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FES \ Israeli Domestic Policy

	The Israeli debate around the raid on the Gaza Ship convoy, on its political consequences and Israel's increasing isolation. The following analysis presents the positions of two renowned Israeli security experts, Dr. Reuven Pedatzur and Prof. Dan Shiftan, that reflect the spectrum of the inner-Israeli debate around these topics. Dr. Reuven Pedatzur, Academic Director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue, Netanya Academic College: "*Israel Failed and fell into the Gaza Flotilla Trap". Prof. Dan Shiftan, Professor for Political Science at the Haifa University: "The Flotilla and its implications*". August 2010.
	On the Stalled Palestinian Peace Process and U.S.-Israeli Relations – an internal Israeli debate The following article presents the perspectives of two renowned Israeli security experts, which reflect the wide spectrum of Israel's internal debate. Dr. Reuven Pedatzur, senior lecturer at Netanya Academic College, concludes his thorough analysis by stating that indirect talks, which are supposed to restart the negotiation process, will not lead to an agreement. Dr. Pedatzur closely analyzes the steps taken by all three parties – Palestinians, Israelis and Americans – within the past few weeks and points at several of their mistakes. He expects the situation to further deteriorate, since neither Israelis nor Palestinians presently seem to be ready for compromise. Prof. Efraim Inbar from Bar-Ilan University arrives at similar conclusions. He, however, believes the cause to be a very different one. The chances of reaching an agreement and its implementation are, to Inbar, close to zero, the rift between President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah, which dominates the West Bank, and Hamas, which rules the Gaza strip, being the main cause. As long as the Islamist Hamas continues determining the Palestinian ethos and Palestinian claims, politics and the peace process will be subject to extremists. Another important reason, according to Inbar, is Obama’s policy of “moderate pressure”. He accuses the EU of engaging in erroneous policies, supporting unrealistic Palestinian aspirations – such as the partition of Jerusalem – or financially assisting the population of Gaza.
	The domestic internal discussion on halting Jewish settlements in the West Bank The following Analysis presents opposing views of two renowned Israeli security experts, Dr. Reuven Pedatzur and Prof. Efraim Inbar, illustrating the range of the Israeli domestic debate on the construction-halt in the Jewish settlements. Dr. Reuven Pedatzur, Academic Director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue at the Netanya Academic College, is critical of the Netanyahu Government's construction-halt decision. Prof. Efraim Inbar, Professor of Political Science at Bar Ilan University and Director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA), views the construction-halt decision by the Netanyahu government as a positive step. December 2009.
	Israeli Russian Voting Trends in the 2009 Knesset Elections An article analysing the pattern of Voting Trends within the Russian Community by Dr. Vladimir (Ze'ev) Khanin, Department of Political Studies, Bar Ilan University. July 2009.
	Netanyahu's Foreign Policy Keynote Speech - No progress in the peaceprocess: instead, old wine in new bottles Analysis of Netanyahu's speech at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University by Dr. Ralf Hexel, Head of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Israel. June 2009.
	The Labour Party joins the Netanyahu Government - More than a left-wing fig leaf for a right-wing coalition? An article analysing the new Government by Dr. Ralf Hexel, Director of the Israel Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. April 2009.
	After the Gaza War - Has the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reached an impasse, or are there new prospects for a political situation? An analysis by Dr. Ralf Hexel, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel and Knuth Dethlefsen, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Palestinian Territories. February 2009.
	Livni wins elections victory but Netanyahu to be new prime minister? Israel's 2009 Knesset elections. An analysis of the results of the last elections in Israel by Dr. Ralf Hexel, Director of the Israel Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. February 2009.
	The Israeli Domestic Discussion on the Gaza War The Analysis presents opposing views of two renowned Israeli security experts, illustrating the range of the Israeli domestic debate on the military operation. *A commentary on Operation Cast Lead, by Dr. Reuven Pedatzur, Netanya College. Gaza - an interim Assessment, Prof. Efraim Inbar*, Bar-Ilan University. February 2009.
	The 2008 Municipal Elections in Israel - Outcome and Political Implications An analysis by Prof. Abraham Diskin, Associate Professor of Political Science, Hebrew University, Jerusalem. November 2008.