This week's ARZA E-NEWS ALERT presents insights and opinion on several major issues confronting Israeli and Diaspora Jews as Binyamim Netanyahu endeavors to form a new coalition and Barak Obama’s approach to the Middle East begins to emerge.

Reports are that the primary stumbling block preventing Kadima and Labor from accepting Likud’s invitation to enter a national unity government is Netanyahu’s refusal to endorse the concept of a Palestinian state, which is accepted by a large majority of Israelis and North American Jews.  Opposition to a two-state solution in the popular media is usually presented by settlers carefully selected by reporters for their extremist, jingoistic views. Nevertheless, opposition can also be drawn from a sober analysis of historic and contemporary factors.  While these arguments may not be persuasive, they merit careful consideration.  Moshe Dann, an academician, writer and journalist presents a case based on history; Giora Eiland, former head of Israel’s National Security Council, presents another based on current security and political concerns.

The issue of Israeli-Palestinian communication is addressed from differing perspectives by Yousef Jabareen, who teaches minority rights at Haifa University and is general director of Dirasat: Arab Center for Law and Policy, based in Nazareth; and Michael Bar-Zohar, a former member of the Knesset and biographer of David Ben Gurion.

Negotiations between Hamas and Fatah to form a Palestinian unity government are in the news, with significant support. Yossi Alpher, former director of the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University and one of Israel’s most respected political analysts, argues that it could be catastrophic for Israel if formed at this time.

Michael Oren, a leading historian and prize-winner author (“Six days of War”, “Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present”), urges that major diplomatic efforts be directed toward developing the Syrian track.

Marc Stern, acting co-executive director of the American Jewish Congress, and one of the most brilliant legal minds in Jewish life today, dissects Amnesty International’s case against Israel’s conduct of the recent war in Gaza.

Finally, a new feature, ARZA E-NEWS ALERTS PLUS, an occasional compilation of longer and weightier articles than are our usual fare.  This first one is the work of friend, colleague and noted author, Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin.

Moshe Dann
Giora Eiland
Yousef Jabareen
Michael Bar-Zohar
Yossi Alpher
Michael Oren
Marc Stern
ARZA E-NEWS ALERTS PLUS

Weekly E-News Alerts are a new service ARZA provides.  Its purpose is to convey a selection of news and opinion columns to American Reform Jews who may not havetime to read the full spectrum of the Israeli and Anglo-American Jewish press. If you would like to receive a weekly copy, sign up now at arzanewsalerts@arza.org!For an archive of past editions click here.