Two New Original AIC Articles: "On Economic Class and Political Choice in Israel" and "Indeed, Another War in the Middle East is on the Horizon"
Bryan Atinsky
Written by Shir Hever, Alternative Information Center (AIC)
Oslo-Period Analysis Missing the Mark
The relation between economic wellbeing and political opinion is a topic that has sparked interest among many scholars—Israelis, Palestinians and internationals—who have studied the political peace process between Israel and the Palestinians since the early 1990s.
During the 1990’s, the prevalent opinion amongst a majority of local and international researchers was that economic prosperity is highly correlated with the desire for peace in both Israeli and the Palestinian societies. It was also believed that reducing the levels of violence would quickly lead to investor confidence, job creation, trade and economic prosperity. It has therefore been argued by numerous economists and political analysts that there exists a reciprocating synergy between advancing the peace process and economic prosperity, an idea that has contributed to an optimistic outlook for the political and economic prospects of the region.
This approach, however, has encountered challenges. The Palestinians have chosen to accept the personal and economic sacrifices necessitated by the second Intifada, protesting the unjust and patronizing approach of the Israeli government. The Israeli recession following the outbreak of the second Intifada was transformed, at least in aggregate terms, into a boom within only a few years. The high growth rate of 2004-2007 came at a very tense political and military period, a time that even included a war (the 2006 Israeli war against Lebanon). As a result, Israeli economists began to discuss the disconnect between the political and economic situations, and about the marginal impact of the Palestinian economy on Israel.
In order to make
a meaningful
analysis of the relations between class identity and political choice
in
Israel/Palestine, one must look beyond the aggregate indicators of
economic
prosperity, examining the effects of political events on the economic
wellbeing
of different classes of each society.
[...]
To read the whole
article, click
here.
Indeed, Another War in the Middle East is on the Horizon
Written by Michael Warschawski, Alternative Information Center (AIC)
While I risk being considered an Israeli Cassandra, I reiterate my claim that war is on the agenda in the Middle East. In other words, I take very seriously the statements of Ehud Olmert and company that a war is unavoidable, in order to remove the threat of radical Islam and the risk of a full nuclearization of Iran. The fact that Ehud Barak—the most irresponsible adventurist in the Israeli ruling establishment—sits in the Israeli cabinet as Defence Minister, makes the eventuality of such a war even more probable.
Foolhardy but not very brave, the Israeli PM doesn’t intend to strike Iran, which has powerful means of retaliation, but rather Syria, or, once again, Lebanon.
Easy targets?
Easier than Iran,
obviously, but the
last war on Lebanese soil should have taught us that there are no
longer easy
and unilateral wars, and even a country as weak as Lebanon or a
relatively
small militia such as Hezbollah can hit back and provoke heavy damages
as
retaliation for any Israeli aggression.
[...]
To read the whole article, click here.