Lunch with MK Ran Cohen

On Friday, February 2, 2007, Meretz MK Ran Cohen answered questions from Meretz USA members during a lunch at Beit Shalom.  The discussion centered on Iran, negotiations with Syria, government corruption, and the relationship between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs.  Below is a summary of the questions and answers.

On Iran’s efforts to become a nuclear power:
Economic sanctions and isolation may be effective strategies to restrain the Iranian regime because the Iranian people want a good life.  We need to concentrate on isolating Iran by negotiating with Bashir al-Assad in Syria.  If we strengthen the Arab moderates, the Iranian people will see that their government is going to leave them isolated not only from the West, but also from the Arab world. 

On the prospects for Israeli-Syrian negotiations:
Right now 60% of Israelis support negotiations with Syria, but less than 50% are willing to discuss giving up the Golan.  On the other hand, the Syrian people are willing to speak about an extended timeline for withdrawal – over 15 years or so.  According to a man I know who traveled in Syria for an extended period, 80% of the people are ready for a full peace with Israel. 

Peace with Syria will achieve three things:  1) It will moderate Syria; 2) It will cause Hezbollah to disarm; and 3) It will bring Lebanon to peace with Israel as well. 

In order to achieve this peace, the Golan should be made into a regional/international park – belonging to Syria, but not a Syrian military zone.  This way the Israelis won’t see a threat immediately on their border.

On government corruption and incompetence:   
For the first time, I have come here feeling shame.  The current government has lost its focus.  Rather than concentrating on social justice issues, the government was distracted by the Lebanon war.  Because of this, levels of poverty, economic injustice, and government corruption are high. 

We must be ready for the next election at the end of this year or the middle of next, and we must prepare to defeat Netanyahu.  The Labor party must elect either Barak or Ayalon in order to weaken Netanyahu, and Meretz must become a part of the government by gaining 10 seats.  I believe this can happen. 

On the relationship between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs and on the “Vision of the Future” document published by the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee:
In October 2000, the killing of seven Arabs by Israeli police forces split the two communities, and no police officers have come under investigation since.  This has been difficult to overcome, even for Meretz.  Meretz Chair Yossi Beilin is more popular with the Arabs than with the Jews, but fewer Arabs voted for the party in the last election.  The recent “Vision of the Future” document opened this gap even more – by scaring Jewish Israelis.

Meretz is leading the fight to strengthen Arab leaders and needs to continue to do so.  Meretz has and is 1) Meeting with leaders of Machsom Watch to try to solve the problems at checkpoints; 2) Advocating to alleviate poverty in Arab villages; 3) Talking to the Education Minister to help Arab schools; and 4) Working to have more than 40 unrecognized villages recognized.

Nevertheless, Meretz does not have the same kind of support from Israeli Arabs that it once did.  Arabs are called not to vote for a Zionist movement.  Meretz must keep its values and principles, but continue to help the Arab communities.