Security

Based on international comparisons, Israel is in a 'good' spot in the middle. The number of women in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, reached a record high last year, but even then they accounted for only 30% of all Knesset Members (34 out of the 120 Knesset members). The first quarter of 2019 catches Israel at the height of an election campaign. However, it is already projected that following the elections the number of women Members of Knesset will be even lower. And, as everyone knows, the head count tells only part of the story.

Israel’s prime minister is fighting hard to weaken the most important moderate force in his country. Which is why he’s going to be a big problem for the next U.S. president. 

In the past few weeks Israelis and Palestinians are facing increased violence. What are the reasons behind this new round of escalation? Have a look at the short movie from our latest discussion.  

Those convinced that Israel should not have been created in the first place, are entitled to their opinion. They must come clean about seeking a post-Israel endgame. An essay by Prof. Dan Rabinowitz

The Israeli government announced that it is establishing a team to formulate a working plan to advance UN Resolution 1325 in Israel. The resolution calls for women’s equal inclusion in all aspects of decision-making, especially around issues of peace and security. is this a sign that gender awareness is spreading in Israel? (Lilith Blog)

Security makes a comeback in peace. If the generals avoid mistakes of the past and put action behind words, they could have an impact.

For those on the left, simply beginning an operation without definite political objectives, and the terrible price paid for that decision with the lives of civilians and soldiers on both sides, was bad enough, particularly when accompanied by the loss of a window of opportunity for an Israeli peace initiative with the Palestinian Authority.

The most recent round of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has paused. Each side has experienced the period in a profoundly different way, and future policies that may even deepen the animosity. Read some of the main observations, questions, and speculations from our partners at +972 magazine.  

“We can only imagine how government ministers would give official statements saying that instead of investing in war, investments will be made to promote joint ventures of social welfare, education, environment and many more”. Heinrich Boell Foundation’s partner Itach Maaki – Women Lawyers for Social Justice has been working to promote such a vision for the past years.  Adv. Anat Thon Ashkenazi analyses how UNSCR 1325 on Women Peace and Security is relevant to the current situation in Palestine and Israel. 

+972 Magazine (972mag.com) is a blog-based web magazine that is jointly owned and operated by a group of journalists, analysts and bloggers, based primarily in Israel and Palestine. Their goal is to provide fresh, original, on-the-ground reporting and analysis of events in the region. After 3 years of operation, +972 Magazine has emerged as one of the most important English-language platform for progressive writing from Israel/Palestine. The Heinrich Boell Foundation has partnered with +972 Magazine ever since its inception, in support of freedom of though and speech in Israel. Following is an article first published in +972mag.

On June 20, 2013, the Heinrich Böll Foundation Israel, the Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research, the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies and the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue held the conference 20 Years since the Oslo Accords - Success and/or Failure?. In advance of a comprehensive publication of contributions, we are pleased to present this analysis by Dr. Ephraim Lavie on the early foundation of obstacles in the Oslo negotiation process.

How is the Israeli public reacting to the flotilla incident? What is the reaction of the Israeli peace groups? What kind of protest took place or is planned? What kind of repercussions of the events towards the proximity talks do you see? Dan Jacobson, Tel-Aviv University professor, Peace Now activist and Meretz Party official answers these questions and more.Read the interview»