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Israel at 60 – Israel at 60 – Challenges on the Road Challenges on the Road

to Tranquility to Tranquility

Raphael Cohen-AlmagorRaphael Cohen-Almagor

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PreliminariesPreliminaries

Israel is still in process of Israel is still in process of development and undoubtedly it will development and undoubtedly it will face further tests.face further tests.

Never a dull moment.Never a dull moment. Missing component: Tranquility.Missing component: Tranquility.

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The main challengesThe main challenges

Relations with NeighboursRelations with Neighbours Integration of the Israeli-PalestiniansIntegration of the Israeli-Palestinians State and ReligionState and Religion Economy under Stress.Economy under Stress.

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NeighboursNeighbours Authoritarian regimes surround it. Authoritarian regimes surround it. The key factor for success is its The key factor for success is its

relationships with our neighbours.relationships with our neighbours.

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PreliminariesPreliminaries

Israel survived seven wars, Israel survived seven wars, Iraqi Scud attack, and two Iraqi Scud attack, and two Palestinian uprisings in 60 Palestinian uprisings in 60 years of independence.years of independence.

It is hard to maintain It is hard to maintain normality under such a normality under such a hostile environment. hostile environment.

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PreliminariesPreliminaries

Security expenses exhausts a third of Security expenses exhausts a third of our budget, leaving insufficient our budget, leaving insufficient resources for the development of resources for the development of other spheres. other spheres.

The constant security threat destroys The constant security threat destroys the tourism industry and preempts the tourism industry and preempts external investments essential for external investments essential for economic growth. economic growth.

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Arguments

I argue for ending the occupation

I argue for strengthening democratic values

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Arguments

I argue for accommodating the interests of the Israeli-Palestinians, striving to safeguard equal rights and liberties for all citizens notwithstanding nationality, religion, race or colour, and insisting that citizens have also duties to fulfill.

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Arguments

I argue for separation between state and religion

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Israeli-Palestinian ConflictIsraeli-Palestinian Conflict

Between the Jordan River and the sea Between the Jordan River and the sea there are now about 7 million Israelis there are now about 7 million Israelis (among them 1.3 million (among them 1.3 million Arabs/Palestinians) and 4 million Arabs/Palestinians) and 4 million Palestinians. Palestinians.

The annual growth rate of the Palestinians The annual growth rate of the Palestinians is among the highest in the world. There is is among the highest in the world. There is a need for separation in order not to reach a need for separation in order not to reach the point of an apartheid state. the point of an apartheid state.

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Occupied TerritoriesOccupied Territories

Ending the occupationEnding the occupation Historian Lord Acton (1834-1902) said: "Liberty is not a Historian Lord Acton (1834-1902) said: "Liberty is not a

means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end... liberty is the only object which benefits all political end... liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition." alike, and provokes no sincere opposition."

In 2000 I started my international campaign for “Gaza first”. In 2000 I started my international campaign for “Gaza first”. This idea was largely adopted by Prime Minister Sharon.This idea was largely adopted by Prime Minister Sharon. Sharon did not think we will get in return the Hamas and Sharon did not think we will get in return the Hamas and

Qassams.Qassams. Still, we should have tried it.Still, we should have tried it. Now we will be much more careful in carrying out unilateral Now we will be much more careful in carrying out unilateral

steps.steps.

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Occupied TerritoriesOccupied Territories

Securing our bordersSecuring our borders Building trust and good-faithBuilding trust and good-faith Upon having a partner and reaching Upon having a partner and reaching

agreement, withdrawing settlements agreement, withdrawing settlements and the IDFand the IDF

Hopefully two (not three) state solutionHopefully two (not three) state solution 1967 Borders1967 Borders The FenceThe Fence

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The FenceThe Fence

For bridges, not fencesFor bridges, not fences Turning point – Passover, March Turning point – Passover, March

2002, Netanya Hotel Park 2002, Netanya Hotel Park DivorceDivorce death toll has dropped by over 70 death toll has dropped by over 70

percent, and number of injured has percent, and number of injured has dropped by more than 80 percent dropped by more than 80 percent

The route should be fairThe route should be fair

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The FenceThe Fence

The Fence should have been built along the 1967 The Fence should have been built along the 1967 Green Line, with some accommodations necessary to Green Line, with some accommodations necessary to include large cluster settlements in the Jerusalem include large cluster settlements in the Jerusalem area and Ariel, and compensating the Palestinians in area and Ariel, and compensating the Palestinians in other areas. other areas.

The idea of using the Fence to create geographic-The idea of using the Fence to create geographic-political facts that in effect make greater Israel and political facts that in effect make greater Israel and smaller Palestine is unfair, discriminatory, unwise and smaller Palestine is unfair, discriminatory, unwise and unjust. unjust.

The Fence should be moved, and it will. The questions The Fence should be moved, and it will. The questions revolve only about time, money and blood involved.revolve only about time, money and blood involved.

In the Bible, there is one word for both money and In the Bible, there is one word for both money and blood: "Damim". Israeli politics eloquently and blood: "Damim". Israeli politics eloquently and forcefully explains why.forcefully explains why.

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Occupied TerritoriesOccupied Territories

Evacuate isolated settlementsEvacuate isolated settlements Consolidate economic conditions for Consolidate economic conditions for

PalestiniansPalestinians Bolster security on both sidesBolster security on both sides Stop enlarging existing settlementsStop enlarging existing settlements Dismantle checkpoints to make the lives of Dismantle checkpoints to make the lives of

Palestinian civilians easier. Palestinian civilians easier. Develop the nautilus against rockets and Develop the nautilus against rockets and

other anti-rocket mechanismsother anti-rocket mechanisms

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Occupied TerritoriesOccupied Territories

Clean the atmosphere: fight bigotry, racism, Clean the atmosphere: fight bigotry, racism, incitement and hate on both sides of the fence.incitement and hate on both sides of the fence.

This includes a close study of the Palestinian and This includes a close study of the Palestinian and Israeli education curriculaIsraeli education curricula

Utilize the media to promote peaceful messages of Utilize the media to promote peaceful messages of reconciliation and mutual recognition.reconciliation and mutual recognition.

Demand the Palestinians to fight down terrorism. Demand the Palestinians to fight down terrorism. Zero tolerance in this sphere.Zero tolerance in this sphere.

The Right of ReturnThe Right of Return The refugee problem – international economic effortThe refugee problem – international economic effort JerusalemJerusalem Mount Temple – International ZoneMount Temple – International Zone

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Society’s ProfileSociety’s Profile

No shared No shared raison d'êtreraison d'être 20% wish to transform democracy into 20% wish to transform democracy into

theocracy theocracy 20% do not endorse the Zionist ethos20% do not endorse the Zionist ethos20% of the population are immigrants from 20% of the population are immigrants from

the former Soviet Union where no the former Soviet Union where no democracy existed democracy existed

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SchismsSchisms

In addition, Israel suffers from internal In addition, Israel suffers from internal schisms: schisms:

between Israeli-Palestinians and Israeli-between Israeli-Palestinians and Israeli-Jews inside the Green (1967) Line; Jews inside the Green (1967) Line;

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SchismsSchisms

between orthodox Jews and between orthodox Jews and secular Jews;secular Jews;

between the ideological right and between the ideological right and the ideological left – Peace v. the ideological left – Peace v. Land, now transformed to Land, now transformed to Security and Demography v. LandSecurity and Demography v. Land

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The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence holds that Israel will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; that it will be based on the foundations of liberty, justice and peace;

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The Declaration of Independence

that it will uphold complete equality of social and political rights to all of its citizens irrespective of religion, race or sex, and that it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.

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Israeli-Palestinians

• Formal v. Full Citizenship• Discrimination• Racism

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Israeli-Palestinians

• Arabic is one of the two official languages of the State of Israel. Therefore it should enjoy a dominant status and have the importance it deserves.

• Arabic should be taught at every primary and high school together with English.

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Israeli-Palestinians

• Studies of all cultures and religions that exist in Israel should be made available.

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Israeli-Palestinians

• Delegates of the Arab minority should be represented, in accordance with their size in society, in the Knesset and in the government.

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Israeli-Palestinians

• Guaranteeing representation for a minority

• Devolving power to local levels in just ways by just means

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Israeli-Palestinians

• At the same time, Israel would like to see from all its citizens, without exception, a real and strong commitment to the state, to peace, and to the struggle against terror.

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Army/National Duty

• Citizens who have a problem in serving in the army for religious, moral or national reasons should commit themselves to do national service for the required period of time (presently three years for men; two years for women) in their own communities, working to better the conditions of their own group.

• Army service – pretext for discrimination

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QuestionsQuestions

►Can a liberal democracy allow Can a liberal democracy allow minority groups to restrict the minority groups to restrict the individual rights of society at individual rights of society at large?large?

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Live and Let LiveLive and Let Live

► We need to We need to differentiate differentiate between the between the symbolicsymbolic aspects aspects and the and the modus modus operandioperandi aspects. aspects. As far as the latter As far as the latter are concerned, are concerned, separation between separation between state and religion state and religion should be achieved. should be achieved.

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Religion and State

If an illiberal minority is seeking to oppress other groups, then most liberals would agree that intervention is justified in the name of self-defence and liberty

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Religion and State

The secular majority in Israel has every right to object to attempts which aim at narrowing its freedom of conscience and to broaden the authority of religious orthodoxy.

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Religion and State

Democracy is supposed to allow each and every individual the opportunity to follow her or his conception of the good without coercion.

Israel today gives precedence to Judaism over liberalism.

I submit that on issues such as this one, the reverse should be the case.

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Religion and State

Israel, being the only Jewish state in the world, should strive to retain its Jewish character. The symbols should remain Jewish with some accommodations in order to make the state a home for its Palestinian citizens as well. Shabbat should remain the official day of rest.

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Religion and State

Palestinian villages and towns may make Friday their day of rest.

Hopefully, one day, when security considerations would become less dominant and pressing, and the Israeli economy could afford two days of rest, as is the case in many parts of the world, then Friday and Shabbat will become the two official days of rest.

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Religion and State

while Shabbat should be observed, malls and shopping places outside the cities should be available for the many people who work during the week and do their shopping during weekends.

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Religion and State

Public transportation should be made available for all people who cannot afford having a car and for those who do not drive.

The state should cater for the needs of as many citizens as possible.

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Religion and State

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Religion and State

Kosher shops and restaurants should be available and with them non-Kosher shops and restaurants for the secular, agnostic population.

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Religion and State

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Religion and State

Most importantly, the significant events in one's life: birth, wedding, divorce and death should be handled in accordance of the people's own choices.

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Religion and State

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Religion and State

If they so desire, people may involve rabbinate and other religious institutions in their private lives. But this option should be left to them. If people wish to have secular ceremonies then they should have the ability to conduct them and not to be forced to undergo practices which mean very little to them, if anything. The state should have as little as possible say in family, intimate affairs.

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Religion and State

Along Hevra Kadisha secular burial services should be offered.

Today people need not travel outside the country to marry in civil marriage.

10% of the population are gay/lesbian. The liberal state should address their needs as well and allow them to marry as they see fit.

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Duties

Large sectors, mainly the ultra-orthodox, do not pay taxes, do not serve in the army, do not work;

yet, they receive state support allowing them to study torah.

Resources should be distributed equally to all sectors.

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Duties

Every citizen is expected to pay in accordance with his/her abilities.

Israel should sponsor religious studies to the same extent that it supports university and other forms of high education.

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EconomyEconomy

Unemployment continues to be significantUnemployment continues to be significant Salaries going down in real terms (35% of Salaries going down in real terms (35% of

lecturers salaries from 1997 till now). lecturers salaries from 1997 till now). Welfare benefits are cut. Welfare benefits are cut. Taxes are high and continue to rise. Taxes are high and continue to rise. Israel has the highest tax rate in the world, Israel has the highest tax rate in the world,

outside Scandinavia.outside Scandinavia.

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EconomyEconomy

People are worried about their physical People are worried about their physical security as well as about their economic security as well as about their economic security. security.

About 70% of the population claims their About 70% of the population claims their expenses outweigh their earnings. expenses outweigh their earnings.

About 25% of the population are below the About 25% of the population are below the poverty line.poverty line.

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EconomyEconomy

No natural resources: no gold, no silver, no No natural resources: no gold, no silver, no diamonds, no oildiamonds, no oil

Lecture in South AfricaLecture in South Africa ““All this mess for face cream?”All this mess for face cream?”

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EducationEducation

Our greatest asset is educationOur greatest asset is education But it is not in the government’s prioritiesBut it is not in the government’s priorities 20% cut in universities’ budget since 200120% cut in universities’ budget since 2001 In 2007, a 90-day universities strike, longest in In 2007, a 90-day universities strike, longest in

our historyour history

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EconomyEconomy

Israel’s economy is still dependent at large on Israel’s economy is still dependent at large on the USA.the USA.

We should strive to gain independence and We should strive to gain independence and autonomy.autonomy.

Stop the brain drain.Stop the brain drain. Decrease the increasing gap between the small Decrease the increasing gap between the small

rich cream and the large poor sector. rich cream and the large poor sector.

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In ConclusionIn Conclusion

Security remains the main Security remains the main preoccupationpreoccupation

Strive for co-existence with Strive for co-existence with neighboursneighbours

Mitigate schismsMitigate schisms Narrowing the gap between Narrowing the gap between

rich and poorrich and poor

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Thank you