The Voiceless Majority by Tanya Reinhart 9:02pm Mon May 27 '02 To judge by the polls, the political system in Israel is very far from representing the positions of the majority in Israeli society. For several months the polls have shown a 60% majority or more in favor of dismantling settlements, even in the framework of a "unilateral separation". The questions in the polls are not always unequivocal, but in a 'Da"haf' poll, on May 6th, which was solicited by 'Peace Now', the questions were clear, and so were the answers: 59% of the Jewish Israelis support a unilateral withdrawal of the Israeli army from most of the occupied territories, and dismantling most of the settlements. print article THE VOICELESS MAJORITY Tanya Reinhart Yediot Aharonot, May 21, 2002*. To judge by the polls, the political system in Israel is very far from representing the positions of the majority in Israeli society. For several months the polls have shown a 60% majority or more in favor of dismantling settlements, even in the framework of a "unilateral separation". The questions in the polls are not always unequivocal, but in a 'Da"haf' poll, on May 6th, which was solicited by 'Peace Now', the questions were clear, and so were the answers: 59% of the Jewish Israelis support a unilateral withdrawal of the Israeli army from most of the occupied territories, and dismantling most of the settlements. They believe that this will renew the peace process, and this solution gives them hope (1). The tens of thousands of Israelis, who showed up at the 'peace coalition' demonstration on May 11th, responded to this call. But what precisely was the call? Since it was introduced, in February this year, the call has been wrapped in words about massive fences and "isolation areas", but at its start, it was clear and sharp. Its prominent proponent is Ami Ayalon, who comes from the heart of the security system (as former head of the General Security Services). In an interview with Le Monde Diplomatique he said: "I favor unconditional withdrawal from the Territories. What needs to be done, urgently, is to withdraw from the Territories. And a true withdrawal, which gives the Palestinians territorial continuity in a Transjordan linked to Gaza, open to Egypt and Jordan. " (December 22, 2001). In February, Ayalon was joined by one of the most mainstream bodies in Israel: "After four months of intense discussion, the Council for Peace and Security, a group of 1,000 top?level reserve generals, colonels, Shin Bet and Mossad officials, are to mount a public campaign for a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from all of Gaza and much of the West Bank. About 80 percent of the full membership has signed on to the campaign. Unlike some of the other unilateral withdrawal plans, 'Life Fence,' for example, the council's plan involves evacuating some 40?50 settlements..." (Ha'aretz, February 18, 2002, Lily Galili). Underlying this plan is the understanding that the route of eternal negotiations, as Israel stays in the territories, has failed. The solution should go the other way: first an immediate unilateral withdrawal, as in Lebanon, and then real negotiations would start. The evacuation will include all of Gaza, and 90-95% of the West Bank, excluding the Jerusalem and central settlement blocks, whose 150,000 settlers cannot be evacuated over night. I add from what I wrote in this page (of Yediot Aharonot) in July 8, 2001. "This withdrawal will leave under debate the large settlement blocks, as well as the problems of Jerusalem and the interpretation of the right of return. For these, negotiations will be needed. However, during the negotiations the Palestinian society will be able to begin to recover, settle in the lands that will be evacuated, construct democratic institutions, and develop its economy based on free contacts with whomever they want. Under these circumstances, it should be possible to carry the negotiations out in mutual respect, and to also reach the core issue: What is the right way for two peoples which share the same land to build, jointly, their future." I believe that if we follow this plan, no fences will be needed. In other 'unilateral separation' plans, such as that which Barak's circles have been promoting, a fence will be built around the Palestinian enclaves to 'separate' them from their neighboring Israeli settlements, and from each other, following the model of what Israel has done already in the Gaza strip. According to this plan, indeed, massive fences will be needed, as well as reserve services forever. But an unconditional (unilateral) evacuation, immediately, is a route towards peace. An amazing and encouraging fact is that, contrary to the prevailing impression in Israel, support for just peace and reconciliation is still strong in the Palestinian society. A survey by the Development Studies Program at Bir Zeit University in the West Bank, which was conducted in February 2002, found out that "77% believe that both Palestinians and Israelis have the right to live in peace and security. 73% find it necessary for Palestinians and Israelis to work together to achieve peaceful coexistence once a Palestinian state is established"(2). This poll was conducted before the destruction and hatred we sowed there in the last invasion, but the conclusion is that we should get out immediately, before we destroy even more. Although the majority in the Israeli polls supports the immediate withdrawal solution, this majority does not yet have a voice. Instead of calling for immediate withdrawal ("latzet myiad mehashtachim"), the spokesmen of the 'peace camp' are talking about separation and fences. "I do not like the word separation, it reminds me of South Africa." - said Ami Ayalon in the interview mentioned above. Why didn't they let Ayalon speak in the mass demonstration of the peace coalition? The political side of the Israeli 'peace camp' has, on its record, years of experience in diverting the majority of the opponents of the settlements to the route of preserving the situation as is. Barak's people are pushing towards separation and fences, Peres and Beilin's people are pushing to "resume negotiations", while continuing to remain in the territories. (Amos Oz spoke in that demonstration about resuming the dead end of Camp-David and Taba.) "Peace now" is dragging behind them. If the majority does not stay on guard, they will succeed again. * * * A fuller analysis of the immediate withdrawal solution, as well as the obstacles posed by the leadership of the Israeli 'peace camp' can be found in the final chapter of Tanya Reinhart's book: Detruire La Palestine, ou comment terminer la guerre de 1948, La Fabrique, France. The book will appear in English in June, as Israel/Palestine - how to end the war of 1948, Open-Media series of Seven Stories Press, US. For the full chapter, click here. ====== *Original title: 'Who needs a fence or eternal negotiations". Quotes and references added in the English translation. (1) Ha'aretz online, May 10, 2002 ( 'Poll: 59% say W. Bank, Gaza exit would renew peace process', by The Associated Press). Full results: www.peace?now.org/Campaign2002/PollMay2002.rtf (2) The survey of 1,198 respondents was held on February 7?9 in 75 Palestinian communities in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Its report ('Palestinian Public Opinion Poll # 6) can be found at: http://home.birzeit.edu/dsp/polls/p6/. A summary was given also by Amira Hass, Ha'aretz, February 19, 2002. www.tau.ac.il/~reinhart add your comments Source file

Polls by KPSS 6:47am Tue May 28 '02 print comment Polls also showed that more then 70 % of israeli citizens are in favor of transfer. So what ? add your comments

Fence has to be put up by Joe 9:51pm Wed Jun 5 '02 print comment Tanya, you say, the solution should go the other way: first an immediate unilateral withdrawal, as in Lebanon, and then real negotiations would start. The evacuation will include all of Gaza, and 90-95% of the West Bank, excluding the Jerusalem and central settlement blocks, whose 150,000 settlers cannot be evacuated over night. Say you did this. You think the Palestinians wouldn't stop killing Israelis. They would see Israel as weak if they did this. You keep missing the fundamental point. The majority of Palestininians still want to destroy Israel. Look at there media in Arabic, not the lies they say in English on Western TV. You mentioned polls. Did you forget this poll. 80 percent of Palestinians support suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. I will ask you this, say you did what you mentioned above and suicide bombings against Israeli woman and children continued, what would you do? Would you still want an open border. Even Ran Hacohen, whose very much on the left agrees, that a fence has to be put up. The fence is to stop Palestinian terrorists from slaughtering Israeli civilians. When you deal with Palestinians who send homicide bombers to massacre Israeli teenagers in disco's pizzeria's, cafe's, restaurants, weddings and buses, the only answer is a fence. With all the terrorism Israeli civilians have suffered from the Arabs, to say you dont want a fence is insane. If you so much like these Islamic Arabs so much, go move to one of the 22 Arab dictatorships. add your comments

I'm sick of all this word twisting by albie 6:43am Sat Jun 8 '02 print comment Stop talking about "transfer". The real name is deportation. Do you remember the word? add your comments

Ethnic cleansing by mary 5:58am Tue Jul 23 '02 print comment No, the correct term is not 'transfer' or 'deportation'. The correct term is 'ethnic cleansing'. add your comments

Ah, Tanya, still bitching by fred lapides 3:33pm Wed Jul 24 '02 print comment Ms (or rahter Prof.) Reinhardt once again has left her nice tenured spot teaching Linguistics in Holland and is for a time in Israel and badmouthing the country. Nice to be able to be a visitor and still be granted the right to mouth your opinions. Try that in any other country in the region, Tanya! add your comments