind the failed peace process. Yet, this is no surprise. In the absence of a peace partner, the essential differences between the right and left dissolve.

However the breakdown of the Oslo process doesn’t require us to accept the idea that the crisis with the Palestinians has no workable solution. With the closing of the old and unproductive diplomatic channels between the Israelis and Palestinians, new windows of opportunity are being opened. The path to realistic solutions, which would address the Palestinian humanitarian issue and bring economic and strategic stability to the region, may be explored.

With Benny Elon’s exit from the Knesset, the Israeli Initiative will become an extra-parliamentary organization and his main focus. Recently, concrete steps have been taken to create the framework for promoting his diplomatic proposal. A permanent staff has been hired, offices have been opened in Jerusalem, and meetings with Ministers and Members of Knesset are being scheduled to prepare the foundation for a Knesset caucus to forward his proposal. At the Israeli Initiative, we are hopeful that we will find support in the new right-wing government. We believe that we will find Ministers who are open to creative thinking on an issue which is central to Israel’s existence and in the global effort to build a coalition against Iran. This is possibly the most important challenge that faces Israel in the immediate future.

As always, ideas and responses are welcome.

Have a very Happy Passover!

Sincerely,
Yoav Sorek
Administrator of the Israeli Initiative