Episode 21 of the Israel Defense and Diplomacy Forum (IDDF) – with Prof. Chuck Freilich, former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor, and Danny Ayalon, former Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to Washington.

In this episode, Chuck and Danny interview Elyakim Rubinstein, Israel's former deputy chief justice and former Attorney General, to discuss the judicial-political crisis. Rubinstein fears that the proposed “judicial reforms” will turn Israel into a “democratic dictatorship” and states, surprisingly, for a former justice, that he even participates in the public protests. Danny has shifted his position, from concern, to sharing in Chuck’s strong opposition to the reforms.

Chuck argues that Israel’s right-wing often raises important concerns, but that its constant overreach ends up destroying almost everything it touches. The judicial reforms are one example, but the new government’s West Bank policies have already led to rising violence and to heightened friction with the US, indeed, that Israel is risking its entire strategic relationship with the US. Even worse, the de facto annexation of the West Bank is turning Israel into a binational state, possibly irreversibly.

Danny agrees that Israel must separate from the Palestinians, but emphasizes the need to keep negotiating cards for the future, including through ongoing settlement by Israel’s true pioneers and Zionists. He rejects the argument that Israel is undermining its democratic character, or creating an irreversible situation, and believes that a peace settlement may only be possible in the next generation or thereafter. He believes that Israel should wait until there is a deal on the table and true reconciliation is possible. Chuck believes that Danny’s approach means it will be too late.

On Iran, Danny rejects Chuck’s charge that right-wing overreach - the withdrawal from the JCPOA - has left Israel with no good options and emphasizes that it is high time for the international community to take effective action. He believes that credible US and Israeli military options will deter Iran from crossing the final threshold. Chuck fully agrees that Israel must develop a military option to strike in Iran, but stresses that even the US can no longer achieve more than a brief delay through military action and that effective international action is again right-wing dreaming, not realistic policy.

Join us as Chuck and Danny agree and disagree, in detail and in-depth, always respectfully, on the critical issues Israel faces.

The MirYam Institute. Israel's Future in Israel's Hands.

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