Statement of the Israeli Communist Forum (19/5/2006)
New Government, Old Policy
The new government of Israel was created at the beginning of this month, headed by the successor/continuator of the previous PM, Ariel Sharon (still hospitalized in severe condition). Headed by Ehud Olmert, the “Kadima” Party continues the same basic policy lines which characterized the Government of Israel in recent years. The main principle is the refusal to conduct serious peace negotiations with the Palestinian side. Instead, the Olmert Government intends to take steps whose aim is the de-facto annexation to Israel of large parts of the Occupied Territories. For example, the Jordan Valley has recently become an area almost completely closed to Palestinians. Extension of the settlements goes on all over the West Bank. Construction of the “Separation Wall” goes on apace. Mistreatment of Palestinians at roadblocks and checkpoints continues, with various old and new limitations. And to top it all, there are increasing instances of the criminal “liquidations” of Palestinian leaders, in the course of which more and more civilians are hurt, including women and children.
In order to achieve international support for the intended annexation moves, Olmert speaks of certain Israeli unilateral steps, which would include the evacuation of certain settlements in the occupied West Bank (as a continuation of the previous “Disengagement Plan”, which included mainly the evacuation of settlements in the Gaza Strip). But with the creation of the government even this option – of some kind of withdrawal from some additional small parts of the Occupied Territories – seems more far away than ever. According to a recent Olmert statement, if it takes place at all it will only be two years from now… In any case, the way to promote a comprehensive and lasting agreement is not through any kind of unilateral act, but through talking to the legal elected leadership of the Arab Palestinian people, and reaching an agreement with it on the basis of withdrawal from all the Occupied Territories, until the June ’67 borders. The Government of Israel must recognize the elected Palestinian government, headed by the Hamas. It is unacceptable to demand the holding of democratic elections and then not to recognize the results.
The Hamas victory in the Palestinian legislative elections is being used a pretext to repeat the old mantra about there being “no partner to talk to”. This, precisely when the Hamas leaders make many declarations indicating a tendency for moderation and willingness to reach a compromise on the basis of Israeli withdrawal to the June 1967 lines. Unfortunately, also the Labour Party leader made inflammatory statements following the Palestinian elections – as did even the Meretz leader Yossi Beilin.
It is highly worrying that Ehud Olmert made an effort to include in his cabinet also the extreme-right party "Israel Our Home” – even though in the end this party remained outside the cabinet. Avigdor Lieberman, leader of this party, is one of the most extreme racists in Israel. In the Knesset debate on May 4, Lieberman effectively incited to murder the Arab Knesset Members, when he compared them to the Nazi war criminals executed following the Nuremberg Trials. Of course, in reality the arch-Fascist Lieberman is himself far closer to being defined as a Nazi, and it is very regrettable that his party increased its electoral strength in the recent elections.
Kadima’s main coalition partner is the Labour Party, which for its part did not completely rule out being in one cabinet with Lieberman. The new Labour Party leader conducted a campaign in which the social issues were emphasized and raised several conspicuous social demands (such as raising the minimum salary to the equivalent of 1000 dollars per month). In the end, however, he gave up nearly al of these demands, and surprisingly chose to take up the Ministry of Defence rather than any socio-economic portfolio. It is no surprise that in its very first days the government already announced its intention to considerably increase the prices of basic foodstuffs and of public transportation. This is a direct continuation of policies enacted by the previous government.
In the present political situation, we face a complete absence of a perspective for a political and diplomatic process and an increase in the power of racist nationalists who support ethnic cleansing. In face of this, unity in struggle should be increased between the political forces active among the Arab population in Israel, and especially together with consistent Jewish peace seekers. In our view, it would have been much better had such understanding been achieved already before the elections. But also now it is still highly important. It is of paramount importance to promote a unity in struggle of all political organizations which struggle for the dismantling of all settlements and for complete withdrawal from the Occupied Territories; who confront the threat of “transfer” and ethnic cleansing made against the Arab Population in Israel and against its continued discrimination in all spheres of life; and who struggle for a fundamental change of the present socio-economic policy.