Israel Expects Abbas for ‘Peace’

Among the candidates, Israeli administrators, journalists and academics unanimously want Mahmoud Abbas, who is against violence, to win the elections. Yet they carefully avoid endorsing him officially so that the elections can be held in a healthy way.

Since Arafat’s death, the Israelis have attributed all negativities to him, labeling him the "man before peace". A deputy with the Social Democrats said that faded hopes for peace might revive after the elections: "Arafat was certainly a "legend" for many people in the world. As for Israel, he is still a nightmare."

If he wins, hard times wait for Abbas: Israel hopes to solve the issue through him, while his people expects him to replace Arafat. Arafat has died… Could a new leader replace Arafat? Nafiz Yusuf Nazza, from Jerusalem Hebrew University, asks: "Arafat passed away with a legend he left behind him. Which leader could surpass this legend?"

They wait for Erdogan after Gul

Turkey is undoubtedly very important to Israel. Indeed, Israel is, strictly speaking, "impatiently" awaiting the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. They want to host Erdogan as well.

A remark from an Israeli official summarizes the expectations Israel has for Turkey, and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) currently in power: "Ankara has always been the determining factor in relations between Israel and Turkey. We are ready all the time in the same way. Relations between the two countries will be perfect if Ankara wants, yet, relations could also be bad if it does not." Yet, there are many who have not forgotten Erdogan’s words: "Israel is a state of terror."

Certain industries and relationships have remained unaffected by fluctuations between the two countries. This is tourism and security cooperation. The Number of Israeli tourists in Turkey increases every year. This year the figure will surpass 350,000. "Politics and security cooperation are two distinct issues. Relations will survive despite the governments" says a top-level official from Israeli Defense Ministry.

We asked the same official the following: "Haaretz newspaper wrote once that the Israeli military is in Iraq." He responded, "There are absolutely no Israeli soldiers in the Iraqi territories. We are not involved in this even with a single soldier and we are very sensitive on this issue" he replies. An intelligence official repeats the same remarks through giving dates: "We have not been in Iraq since 1975." He added, when asked about terror organizations, "Hezbollah is even more dangerous than the Al-Qaeda" should be recorded.