The "peace process", as Socialist Outlook has consistently maintained, is a device for maintaining the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem and for containing Palestinian dissent TWENTY years ago, Israeli journalist Uri Avneri used to speculate that Israeli policy makers had a secret map of their country, which showed it as an island in the midAuanuc Otherwise, he argued, there could be no explanation for their assumption that the only foreign powers that mattered were the USA and western Europe, and their refusal to accept that Israel was geographically and politically part of the Middle East.
The recent Israeli election indicates tnal, tor nall or me population, tis map Is still valid. Indeed, for a fifth of the electorale, une coundy Is apparenuy not even located in the twentieth century, but some three hundred years ago, in the ghettoes of east Europe and the mellahs of north Afnica The replacement of Prime Minister Shimon Peres, architect of the 'peace process', by hardline Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu is a setback for this process.
The likely coalition, in which Likud will be outnumbered by the Jewish fundamentalist parties and reliant on the votes of the even-further right Tsomet, the populist Gesher, and Natan Sharansky's Russian immigrant party - all with their sectional demands - will restrict any freedom of action Netanyahu may have had. It looks like being the most right wing government in Israel's history.
The new electoral system, which includes a vote for Prime Minister as well as for parties in the Knesset, forced Peres to appeal to the Palestinian citizens of Israel, who voted in unprecedented numbers. and overwhelmingly for Peres. Among Jewish voters, Netanyahu led Peres by ten per cent In the eyes of many Israeli racists, this would in any case have invalidated a narrow win for Peres. Although non-Jewish citizens have the vote, politicians - including in the Labour party - have always sought a majority among the Jews.
In a desperate bid to hold on to the Jewish vote. Peres simultaneously gaunched ine murderous 'Operation Grapes of Wrath' against Lebanon. have done little to stop the haemorrhage of Jewish voters, while possibly alienating enough Palestinians to ensure Netanvahu's narrow victorv. Not for the first time, the internalised racism of Israeli liberals has brought about their defeat.
The election of Netanyahu is a humiliation for PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who had all-but-publically endorsed Peres. Last month's renunciation of the Palestinian National Charter was supposed to pave the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the occupied territories. The election of Netanyahu is a humiliation for PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who had all-but-publically endorsed Peres But would the election of Peres have made any difference? The 'peace process', as Socialist Outlook has consistentlv maintained, is a device for maintaining the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem and for containing Palestinian dissent, while recruiting the PLO to police the occupied territories and control the population.
Netanvahu has the same interest. though expressing greater scepticism than Peres over the ability and willingness of the PIO to act as Israel's agent. If he sticks by his opposition to any further 'concessions' to the Palestinians, we can expect to see a renewal of Palestinian resistance to israeli rule. Led by a new generation of young activists schooled in Israeli prison camps ane tomure chambers ane wisor doe re straining influence of a discredited PLO, this is likely to be more militant than the earlier Intifada.
Although such a rising would not be motivated by Islam, the fundamentalist parties remain the only force capable of mobilising and generalising the protest.
Meanwhile in israel. the growing influence of the Jewish fundamentalists is likely to be seen in further restrictions on women stones. supiecuor or eaucaton to religious control, bans on the sale of nonKosher food, Sabbath observance laws, ano oter aacks on democratic moRts The polarised Israeli electorate has dealt a double victory to the forces of religious irrationalism in both Israeli and Palestinian communities.