Crosswinds Eston Wirsing John Lowrey
BEWARE OF CROSSWINDS • As Friedman entering Israel and driving towards Jerusalem he saw a sign that said “in Hebrew something like BEWARE OF CROSSWINDS” (Friedman 252) • “I am leaving a country(Lebanon) where people are dying like flies and coming to a place where they warn you about the wind! Now, that's a real country" Friedman laughs (252). • People fought over ideological differences and rarely killed as a result, but were more likely to form stronger factions threatening with size and numbers. The crosswinds of such arguments, as beliefs conflicted with beliefs, proved dangerous anywhere in Jerusalem.
What kind on nation do we want to be in the near or not so distant future? • Option 1: Keep Israel including West Bank and Gaza strip, but curtail Israeli democracy. The only way Israeli could control Palestinians inhabitants of WB and GS is by physically suppressing them, therefore ensuring exploitation of political rights. • Option 2: Annex WB and GS and remain a Democracy. Compromising the Jewish character of the state, because Palestinians relatively larger population would outnumber the Jews at the polls. • Option 3: Israel remains a Jewish state and Democratic but would have to give up the WB and GS, in order to ensure a Jewish majority.
Options So, Does Israel want to be. . . 1. A nation of Jews living in the land of Israel, but not Democratic? 2. A Democratic nation in all the land of Israel, but not Jewish? 3. A Jewish and Democratic nation, but not in all the land of Israel?
Labor vs. Likud As factions developed, most notably the Labor and Likud, the countries most prominent decisions were influenced by clashes between the two. Likud was a more aggressive party who would “sing at the top of its lungs… while the Labor was ready to just quietly mouth the words” (267). These two parties greatly influenced the direction of the country and any decisions of its leaders.
Likud Party Background • Likud is actually a collection of several smaller political groups. The word likud means unity in Hebrew (“Likud”). • The Likud bloc was formed in 1973 to challenge the Labor Party's control of Israel's government. In 1977, Likud won enough seats in the Knesset (Israel's parliament) to gain power, and Likud leader Menachem Begin became prime minister.
Likud Party Background • In both the 1984 and 1988 elections, however, Likud and the Labor Party won about the same number of Knesset seats. The two parties agreed to form a unity government after the 1984 election (“Likud”). • Labor Party leader Shimon Peres and Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir alternated as prime minister during this period (“Likud”). • Following the 1988 election, the parties formed a new coalition government (“Likud”).
Likud Party Beliefs • Likud has also supported the establishment of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Many Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (“Likud”). • In addition, Likud tends to favor limitations on the government's role in the economy (“Likud”). • The Likud party is pushing today to have settlements built in the West Bank which President Netanyahu has given the “green light” to begin building.
Likud Party Beliefs • Likud has often opposed compromise in Israel's conflict with Palestinians and other Arabs of the Middle East (“Likud”). • In particular, Likud has favored Israel's continued occupation of the territories it captured in a 1967 war with Arab states (“Likud”).
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