Chutzpah* or Goodwill? Israeli Prime Minister Brokers Russia/Ukraine Peace—How about Peace with Palestine?
By: John Mason / Arab America Contributing Writer
Israeli Prime Minister Neftali Bennett is playing a role as a mediator between Russia and the Ukrainians. Bennett suggests that his criticism of Russia is mild so that he can keep the lines open with both sides to encourage mediation. Here, we suggest that the PM use this occasion to rethink the issue of Palestinians, such that their situation is accorded equivalence with refugees everywhere.
*Chutzpah—Yiddish for extreme self-confidence or audacity; impudence or gall (sounds like hutzpah)
Israel keeps lines open with Russia to play a mediating role with Ukraine
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has offered to host peace talks in Jerusalem between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, contingent upon the agreement of the two parties. Both countries have large populations of Jewish people. Washington Post opinion writer, David Ignatius, reported on the negotiation offer, suggesting that the bid is “potentially the most hopeful diplomatic development since Russia invaded Ukraine two weeks ago.” The offer occurred following Bennet’s visit to Putin in Moscow.
How would Israel be in such a position to play the peace broker role? It’s because Bennett’s government, functioning for less than a year, has only been mildly critical of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. For example, Israel did not support the United Nations Security Council resolution that on February 25, condemned the invasion. However, it did join 140 other countries of the General Assembly on March 2 in denouncing Russia. Israel’s criticism ‘light,’ it admitted, was intentional, so that it could “keep its line open with both sides to encourage mediation.
The Prime Minister’s conversations with Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky during the last week, according to the Post, has not resulted in a breakthrough. One Western official, however, told the Post’s David Ignatius, “Bennett’s ability to communicate between the sides brought about a shift in the positions of both sides since the beginning of his mediation — from existential to territorial.” In other words, Putin seemed to be saying he would no longer demand Ukraine’s dissolution.
A week or so following the Zelensky-Putin conversations, that perception of Putin’s magnanimity has faded. The U.S. position is not unreceptive to the Zelensky-Putin talks and it sees “the Israeli initiative as a possible exit ramp in the increasingly brutal confrontation.” However, a U.S. official stressed, that “any decision about a negotiated settlement should be left to Zelensky rather than imposed from outside.”
The Post seems to think Prime Minister Bennett has a proclivity for brokering “seemingly impossible divides,” as evidenced by the fact that he brokered an Israeli coalition government that “stretches from his own right-wing party Yamina to centrist coalition partner Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid faction all the way to an Islamist party called the United Arab List.” The last party is Palestinian.
However, in the context of Israel’s political party situation, Bennett’s antipathy towards the Palestinians is well known. As a former member of the Israel Defense Force, his vitriol towards Palestinians exhibited itself in the full light of day.
Achievements to date of Bennett’s effort to mediate Russian-Ukrainian War
One result so far of the Israeli-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia is not so favorable for Israel itself. That is, according to the Times of Israel, “Kyiv’s defense minister warns Israel’s ‘reluctance to choose a side’ could hurt ties for years to come.” That statement underscores the risky role of Israel in not taking a full-fledged position favoring Ukraine.
While several conversations have ensued between Zelensky and Putin, details of Israel’s brokering efforts have not emerged, assuming there is any of value. The Israelis maintain that they are truly playing an honest broker role. They also note the importance of Ukrainian immigrants in the founding of Israel, namely the history they brought with them and their desire to contribute to building the state of Israel.
Zelensky has been laudatory towards Israel but has criticized it for not doing more. One criticism was that Israel lacked a clear position against the Russian invasion, which “could cast a shadow over ties between Kyiv and Jerusalem in the coming years.” The Ukrainian statement also noted, “Israel is showing an unexplained disconnect and reluctance to choose a side in the war in Ukraine.”
Even more stark is the Ukrainian official statement that any strained relations with Israel now will “cause a growing lack of trust for many years because we will win, without a doubt, with you or without you.” Another matter of concern to the government in Kyiv is Israel’s policies that limit the entry of Ukrainian refugees in flight of the Russian attack. That seems like a no-brainer.
Palestinian-American takes on Liberals who abandon their values when it comes to Palestine – in contrast to an outpouring of aid to Ukraine
Apropos to the outreach in the name of peace by the Prime Minister of Israel, fashion leader Gigi Hadad, whose father is a Palestinian refugee, has been “harassed for suggesting Palestinians deserve human rights.” Cited in The Guardian, Hadad’s quote is one of many criticisms she has made against so-called liberals or progressives, who fear even mentioning the word Palestine puts them at risk of being labeled antisemitic.
Hadad has noted that the topic of Palestine or Palestinian “has become so loaded that some people seemingly prefer to pretend Palestine and Palestinians don’t exist and just ignore the issue altogether. Nothing makes liberals abandon their progressive values, or their courage, like someone mentioning Palestine.”
Ukraine and Palestine were linked by Hadad when she pledged to donate all her Fashion Month proceeds to relief efforts in Ukraine and Palestine. She averred, “Our eyes and hearts must be open to all human injustice”. However, when Vogue magazine quoted Hadad’s reference to Palestine, it subsequently omitted it once several pro-Israelis objected, calling it antisemitic. Vogue bravely reintroduced the reference, following a protest of people who insisted that it is not antisemitic to support Palestinians.
It’s time to rethink the issue of Palestinians, such that their situation is accorded equivalence with refugees everywhere. Otherwise, the injustices and oppression heaped on the Palestinians will continue to be treated according to a double standard. Their suffering and struggles will persist in being treated with less urgency.
Mr. Bennett needs to apply his keen negotiating skills in brokering between Ukraine and Russia to the problem that rests right on his doorstep.
Sources:
–“Opinion: Israel offers to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine,” David Ignatius, Washington Post, 3/10/2022
–“Bennett, Zelensky speak on phone after Ukraine leader proposes Jerusalem summit,” Times of Israel, 3/12/2022
–“Nothing makes liberals abandon their values, or their courage, like mentioning Palestine,” Arwa Mahdawi, The Guardian, 3/12/2022
John Mason, PhD., who focuses on Arab culture, society, and history, is the author of LEFT-HANDED IN AN ISLAMIC WORLD: An Anthropologist’s Journey into the Middle East, New Academia Publishing, 2017. He has taught at the University of Libya, Benghazi, Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, and the American University in Cairo; John served with the United Nations in Tripoli, Libya, and consulted extensively on socioeconomic and political development for USAID and the World Bank in 65 countries.
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