Politico vom 27.05.2020
"How Israel and the Arab world are making peace without a peace deal"
https://www.politico.eu/article/how-israel-and-the-arab-world-are-making-peace-without-a-peace-deal/
Aaron David Miller stellt fest, dass Israels Annäherung an andere Staaten der arabischen Welt auch ohne eine Lösung des Palästinenserkonflikts voranschreite. So sei vor kurzem ein Flugzeug der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate mit Covid-19-Hilfsgütern für die Palästinenser in Israel gelandet. "As unprecedented as the flight was, it really shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise. For the past five years, contacts between Israel and the Gulf states — especially Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain — have been booming. The examples of what amounts to a Great Thaw in an otherwise frozen political landscape are plentiful (…) Even more stunning, this putative détente is taking place on the watch of a right-wing Israeli prime minister who doesn’t even feign interest in a two-state solution and is doing everything he can to ensure one never emerges by keeping large parts of West Bank and all of Jerusalem. Contrary to the warnings from diplomats, analysts and peaceniks who predicted Israel would become a pariah if it didn’t settle up with the Palestinians, Israel seems to be making more progress toward normalization with Arab regimes without a credible peace process than with one."
Al Monitor vom 25.05.2020
"What are Jordan’s options if Israel annexed the West Bank?"
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/05/jordan-king-threats-peace-treaty-israel-annexation-pla
ns.html
Auch der jordanische König Abdullah hat Israel im Fall einer Annexion von Teilen des Westjordanlandes mit Konsequenzen gedroht. Osama Al Sharif erläutert, welche Optionen Jordanien offenstehen würden. "Al-Monitor has learned that Jordan is considering, among other options, suspending parts of the 1994 peace treaty claiming that the Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley violates the delineation of borders between Israel and Jordan, in addition to being illegal under international law and pertinent United Nations resolutions. Immediate reaction may include expelling the Israeli ambassador in Amman and recalling the Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv. The unilateral annexation of parts of the West Bank is seen as presenting an existential threat to Jordan’s national security. It not only renders the two-state solution irrelevant, but it resurrects some far-right Israeli claims that Jordan is a de facto Palestinian state. It also raises fears about the fate of over 2 million Palestinian refugees living in Jordan. Jordan had not supported Trump’s peace vision, unveiled last January, and rallied Arab and international support for the two-state solution. (…) Political commentator Oraib al-Rintawi believes that Jordan’s reaction will be calculated and will gradually escalate. (…) But he admits that the timing of the impending crisis is sensitive since Jordan is dependent on US aid and is facing tough economic conditions made even worse by the coronavirus outbreak."
Haaretz vom 25.05.2020
"Erdogan Vows to Defend Palestinians Against Israel's 'Annexation Project' in Holiday Message to U.S. Muslims"
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-erdogan-warns-against-israel-s-annexation-project-in-message
-to-u-s-muslims-1.8872356
Der türkische Präsident Erdogan hat in einer Feiertagsbotschaft an US-Muslime bekräftigt, dass er eine israelische Annexion von Teilen des Westjordanlandes nicht einfach hinnehmen werde. "'Last week we have witnessed that a new occupation and annexation project, which disregards Palestine’s sovereignty and the international law, was put into action by Israel,' Erdogan said, while congratulating U.S. muslims on the Muslim holiday. 'We will not allow the Palestinian lands to be offered to anyone else. I would like to reiterate that Al Quds Al Sharif [the Arabic name for Jerusalem], the holy site of three religions and our first kiblah, is a red line for all Muslims in the world,' he added."
The Times of Israel vom 25.05.2020
"Netanyahu said to tell Likud MKs: West Bank annexation on for July"
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-to-tell-likud-lawmakers-west-bank-annexation-on-for-july/
Israels Premierminister Netanjahu will die Annexion von Teilen des Westjordanlandes offenbar im Juli durchführen. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said he has set a July date for when Israel will extend its sovereignty to areas of the West Bank, and informed his Likud lawmakers he has no intention of changing it, Hebrew media reported. At the opening of his Likud faction’s weekly meeting at the Knesset, Netanyahu said there has never been a better time in the country’s history to apply sovereignty, which is tantamount to annexation, to these areas."
Middle East Eye vom 15.05.2020
"Jordan's King Abdullah warns of 'massive conflict' if Israel annexes West Bank"
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jordan-king-abdullah-warns-massive-conflict-israel-annexed-west-bank
Der jordanische König Abdullah hat angekündigt, dass eine israelische Annexion des Westjordanlandes zu einem "massiven Konflikt" führen würde. Eine mögliche Reaktion wäre die Aufkündigung des Friedensabkommens von 1994, so Abdullah. "Jordan's King Abdullah II has warned that the Israeli government's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank could lead to 'massive conflict' and said his kingdom is 'considering all options,' including freezing or cancelling its 1994 peace treaty with Israel. 'I do not want to make any threats and create an atmosphere of controversy, but we are considering all options,' King Abdullah told the German magazine Der Spiegel, when asked about the possibility of cancelling the Wadi Araba treaty. Jordan shares 335km of borders with Israel and the West Bank, and its security coordination is highly treasured by Israel's military and intelligence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's incoming coalition government is expected to make moves towards imposing sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, likely with US backing. The areas mooted for annexation amount to around one-third of the West Bank and include a 97km stretch along the border with Jordan."
TIME.com vom 13.05.2020
"To Annex or Not to Annex: What Will Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Do Next?"
https://time.com/5835869/benjamin-netahyahu-west-bank-annex/
Israels Premierminister Netanjahu steht Aaron David Miller zufolge derzeit vor der kritischen Entscheidung, die lange angekündigte Annexion weiter Teile des Westjordanlands tatsächlich durchzuführen, oder den Schritt angesichts der Risiken zumindest aufzuschieben. "To move forward with annexation Netanyahu will need to persuade himself no matter how alluring and attractive the upsides that the downsides are manageable. A cool and clinical assessment might argue for caution and prudence. The Prime Minister’s trial begins on May 24 and defending himself before the judges in Jerusalem court will require time and effort. Israel has managed COVID-19 remarkably well. But economic recession looms and there’s no guarantee that the virus won’t return in the future. Then there are the Arabs, the Palestinians, and the international community to consider. None of these are necessarily hard stops. But no Israeli Prime Minister since the inception of the state has expanded Israel’s relations more in the Arab world, especially in the Gulf. Relations with Egypt have never been better; Jordan-Israel ties are strained. And a move to unilaterally annex parts of the West Bank effective, let alone declare sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, may cause King Abdullah to crater them. And why risk riling up Palestinians — now divided, weak and dysfunctional when the world seems to have all but forgotten them?"
BBC vom 12.05.2020
"Coronavirus: Israel turns surveillance tools on itself"
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52579475
Der israelische Inlandsgeheimdienst Shin Bet hat in der Coronakrise Tom Bateman zufolge die Aufgabe erhalten, seine IT-Methoden zur Überwachung verdächtiger Personen auf die Bevölkerung auszuweiten. "The Middle East's cyber-superpower has made extensive use of surveillance technology to try tackle Covid-19, as countries around the world grapple with the trade-off between privacy and monitoring infection. The Shin Bet can access the location data of millions of mobile phone users to trace those who have been in proximity to confirmed patients. Israel credits the system, among other measures, with reducing the rate of infection. (…) But the unprecedented expansion of the Shin Bet's powers has been the subject of controversy, including a Supreme Court challenge, questions over its accuracy, and accusations from doctors that it creates a distraction from testing for the coronavirus. The agency, now acting as a tool of public health enforcement, is usually tasked with preventing attacks against Israelis and routinely monitors Palestinians in the occupied territories."
Al-Monitor vom 10.05.2020
"In Israel, coronavirus crisis improves Jewish-Arab relations"
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/05/israel-arabs-benjamin-netanyahu-yitzhak-rabin-joint-li
st.html
In Israel habe die Coronakrise zu einer Verbesserung der israelisch-arabischen Beziehungen geführt, berichtet Afif Abu Much. "The truth of the matter is that Israel has long gotten used to the idea that emergency situations (most of them based on politics or security) tend to increase tensions and exacerbate preexisting animosity between the Arab and Jewish communities. (…) In contrast, the COVID-19 crisis seems to have helped improve the intercommunity relationship. The fact that the virus did not distinguish between Arabs and Jews played an important role in reconciling them. So did images of Arab doctors and nurses (some 20% of Israeli medical staff are Arab) fighting relentlessly on the front lines in the battle against the virus. By way of comparison, attitudes toward ultra-Orthodox society also experienced a shift as a result of COVID-19. The secular community was outraged at the high incidence of infection among that community, attributing it to lax attitudes toward social distancing and other measures intended to curb the pandemic’s spread. In the meanwhile, the coronavirus had the opposite effect on attitudes toward Arab citizens, and strengthened the relationship between the Arab and Jewish communities. All it took was a precursory glimpse at how the Arab community adhered to all government instructions, even shutting down its mosques and churches."
Jüdische Allgemeine vom 07.05.2020
"Brief an Deutschland: Protest in Israel gegen Deal mit Hamas"
https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/israel/brief-an-deutschland-protest-in-israel-gegen-deal-mit-hamas/
Der Vater einer bei einem Hamas-Anschlag ermordeten 18-jährigen Israelin hat einen Protestbrief an die deutsche Botschaft in Tel Aviv geschrieben, wegen der Vermittlungsrolle Deutschlands in einem geplanten Gefangenenaustausch zwischen Israel und der Hamas, berichtet die Jüdische Allgemeine Zeitung. "Kehrmann, der auch deutscher Staatsbürger ist, schrieb in dem Brief an die Botschaft: 'Ich verurteile es, dass Deutschland immer wieder die Rolle des Vermittlers übernimmt und eine aktive Rolle bei der Befreiung von Terroristen spielt, die Juden und Israelis in Israel brutal ermordet haben.' Er verwies auf einen früheren Deal mit der Hamas unter deutscher Vermittlung. 2011 hatte Israel den israelischen Soldaten Gilad Schalit gegen mehr als 1000 palästinensische Gefangene ausgetauscht. Kehrmann warnte vor einem neuen 'kritischen Punkt, an dem wir vor dem Terror kapitulieren'."
Der Spiegel vom 06.05.2020
"Israel greift nach Raketenbeschuss Hamas-Stützpunkte an"
https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/israel-greift-nach-raketenbeschuss-hamas-stuetzpunkte-an-a-69c4856
8-586b-4e64-afa4-a5a9c5e6ef22
In Reaktion auf einen Raketenangriff der Hamas auf israelisches Territorium hat die Israelische Verteidigungsarmee am Mittwochmorgen drei Stützpunkte der Islamisten im nördlichen Gazastreifen angegriffen, berichtet der Spiegel. "Nach Angaben einer israelischen Armeesprecherin war die Rakete der Hamas in einem Feld im Grenzgebiet zwischen Israel und dem Gazastreifen eingeschlagen. Bei dem Raketenangriff handelte es sich um die erste Attacke aus dem Gazastreifen auf Israel seit Ende März. Zu dem Angriff bekannte sich zunächst niemand."
The Times of Israel vom 28.04.2020
"US says 'prepared to recognize' Israeli annexation of parts of West Bank"
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-says-it-would-recognize-israeli-annexation-of-parts-of-the-west-bank/
Ein Mitarbeiter des US-Außenministeriums hat gegenüber der Times of Israel bekräftigt, dass die US-Regierung eine israelische Annexion von Teilen des Westjordanlands anerkennen würde. "The United States said Monday it was ready to recognize Israel’s annexation of parts of the West Bank but asked Israel’s government to also negotiate with the Palestinians. 'As we have made consistently clear, we are prepared to recognize Israeli actions to extend Israeli sovereignty and the application of Israeli law to areas of the West Bank that the vision foresees as being part of the State of Israel,' a US State Department spokesperson said when asked if the US would allow Israel’s new government to move forward with the process. The step would be 'in the context of the Government of Israel agreeing to negotiate with the Palestinians along the lines set forth in President Trump’s Vision,' the spokesperson told The Times of Israel."
Jüdische Allgemeine vom 20.04.2020
"So authentisch wie möglich"
https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/kultur/so-authentisch-wie-moeglich/
Die israelische Fernsehserie "Fauda", die vor dem Hintergrund des israelisch-palästinensischen Konflikts spielt, geht in ihre dritte Staffel. Pierre Heumann zufolge hat die Serie unter den Beteiligten des Nahostkonflikts Anhänger wie Gegner gefunden, was für die Herangehensweise der Macher spreche. "Gedreht wurde in zwei arabischen Städten in Israel sowie in einem Militärlager, wo Soldaten in einem palästinensischen Attrappendorf sonst den Ernstfall üben. Im Vergleich zu Hollywood sei das Budget für die Produktion 'wirklich nichts' – aber dennoch hat die 'New York Times' Fauda Ende 2019 als achtbeste Serie des Jahrzehnts gerühmt. 'Wir hoffen', so Issacharoff, 'mit unserer Serie eine Brücke zwischen Israeli und Palästinensern schlagen zu können, indem wir die Schwierigkeiten auf beiden Seiten des Konflikts zeigen.' Klar, es sei eine israelische Produktion, und das israelische Narrativ überwiege deshalb, meint er. Aber Fauda handle auch davon, dass Palästinenser 'leiden, weinen und lieben'. Dies werde in den israelischen Medien allzu oft unterschlagen, was dem Schwarz-Weiß-Denken Vorschub leiste."
NPR vom 02.04.2020
"Israel's Defense And Spy Agencies Step Up Anti-Coronavirus Efforts"
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/02/825898681/israels-defense-and-spy-agenci
es-step-up-anti-coronavirus-efforts
Israel setze im internationalen "Wettlauf" um medizinische Versorgungsgüter und Corona-Heilmittel auch auf das eigene Militär und die Geheimdienste, schreibt Daniel Estrin. "Israel does not usually divulge what its covert agencies are up to. Some of the shadowy efforts have come under criticism, particularly over privacy concerns about surveillance. But recent announcements about these agencies' coronavirus war efforts could also serve to reassure a worried public as Israel struggles to contain COVID-19, with more than 6,000 positive cases and more than 30 dead. Here are some examples: (…) A man identified as the Mossad espionage agency's technology chief told Israel's top investigative TV program that the agency was securing more than 100 ventilators, 25,000 N95 medical masks and tens of thousands of virus test kits from unnamed countries. He claimed this involved racing to factories, getting hold of supplies ordered by other countries and coordinating airlifts when airports are closed. A veteran Israeli intelligence affairs journalist criticized the Mossad's procuring medical devices from abroad while Israel's own health officials warned of dire shortages for years."
Neue Zürcher Zeitung vom 30.03.2020
"Stillstand in Israel – denn Sicherheit geht vor. Diese Devise hat auch einen Preis"
https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/israel-corona-potenziert-den-ausnahmezustand-ld.1548596
Der israelische Soziologe Natan Sznaider betrachtet die Corona-bedingten Restriktionen in Israel als grundsätzliche Herausforderung des Gesellschaftsvertrags. "Was wir derzeit vielleicht beobachten, ist ein 'Restart' der Moderne unter anderen Vorzeichen. Am Beginn der historischen Moderne – angesichts der europäischen Kriege des 17. Jahrhunderts – sah der englische Theoretiker Thomas Hobbes in der Todesangst die ursprüngliche Triebfeder für die Schaffung moderner Institutionen. Es ging dabei um die Unterwerfung des Einzelnen unter die Souveränität des Staates, welche das Recht auf Leben garantieren konnte (…). Gerade dieser Anspruch des Staates wurde durch Globalisierungsprozesse herausgefordert. Der Staat verschwand, die Grenzen wurden durchlässig, die Souveränität diffus. Nun hat sich der Staat in bester Manier zurückgemeldet."
The Times of Israel vom 29.03.2020
"Netanyahu, Gantz make 'significant progress' in all-night coalition talks"
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-gantz-make-significant-progress-in-all-night-coalition-talks/
Unter dem Eindruck der Coronakrise hat sich der Hauptkonkurrent von Premierminister Netanjahu, Benny Gantz, überraschend entschlossen, nun doch als Juniorpartner in eine von Netanjahu geführte Einheitsregierung einzutreten. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Resilience party chief Benny Gantz wrapped up an all-night meeting early Sunday on the terms of a unity government, which they were hoping to finalize later in the day. A joint statement from the two said they reached 'understandings and significant progress' during the talks at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem, without elaborating. (…) The unity talks came after Gantz in a shock move was elected Knesset speaker Thursday, leading to the dissolution of the Blue and White alliance, which had campaigned during the three elections over the past year on not joining a government led by Netanyahu due to his indictment on graft charges. Members of Israel Resilience have said the only alternative to joining a Netanyahu-led coalition was a fourth round of elections and that a government is needed to deal with the coronavirus outbreak."
