The Jordan Times devoted a recent lead editorial to an analysis of Israeli society and Israeli self-analysis. Observing that ?that there are six million Israelis beyond our border, and like it or not, we just cannot ignore what they think, how they perceive regional realities, what they fear and what they aspire to,? the Times criticizes such intentional ignorance on the part of Arab intellectuals. The newspaper identifies a certain arrogance on the part of Arab scholars, which expresses itself in the feeling that ?Israeli society and public opinion are not worthy of our attention,? but that arrogance is ?foolish and shortsighted.?
The Jordan Times thus praises the study of Israeli attitudes and beliefs conducted by the German foundation, by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, on behalf of the Center for Strategic Studies of the University of Jordan. The research involved tracking the opinions of Israelis from all walks of life and all political orientations over the course of the year through regular meetings to discuss the Jewish State?s future.
Based on the results of the research, as it was presented at the Jordanian University, the Times characterizes Israeli society as being ?similar to a ship in the eye of the storm of the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, running the risk of being smashed into pieces any minute.? According to the newspaper, the German study revealed that only one scenario suggested by Israelis for their state by the year 2025 included improved social policies, preservation of the Jewish character of the state, a solidified civil pact between citizens and ?comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.? The Jordan Times determined, therefore, that all other proposals brought up in the directed discussions lead inexorably to either ?a dictatorship of the Jewish majority over the Arab Israeli minority and the end of Israeli democracy, or the loss of Israel's Jewish identity, or a division of the state into a federation of alienated autonomous units of Arabs, religious Jews, and secular Jews.?
Blaming Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for ?brutal repression? and ?restrictive legislation,? which threatens Israeli democracy, the Jordan Times goes on to state that the Israeli secular, liberal camp is increasingly questioning Zionism as a whole. Thus, it concludes, ?Sharon might in a sense be sowing the seeds of his own destruction.? As the study indicates, the Israeli subjects themselves identified what they saw as risks facing Israel, yet ?most of the risks they have listed, Sharon has already turned into policies and history.?
The Jordan Times thus praises the study of Israeli attitudes and beliefs conducted by the German foundation, by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, on behalf of the Center for Strategic Studies of the University of Jordan. The research involved tracking the opinions of Israelis from all walks of life and all political orientations over the course of the year through regular meetings to discuss the Jewish State?s future.
Based on the results of the research, as it was presented at the Jordanian University, the Times characterizes Israeli society as being ?similar to a ship in the eye of the storm of the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, running the risk of being smashed into pieces any minute.? According to the newspaper, the German study revealed that only one scenario suggested by Israelis for their state by the year 2025 included improved social policies, preservation of the Jewish character of the state, a solidified civil pact between citizens and ?comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.? The Jordan Times determined, therefore, that all other proposals brought up in the directed discussions lead inexorably to either ?a dictatorship of the Jewish majority over the Arab Israeli minority and the end of Israeli democracy, or the loss of Israel's Jewish identity, or a division of the state into a federation of alienated autonomous units of Arabs, religious Jews, and secular Jews.?
Blaming Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for ?brutal repression? and ?restrictive legislation,? which threatens Israeli democracy, the Jordan Times goes on to state that the Israeli secular, liberal camp is increasingly questioning Zionism as a whole. Thus, it concludes, ?Sharon might in a sense be sowing the seeds of his own destruction.? As the study indicates, the Israeli subjects themselves identified what they saw as risks facing Israel, yet ?most of the risks they have listed, Sharon has already turned into policies and history.?