Israeli Politics and the Middle East Peace Process, 1988-2002

209 Pages·2004·2.219 MB·English

by  Hassan A. Barari

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Israeli Politics and the Middle
East Peace Process, 1988–2002
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111 This book argues that domestic Israeli politics have been a key factor in
determining Israeli–Palestinian peacemaking in the period from 1988 to
the present. It traces developments over this period, showing how coalition-
building, personalities, and differing views of how Israel should develop,
and of how Israel should interact with Palestinians, all had a crucial
influence.
In particular, the book provides an explanation for the rise and decline of
0111 the peace process in the years between 1988 and 2002. During this period,
Israel concluded the Oslo Accord and a peace treaty with Jordan. Yet the
second half of the period saw a major breakdown in the peace process. Part
of the story is an understanding of certain key moments in the formation of
Israeli thinking about moving towards a peace with the Palestinians.
The study, therefore, examines the impact of the Intifada on Israeli think-
ing as well as detailing crucial turning points in domestic politics, such as
Labour’s electoral victory in 1992 and the subsequent formation of the most
dovish government in Israel’s history. The book also pays attention to the
politics of personality and the role of key figures, such as Yitzhak Rabin
0111 and Shimon Peres, in the politics which permitted Israel’s move to peace.
The most dramatic part of the story, however, as the book argues, is that
changing domestic political factors also led to the breakdown of the peace
process. Overall, the book demonstrates that, although external factors were
certainly important, the decisions about peacemaking were rooted in the
dynamic, complex domestic politics of Israel.
Drawing on primary sources and interview material, this book is written
by a Jordanian scholar and is suitable for students of international rela-
tions, the Middle East, and the Arab–Israeli conflict, as well as the general
reader interested in the Middle East peace process.
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Hassan A. Barariis a researcher at the Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS)
at the University of Jordan. His research focuses on Israeli politics and
foreign policy and the Arab–Israeli conflict.
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Durham Modern Middle East and Islamic World Series
Series Editor: Anoushiravan Ehteshami, University of Durham
1. Economic Development in Saudi Arabia
Rodney Wilson, with Abdullah Al Salamah, Monica Malik
and Ahmed Al Rajhi
2. Islam Encountering Globalisation
Edited by Ali Mohammadi
3. China’s Relations with Arabia and the Gulf, 1949–1999
Mohamed Bin Huwaidin
4. Good Governance in the Middle East Oil Monarchies
Edited by Tom Pierre Najem and Martin Hetherington
5. The Middle East’s Relations with Asia and Russia
Edited by Hannah Carter and Anoushiravan Ehteshami
6. Israeli Politics and the Middle East Peace Process, 1988–2002
Hassan A. Barari
111 Israeli Politics and the
Middle East Peace Process,
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1988–2002
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Hassan A. Barari
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First published 2004
by RoutledgeCurzon
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by RoutledgeCurzon
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
RoutledgeCurzon is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004.
© 2004 Hassan A. Barari
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN 0-203-25304-3 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-38702-3 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0–415–32226–X(Print Edition)
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111 This book is dedicated to my late parents
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Contents
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111 Acknowledgements ix
Introduction 1
Themes, observations, and assumptions 2
Methodology 5
The structure of the book 8
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1 The road to 1988: internal dynamics and the making
of a peace process 9
A zero-sum struggle, 1948–67 10
From zero-sum to mixed-motive relations, 1967–77 13
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The public debate in Israel 16
Likud’s ascendance to power, 1977–84 20
The National Unity Government, 1984–8 25
Conclusions 27
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2 The Intifada: a turning point 29
Israeli reactions to the Intifada 30
Divisions within the elite in response to the Intifada 35
The National Unity Government and the Intifada 40
The Intifada and the 1988 election 43
Another National Unity Government and another peace
initiative 46
Conclusions 50
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3 Democratic reform within the Labour Party: the motive
to gain power 53
The Israeli electoral system and coalition formation 54
4111 Democratic reform within Labour 57
viii Contents
Selecting candidates through primaries 62
The 1992 election 64
The formation of the government 71
Conclusions 73
4 The politics of personality 77
Rabin’s belief system 78
Rabin’s perception of the Middle East 80
The rivalry with Peres 85
Explaining the evolution of Rabin’s thinking 93
Conclusions 98
5 External dynamics and domestic imperatives 101
The United States in Israeli foreign policy 102
Jordan as a partner 108
The impact of global and regional changes 111
Conclusions 116
6 Internal dynamics and the breakdown of the
peace process 119
The Netanyahu era: laying the ground for the impasse 120
The Barak era: betting on the wrong horse 126
The ascendance of ‘Mr Security’: Sharon as Prime
Minister 131
Conclusions 139
Conclusions 141
Glossary 149
Notes 153
Bibliography 171
Index 191
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Acknowledgements
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111 I would like to extend my gratitude to a number of people and institutions
without whom this book would have never been possible. Professor
Caroline Kennedy-Pipe has been of great help. Her constant encourage-
ment, thorough assessment, and critique of the manuscript are greatly
appreciated. I am equally grateful to Professor Mustafa Hamarneh, Director
of the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan. His support,
friendship, and faith in me as well as his intellectual guidance have played
0111 a crucial role throughout my academic journey. I am also indebted to the
staff of the Centre for Strategic Studies in Amman for their constant
support, especially Lina Sabbah, Nahla Abu Khalaf, and Mayssa Samawi.
I was very fortunate to receive financial help from the Centre for Strategic
Studies at the University of Jordan and the British Chevening scholarship
111 offered at the British Council in Amman. Without their financial support,
this book would not have been completed.
All through the ups and downs of preparing this study, I enjoyed the
support and friendship of Professor Anoushiravan Ehteshami, Emma
Murphy, Clive Jones, Warwick Knowles, Lesley-Ann Robson, Sally
0111 Leatherland, Ibrahim Serafi, Jennifer Ward, Professor Susan Lourenco,
and Louis Williams. Above all I am grateful to my family – Madiha, Lana,
Luma, and Lina – for being patient and standing by me throughout the
process of writing this book.
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