Military

DATE=10/19/00

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / ACTIVISTS (CQ)

NUMBER=5-47201

BYLINE=JENNY BADNER

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: EDITS Background report number 5-47199 to DELETE first sentence of Wolfsfeld Act, DELETE second half of sentence beginning: Some members ... in third graf of text ///

INTRO: Since the eruption of violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip three weeks ago, there has been a growing feeling among many people in Israel that the peace movement is dead. Jenny Badner in Jerusalem takes a look at how the Israeli peace camp is dealing with the latest bloody clashes.

TEXT: While politicians from both sides spend their time on television blaming each other for the clashes, one usually loud voice in the Israeli scene has been remarkably silent. Israel's Jewish peace movement, which gained momentum during the seven-year Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, has organized few rallies to protest the recent wave of violence.

Some media reports suggest many Israelis, who have supported the peace process, now have come to the conclusion that there is no "partner for peace" and that Israel's political left is dead.

Political analyst Gadi Wolfsfeld of Hebrew University in Jerusalem says the recent violence has caused many Israelis to re-assess their position that Israel must withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

/// WOLFSFELD ACT ///

A majority is certainly willing to withdraw from the territories, or at least the vast majority of the territories, if they believe true peace is possible. What has changed, at least for now, is that fewer people seem convinced that returning territories will actually bring peace.

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Some members of Israel's peace movement agree that many of its members may have become disillusioned after the recent wave of violence.

Rabbi Arik Ascherman directs Rabbis for Human Rights, an organization that works for equality among Palestinians and Israelis. He says people who are re-assessing their views do not fully understand the extent of the deep-seated anger many Palestinians have toward Israel.

/// ASCHERMAN ACT ///

Those who have tried to say over the years that the Palestinians love us or are all wonderful people did us all a disservice. Many Palestinians hate us, many Palestinians would rather we don't exist here. Many people in Israel, I think, just don't get it, also on the left, Why all the anger, where did it all come from? Part of our job is to say that we Israelis have to be a little bit less defensive and open up our minds, our hearts to understand what is going on.

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Several of Israel's most vocal peace organizations met this week to try to find ways to become more united and to create a clear plan of action. That plan includes focusing on the roots of the clashes and repeating their call for the formation of a Palestinian state.

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They are responding to claims that the political left has been silent and that articles, demonstrations and advertisements with a pro-peace stance have not been loud enough.

///END OPT ///

Rabbi Ascherman says one of the reasons for the appearance of inaction on the left is that - like most Israelis - members of the peace movement are confused. He says it is clear Israel used excessive force in its response to riots by Arab citizens of Israel. However, it has been harder for the peace movement to swiftly place all the blame on Israel for its harsh reaction to the riots in the West Bank and Gaza Strip because some Palestinian demonstrators have taken up arms and fired on Israeli troops.

Gaby Lasky is the director of Peace Now, Israel's largest popular peace movement. She says people who have previously backed Peace Now still support the movement, but they are depressed and angry and less enthusiastic about protesting in the streets.

And, she says, some people are finding it difficult to criticize Prime Minister Ehud Barak after he was reported to have made far-reaching offers to the Palestinians at the Camp David peace summit in July.

However, Ms. Lasky says history shows an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement is still possible, despite the renewal of mutual anger.

/// LASKY ACT ///

We have to remember that while you make peace you always make it with someone who before was your enemy. I have to remind that (in) the Yom Kippur war, 24-hundred Israeli soldiers died and, four years later, (Egyptian President Anwar) Sadat came to Israel and in Camp David a peace agreement was signed. And Israel and Egypt have been in a peaceful situation since then.

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While the crisis with the Palestinians goes on, Peace Now is focusing much of its attention on reconciliation with Arab citizens of Israel. The group also opposes an emergency government with opposition leader Ariel Sharon, whose visit to the Temple Mount, known to Arabs as Haram al-Sharif, sparked the beginning of the clashes late last month.

/// END OPT ///

Peace Now's Gaby Lasky says it is difficult to look ahead more than one day at a time in the Middle East, although the group is planning a pro-peace demonstration. She says what is most important right now is for Israelis and Palestinians to put an end to the violence and resume their peace negotiations. (SIGNED)

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