Page 42 - Jewish News_October-2020

42 October 2020 COMMENTARY

Israel’s challenges and hopes Israel, UAE establish diplomatic relations

By Harold M. Halpern By Rabbi Howard A. Simon
ast month, I speculated why Saudi Arabia. including financial, from other Arab While the instability of the govern- es gadol haya sham – a great
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- The euphoric reaction that peace nations. ment was being played out, Hamas, in miracle happened there. Israel
Ltanyahu did not begin the pro- was on the horizon for Israel and the I have discussed this with Israelis Gaza, was sending incendiary balloons Nand the United Arab Emirates
ceedings to annex the settlements and/ Middle East has been tempered. The on the street, members of my family into the south, wreaking havoc with the (UAE) have agreed to establish a peace
or the Jordan Valley in the West Bank Palestinians expressed angrily that the and friends living in Israel, and with Israeli farms. In the north, Hezbollah, treaty between the two countries that
on July 1 as he promised during his last UAE broke the agreement among the Israeli political writers, and read many in de facto control of Lebanon, tested will include direct flights, reciprocal
campaign. Arab nations of no normalization with of the opinion columns. Some are op- Israel security on the Lebanese and embassies and other bilat-
Now we know why. President Israel until Israel made peace with timistic that the Palestinians will come Syrian border. As I write this, Israel eral agreements that bring
Donald Trump was negotiating an them. Iran threatened action against to the table to take part in the benefits is retaliating by bombing in both the the two closer together.
agreement with the United Arab Emir- the UAE. and not be left behind. south and north to deter further Hamas Prime Minister Benja-
ates (UAE) and To date, as I write this column at I am not of the mind that we will and Hezbollah attacks. min Netanyahu stated the
Israel for normal- the end of August, many of the Arab na- see negotiations in the near future. The government is caught between following regarding the
ization of rela- tions, including Saudi Arabia, have an- I will welcome events to prove me a rock and a hard place. The coalition new agreement: “Today
tions. Netanyahu nounced that they are not ready to enter wrong. In the interim, Israel and the has two leaders who don’t get along. we usher in a new era of
was required by into normalization with Israel. This is a UAE will derive the benefits of their Each has veto power over government peace between Israel and
the agreement to mild response. These countries contin- new open relationship. action. Without an election, the gov- the Arab world. There is a
forgo annexation ue to work and trade with Israel behind The agreement gave a sigh of relief ernment will continue to be ineffec- good chance we will soon
in return for the the scenes. They realize that they have to those who opposed annexation. tual. But if they go to election, which see more Arab countries
first-ever agree- common interests with Israel including But it provided no relief from the would be the fourth in two years, the joining this expanding circle of peace.”
Harold M. Halpern ment with an the need to suppress Iran against its de- public dissatisfaction with Netanya- campaign and election will take place The question is, how did this im-
Arab country based upon the concept stabilizing and threatening actions. hu’s erratic efforts to control the pan- during the pandemic. Elections are a portant event come to take place? The
of “Peace for Peace.” The hope of Trump and Netanya- demic and its devastating effect on the drain on the budget. answer is the concerns that both Israel
The announcement of the normal- hu is that the Palestinians, with pres- economy. Israel society is almost equally di- and the UAE have regarding the desire
ization agreement unleashed optimistic sure from the Arab nations, will realize If dealing with COVID-19 wasn’t vided by those who support Netanyahu of Iran to spread its influence in the
hopes for normalization of relations that the time has come to return to the enough, the government was confront- and those who oppose him. An election Middle East. Both countries see Iran as
with all the other Sunni Gulf States: negotiating table. They have said “no” ed with another crisis. would likely result in another standoff. a threat to their way of life and a major
Sudan, Morocco and ultimately with for 20 years, relying on the support, Netanyahu demanded that the co- Netanyahu has been Prime Min- concern as Iran continues to develop
alition agreement be amended to pro- ister for 12 years. This is longer than its nuclear capacity. Crown Prince Mo-
vide for a one-year budget instead of a anyone else. He has led Israel to dip- hammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the day-
two-year one. If a budget was not ad- lomatic and economic success. Despite to-day ruler of the UAE, also shares
opted by August 25, the Knesset would being surrounded by danger, he has Israel’s mistrust of Islamist groups
be automatically dissolved and new kept Israel safe and secure. But now he such as the Muslim Brotherhood and
elections held. Netanyahu also wanted may have lost the trust of many on a the Gaza Strip’s ruling Hamas militant
more power over the appointment of personal level. group. Israel, the strongest military
the Attorney General, State Prosecutor His trial on fraud, bribery and power in the region, represents a sym-
and Police Chief. They are the gate- breach of trust resumes in January. Will bol of strength that the United Arab
keepers against crimes and corruption. this be the time when Netanyahu’s time Emirates respects and counts on in this
Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue runs out? Even the most revered Prime confrontation with Iran.
White in coalition with Netanyahu, has Ministers, David Ben-Gurion, Golda
veto authority. He insisted that the co- Meir and Menachem Begin, realized
Standing Up to Hate alition agreement with Netanyahu be their time had come to resign in favor
of new leadership.
observed.
Neither Netanyahu nor Gantz I am constitutionally incapable of
A review of antisemitic incidents and what to do would move from their positions. Just being a doomsayer. I am confident that
when hate becomes violent. Learn prevention, hours before the deadline, both agreed Israel, despite the current difficulties,
awareness, and reaction skills to an active threat to kick the issue down the road for 120 will overcome as it has done through-
situation. days. out its history and remain a strong Jew-

This leaves many important gov- ish and democratic nation.
Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 7:30 pm ernment services underfunded. Both Harold Halpern is a retired attorney
Netanyahu and Gantz have been criti- living in Lakewood Ranch Florida. He
Featuring: cized for putting their political futures is a member of the Board of Directors
ahead of needed government unity. of the American Association of Jewish
Uncertainty continues until De- Lawyers and Jurists, and of the board
Yael Hershfield cember. If no agreement is reached at of the West Coast Florida Chapter of
ADL Florida Deputy Regional Director that time, the government is again tee- the American Jewish Committee.
tering with new elections required.
Stephanie Viegas What do you think?
Director, Office of Community Security at the Greater
Miami Jewish Federation
The Jewish News wants to know!
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