 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Books Living Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Making a difference
I am still optimistic regarding the situation in Israel after Netanyahu's failure in the elections and Ehud Barak's accession to power; furthermore, I am prepared to defend my position against the opinion that holds that there is no difference between the two.
In his campaign, Barak relied heavily on assurances that he would continue along the path to peace and pursue a political settlement. This was a contract he established with the Israeli electorate -- not with us. Hence, reneging on this policy is tantamount to reneging on promises made to the Israeli voters who brought him to power -- which will inevitably undermine his legitimacy.
To say that there is no difference between Barak and Netanyahu, furthermore, is to disregard the configuration of political power in Israel, the sharp differences between those for peace and those against it, or between extremists and realists.
In a sense, the recent elections were a test of the strength of each group. We must distinguish between the groups that make up Israeli society, and capitalise on their differences, instead of regarding the Israelis as a single, undifferentiated mass.
As for the severity of Barak's tone after his victory, it should be seen as the expression of a negotiating stance rather than a final statement. Talks with the Arabs will begin soon, as he well knows, and any negotiator must take a relatively extreme position in order to reach an eventual compromise.
Had he started from the middle ground, he could have found himself giving up far more than he expected.
Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.
