The Status Quo: Accepted or Unsustainable?

Having been here in Jerusalem for the past four months, I have had much time to think about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and consider its future.

I believe that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can and will only be solved first by political means. This is a point that I have recently adopted over the past year or so of studying the conflict and hearing from the many different leaders involved. There are thousands of different NGOs present in Israel and across the territories, and I think many of their true potentials will only be reached once a negotiated deal is signed by the two parties. One Voice Palestine and Israel, for instance, are completely hindered from operating to their full potentials due to a political reality that fosters anti-normalization, anti-interaction, and the maintenance of the status quo. This leads me to believe that a negotiated deal, if achieved honestly and justly, can be carried out and maintained by the popular good will of the people on both sides.

The question then becomes how to get the two sides to the table and agree on a deal. I take issue with the lopsided focus on Israeli perpetuation of the status quo when compared to the Palestinians'. Israelis are not rushing to the negotiating table for a number of reasons. The relative "stability" of the current status quo, coupled with the onslaught of terror across the region, leads mainstream Israeli voices to not champion the Palestinian issue. The above points are particularly more relevant to the Israeli right. I do believe, however, that once a center-left government takes power in Israel (within the next 5-10 years, in my opinion), the two sides will return to negotiations and achieve a comprehensive deal with mutual compromises. 

On the Palestinian side, there seems to be an acceptance of the status quo as well. This of course contradicts much of what Palestinians say abroad, but I believe there is much truth in the statement. The status quo keeps Palestinians as victims in a showing of disproportionate force in which Israelis are always wrong and Palestinians are always victimized. Projects like Rawabi point to the fact that the PA has little interest in state-building and responsible governance over Area A. In addition to this, the relentless embracement of the Right of Return, and its acceptance in Palestinian society as a given, is doing little to change the status quo. I recently took a day trip to Ramallah with three friends. Adorning the streets and public squares were calls for a return to all land previously owned in Israel. This idea is a dangerous one because the right of return is often a non-starter with Israeli negotiating teams, with precedence only outlining symbolic returns for small numbers of Palestinians.

This leads to the question of courses of action. How do we effectively change the status quo, or at least the feasibility of the current status quo? Regarding the Israeli side, the question of security and counter-terrorism efforts must be addressed. With America and the rest of the international community keeping one foot on the sideline in the fight against the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations in the region, there is a feeling in Israel that it would not get the support it needs if a peace deal goes sour. The situation with Iran gaining more and more influence in the region is also a further affirmation of Israeli security concerns, with Tehran eyeing the West Bank as its next foothold in the region. A stronger international and American presence in the region that could counter the destabilizing forces would give Israel the increased confidence in reaching a peace accord with Arab leaders. 

Regarding the Palestinian side, I believe there needs to be an increased focus on its internal political sphere and state-building efforts. The PA is in the tough position of constantly having to win the support of its people in efforts to counter the popularity of Hamas amongst its people. This translates into political rhetoric that does not have much footing in the negotiating room, such as the signs I saw last week saying, "Return is our right and its fight is our will". By not focusing on Palestinian politics, the international community is effectively not allowing any room for the Palestinians to break out of victimhood. Corruption within the Palestinian Authority is also a huge problem that often gets a free pass due to this complete lack of interest in Palestinian politics. I do certainly recognize the Israeli role in Palestinian victimhood, but I believe the international community can serve a much more positive role in changing the status quo.

While this post may not be the most optimistic and empowering, I think it is important to truthfully look at the political realities and ways of shifting the status quo. I do believe a peace deal will be inked in the somewhat foreseeable future, but only through natural means and not imposed ultimatums.  

Israel Elections Part II: A Day on the Campaign Trail

What a day. It is currently midnight and I am sitting on the floor of the last bus from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The day that began at 8:30am and ran nonstop through the afternoon and evening is almost done. Although Election Day has indeed passed, the results are far from calculated or finalized. 

As a result of my weekly volunteering at campaign headquarters in South Tel Aviv since arriving here in Israel, I was fortunate to be a part of the Herzog campaign trail. We traveled as a large caravan to roughly eight different cities in central Israel, rallying voters and spreading the energy of hope and change from the Zionist Union campaign platform. Various Ministers of Knesset joined us in speaking with Israeli constituents. By the end of the day, the songs and chants became engrained in my head and my iPhone had died numerous times. 

My friend Robbie and I with one of Israel’s rising political stars, Stav Shaffir.

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Our efforts throughout the day were met with mixed feelings from Israeli citizens. Many chanted Rak Bibi, Rak Bibi! (only Bibi, only Bibi!), while others smiled and hoped that a new wave of leadership was on Israel’s horizon. The large team of campaign volunteers, from young ten-year-olds to older and wiser Israelis, persisted throughout the day. We survived on chocolate wafers and tuna salad sandwiches. 

The pre-election polls had swayed generously in the Zionist Union’s favor. What seemed impossible three months ago (replacing the current leader of Bibi Netanyahu) was now being projected in newspapers from the Jerusalem Post to the New York Times. Last minute campaign strategies by the main parties proved very effective in rallying the extra few mandates amongst the roughly 25% of Israelis who remained undecided going into the booths. Bibi, in an appeal to Israel’s religious nationals, resorted to extremist measures by insisting that no Palestinian state would form under his reign. Tzipi Livni, who was slated to share the Prime Minister role with Yitzhak Herzog in a rotation cycle, agreed to step down from the party’s slate with the hopes of catering to more of the masses. 

With the Zionist Union’s slated Secretary of Defense, Amos Yadlin

The final stop on the campaign trail was an exit poll celebration party in a basketball arena. Scores of journalists and campaign workers filled the hall with flags and stickers. Eyes were glued to the jumbo screens that had the predicted number of Parliament seats for each party. 

To much surprise, Bibi’s Likud boasted 28 seats while Herzog garnered 27. Both parties surpassed their predicted numbers, with Bibi’s being the more impressive feat (some polls predicted him receiving as little as 20 seats). What struck me the most was how each party, from the Left to the Right Wing, was celebrating as if they had won the World Cup. Our campaign worked tirelessly for each vote, yet the prospect of replacing Bibi this time around is all but lost. 

It is comical that most foreign journalists will be leaving the country tomorrow thinking that there is no more news to cover on the elections. They couldn’t be more wrong as now is the time for the raw, gritty politics as the parties attempt to forge coalitions for the incoming government. The days and weeks to come will tell us who actually “won” the election. 

It was indeed a fun ride being a part of it all!

AIPAC Policy Conference 2015

Last week, I went with the Colgate delegation to the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference. There, along with 16,000 other Israel supporters, I was granted the opportunity to attend massive general sessions, where we were addressed by influential political figures, including the Prime Minister of Israel BB Netanyahu. I also attended the ‘breakout’ sessions where I learned about topics ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the role of data analytics in political campaigns. I even had the opportunity to introduce the speakers at one of these sessions (the video is posted on our Facebook page). The conference was truly a unique and unforgettable experience. 

Something that became clear over the two days of the conference was AIPAC’s commitment to student activists. Over 3,000 students, high school and college, attended the conference, accounting for about one fifth of all the delegates. Numerous times the students were praised for their dedication to AIPAC, but now I must mention how dedicated AIPAC is to the students. They held special programming to improve Israel advocation abilities on campus, where anti-Israel sentiment is often encountered. They held a college fair so high school students could gauge which campus had the right Jewish and pro-Israel environment for them. All in all, AIPAC did just as much, if not more, for the students than we could have possibly done for them.

You may ask, what is it that we can do for them? Well, I am doing my part right here, right now. By writing this blog, publicizing it through Facebook and discussing AIPAC and Israel, I am reinforcing a strong American-Israeli relationship by demonstrating my support for Israel and the importance of maintaining strong bonds with our valuable ally. AIPAC’s main method of mobilizing the troops, so to speak, is the lobbying aspect of the organization. AIPAC is one of the most successful lobbying organizations in our country, despite their relatively small size. By forming relationships with representatives, discussing Israel with them and demonstrating how important the relationship is to us, we take tangible steps to ensuring that pro-Israel bills pass through Congress. In fact, the final day of Policy Conference consists of lobbying senators right on Capitol Hill. This gives us an opportunity both to support Israel and to give back to an organization that has given us so much. 

If you want to hear more about AIPAC, Israel club, Israel or pretty much anything, private message me on Facebook or comment below; I’d love to start a conversation!

Shootings in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a quiet city, but Sunday February 15 was unusually silent. During the afternoon of February 14 and early morning the next day, the very peaceful Danish capital fell victim to two acts of hatred and terror. At 3:33pm on February 14, a gunman fired over 30 shots into Krudttonden cultural center during a public seminar entitled "Art, Blasphemy, and Freedom of Expression," killing a male attendee and injuring three officers. At 12:50am on February 15, it is believed that it was the same gunman who shot and killed a Jewish man serving as a security guard for the Great Synagogue where a bat mitzvah was held. He also wounded two officers.

As a member of the Jewish community, it is very disturbing to see such violence against Jews, especially in a country that has a historical tradition of tolerance. In 1933, the Danish king attended a ceremony for the 100 year anniversary of the Great Synagogue's opening. His expression of respect towards his fellow Jewish people is truly incredible considering that at the same time, Nazis were rising to power just south in Germany. During World War II, the Danish government received information that the Nazis would be invading to arrest all the Jews. It initiated a plan to rescue the members of its Jewish community by shipping them to safety in Sweden; the few who stayed back were sent to Theresiendstadt concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic. Some were killed there, but overall more than 99% of Danish Jews survived World War II, very much thanks to Denmark's efforts.

The Danes have continued to show their support for their Jewish neighbors, as evident in their response to the recent attacks. Seeing a large crowd of people standing before the gates of the Great Synagogue, placing flowers, candles, and signs down on the sidewalk in solidarity, is absolutely breathtaking. I am very proud to be studying in a country that has shown such respect towards its Jewish population.

Israeli Elections Update

It is an incredibly exciting time to be in Israel. Last November/December, the current government collapsed and new elections were called for mid-March. With the 17^th of March quickly approaching, most Israelis have been closely following all the recent polls, campaign videos, and candidate mishaps.

What does it mean for a government to collapse? How does Israeli democracy work? A political theorist once explained that although the United States and Israel both are examples of democracies, their two styles of government could not be further apart. To begin, there are dozens upon dozens of political parties in this tiny country the size of New Jersey. Each party has its prioritized list of MKs (Minister of Knesset), and on Election Day voters submit their ballot to the party of their choosing. After the ballots are counted, each party finds outs how many Parliament seats it has received out of the 120 available, based on the percentage of votes they receive.  Whichever party receives the most seats (often somewhere between 25-35) gets the opportunity to form a leading coalition of different parties. So what is the current situation like?

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s most recent government collapsed due to political rifts within his coalition. As a result, he called for new elections in an effort to reconfigure a more effective leading majority. However, the past few months have provided a new hope for an alternative to Bibi, who most Israelis reluctantly support due to the lack of other options. In December, Labor (Avodah) Party’s leader Isaac “Buji” Herzog formed a joint party with Tzipi Livni, former head of peace negotiations with the Palestinians. The two politicians formed the Zionist Union (Mahane Tzioni) party, which is now directly competing with Bibi for the top post. Polls, as they always do, continue to fluctuate with each week. As of now, Buji and Bibi are each slated to receive somewhere around 25 seats, with other parties in the periphery such as Yesh Atid, Jewish Home, Kulano, and the newly formed United Arab List receiving around 10 seats.  After March 17^th’s elections, the leading party will have sixty days to form its majority coalition. These sixty days are just as important as the actual elections as the leading party chooses who to include in the next government.

Judging from the majority of conversations I have had with Israelis (mostly secular), many seem to be leaning towards Herzog’s Zionist Union. However, there is not much hope amongst these citizens that Bibi can actually be defeated. These next five weeks will be crucial for any party in campaigning for the 25% of Israelis who are still undecided. It will also be interesting to watch what the Arab voter turnout is on Election Day. With the four Arab parties joining together to form the United Arab List, it is perhaps likely that turnout will be higher than in past elections. With some polls indicating upwards of 11 or 12 seats, the party would be an asset, although unlikely, in forming a Left-leaning coalition.

Check out some of the more entertaining political campaign videos:

“The Bibi-Sitter” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHmYj5jJ3rw

“Naftali the Apologizing Hipster” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBN0nqQX5xo

Recent poll information: http://www.timesofisrael.com/1-in-4-israelis-still-undecided-but-more-of-them-leaning-toward-herzog/

Studying Abroad in the Holy Land

It feels surreal, sitting on the plane three hours away from Ben Gurion Airport. It’s about to be midnight, and tomorrow I will officially call myself a student of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  The university’s name certainly has a ring to it, and a history I’m eager to learn more about…more than the little I know (how its Mt. Scopus campus was restored following the 6 Day War). The same Mt. Scopus Campus that I will call home for the next four and a half months- the city of Jerusalem! How did I become a Junior so quickly?

The time indeed has gone by quickly- my first footsteps in Israel (circa July 2010) as a young Zionist do not seem so distant- yet I find myself returning for my sixth trip.

I have five semesters of studies at Colgate under my belt, with my major and minor declared and more and more of an idea of my post-graduation self. I travel to Jerusalem this time with a sense of permanence: I will be a Jerusalemite. I will have an apartment to call my own, a refrigerator to store my own hummus! 

This flight’s mentality is quite different then the last time I headed East. It was only four weeks ago that I participated on AIPAC’s annual Advanced Advocacy trip, a seven-day intensive trip to Israel for a handful of college students. There could not have been a better pre-game to this semester abroad than the AIPAC experience. For seven days, I lived and breathed the complexities and beauties that make up the Israeli land, history, and society. I found myself disagreeing with Israeli speakers at times while agreeing with Palestinians, learning much about myself and the world around me. I am fortunate to have had a few weeks at home to recuperate, only to now return back to Israel a more learned American Jew.

(Campaign season in Israel, with Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni) 

I am more than excited for what this next chapter has in store me- from experiencing the Jewish holidays in the holy land to venturing off on hikes with new friends. I will miss all that makes Colgate great (sorry Hamilton weather- you will not be getting a postcard) and am eager to hear about my peers’ successes in the coming months. Hopefully I will find time to write blog posts here and there. And hopefully me balancing all the calls from family members to remain safe in the Middle East coupled with my desire to experience new and exciting things will translate into enjoyable postings, pictures, and postcards (if you’re lucky) for you

(Yossi Klein Halevi, author of Like Dreamers)

Meeting Colgate's Congressman

With the 2014 Midterm Elections gone by us now, I have been reminiscing and pondering different questions related to the subject. Where do I fit into it all? As a twenty-one year old student, does my voice matter? Are my capabilities limited to just the box I check off in a voting booth?

I am brought back to an awesome opportunity I had earlier this semester a few months ago. As a result of different lobbying ventures, beginning in 2013 at my first AIPAC Policy Conference and then at the following year’s conference, fellow Colgate students and I developed a line of communication with legislative staff members from our Colgate U.S. Congressman’s office. What began with email correspondences with Representative Hanna’s Legislative Assistant, soon formed into a relationship that most recently offered myself and two other students the opportunity to have a meeting with the Congressman himself.

Traveling with me were Colgate first-years Abe Benghiat and Ben Ringel, two students who are also very well versed in Israeli and Middle Eastern affairs. Our conversation lasted for over an hour and we covered a multitude of topics, ranging from the Islamic State, Iran’s nuclear program, Gaza reconstruction, and the roles of other regional players such as Turkey and Qatar. Congressman Hanna is very educated on the region, so it was quite the experience for the three of us Colgate students to be able to have a conversation with him as he is directly involved in legislation relating to it. In addition, Abe, Ben, and I have all spent much time in Israel so the Congressman was delighted to hear our thoughts and opinions on the people and land of Israel. Representative Hanna has preliminary plans of making his first trip to country, so there was plenty of time for us to share our favorite Falafel spots and Tel Aviv beaches!

With all this in mind, I am reminded that in this great democracy we have in the United States of America, our ability to share our voice is not limited to the one day in the year that we vote.  Our elected representatives have multiple offices within their respective districts for the purpose of meeting with their constituents. I am truly grateful for the advice and opportunities provided to me by AIPAC and other organizations, which enabled me to have the confidence and knowledge in our meeting with Representative Hanna. Congressman Richard Hanna ran unopposed in this year's Midterms, and we look forward to him continue to represent Colgate students in the future!