{{Israelis}}
'''The Israeli peace camp''' is a collection of political and non-political movements which desire to promote Peace, mainly with the Arab neighbours of Israel (the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon) and encourage co-existence with the Arab citizens of Israel.
The leadership and hardcore activists of the peace camp are mostly associated with the Left_wing, although the silent majority of supporters are from the Political_center and moderate securitist-left.
In this article, the term '''peace camp''' will refer to the leadership, the movements and hardcore activists (and not to the silent supporters). This term should not be confused with the UK concept of Peace_camp which refers to a different type of camp and political protest.
== Political movements (but not parties) ==
The mainstream peace movement in Israel is Peace_Now, whose supporters tend to vote for the Israeli_Labor_party, Meretz and Shinui. Peace Now's 1982 "400,000 rally" led to the end of the 1982_Peace_for_Galilee war and the establishment of the Kahan_investigation_committee which impeached Ariel_Sharon for indirect responsibility for the Sabra_and_Shatila_massacre committed by Christian Phalange Militia. Peace Now also advocated a negotiated peace with the Palestinians. However, Peace Now's current focus is a struggle against the Israeli_settlements. Peace Now hostility toward the settlers and its perceived lack of criticism of Palestinian_Resistance can be seen to have decreased its standing within certain sections of the Israeli public. On March_19 2005, a pro-disengagement rally was not successful in attracting anything near its planned attendance, after only 10,000 people attended the demonstration. Critics assert that the failure is related to Yariv_Oppemheimer (Peace Now's leader) strong criticism of the settlers and the radical left-wing image which may have caused centerists and mainstream public to refrain from supporting the rally. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/554094.html, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3060422,00.html In contrast, the group itself asserts that the public visibility of the issue in Ariel Sharon's cabinet had lead the Israeli public to assume that disengagement was a foregone conclusion and therefore view the rally as of little importance.
The Geneva_Initiative, which was launched on 2003, tried to promote peace by showing both Israelis and Palestinians that peace accords could be negotiated, and presented a draft Permanent Status Agreement, which was negotiated by public figures from both sides. However, both Israelis and Palestinian found the accord unacceptable and some even disputed the legitimacy of such a move. As of 2004, the negotiators tried to convince the people that the agreement provided hope of security for both parties and that the new Palestinian leadership represents a "partner for peace".
Gush_Shalom is a radical leftist movement, and its classification as a ''peace movement'' is disputed by the Israeli right. Uri_Avneri, the Gush Shalom leader and a former journalist, was among the first to meet and negotiate with PLO leader Yasser_Arafat. Although Gush Shalom earned itself respect in Europe, it is regarded by some Israelis as a Pro-Palestinian movement whose leadership are equivocal towards violence and Terrorism against Israelis. Critics contend that the group has published articles in support of Palestinian violence.
== Non-political organizations ==
There are many Projects_working_for_peace_among_Israelis_and_Arabs in Israel. Most of the projects try to mediate between Jewish and Arab citizens within Israel, after the fragile Co-existence was shattered by the violent October_2000_riots (13 Arabs, 1 Jew were killed) and the increasing involvement of Israeli-Arabs in Terrorism_against_Israelis.
There were also some projects of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The most notable are the "Peace Team" - a youth Soccer team of 8 Israelis and 8 Palestinians, who compete in international youth football tournaments. This project is sponsored by Peres_Center_For_Peace.
Another project is the "National_Census" - a peace initiative by former Shin_Bet head Ami_Ayalon and Palestinian professor Sari_Nusseibeh. The current activity of the ''National Census'' is to sign as many Israelis and Palestinian on a petition which outlines a two states solution without Right_of_return of Palestinians into Israel. Ayalon tries to be avoided from being identified with the Political_left.
== Political parties ==
In Israel, the left-wing parties are identified with the peace camp, although that successful peace treaties were achieved only by right-wingers (Menachem_Begin, with Egypt) and securitist-centerist (Itzhak_Rabin, with Jordan).
The traditional "peace lobby" in the Knesset is composed of the Israeli_Labor_Party and Yachad (former Meretz). Hadash is self-proclaimed Jewish-Arab Communist co-existence party but recently shifted toward Arab_nationalism when it ran to Knesset with Ahmed_Tibi's ''Taal'' (National Arab Movement) under the religious campaign "Harram as-Sharif is in danger".
Arab parties are not considered as part of the Israeli peace camp.
The center-liberal party Shinui is not considered as a part of the peace camp, although it does support peace negotiation. The reason is Shinui's hard-line approach toward Palestinian_terrorism and Yasser_Arafat. Also, the fact that Shinui supports Ariel_Sharon's policy, a long-time hated figure by hardcore of the peace camp, prevents Shinui to join the peace camp leadership - which opposes Sharon.
=== Political power in the Knesset ===
Results of 2003 election to the Knesset (Israel's parliament) of the left-wing parties and the Arab parties:
* Israeli_Labor_party : '''19''' mandates + '''3''' of Am_Echad.
* Yachad - Meretz : '''6''' mandates.
* Hadash : '''2''' mandates + '''1''' of Taal.
* Balad : '''3''' mandates.
* Raam (Islamic Movement - Southern faction) : '''2''' mandates.
Totals: '''36''' mandates (out of 120). (28 Jewish, 8 Arab)
== Criticism ==
The Israeli peace camp is highly criticized for lacking realism given the absence of a corresponding movement on the Arab side of the conflict. It is also accused for being forgiving toward Palestinian_terrorism and not being able to stand up for the rights of the Israelis and the vital interests of Israel. The Israeli peace camp has poor standings in the Israeli public, as regular surveys by the
Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research show (for example: May 2004). The Tami_Steinmetz_Center_for_Peace_Research is watching over the Israeli Public_opinion toward the Peace_process and the peace camp for more than a decade.
=== Ideological right wing ===
Criticism from the right is focused against the ideology of the peace camp, claiming that a Land_for_peace deal with PLO terrorists is endangering the existence of Israel and will not lead to true peace. Moreover, they claim that such a deal is morally unacceptable as it involves the uprooting of people from their houses (Israeli_settlements). Right-wingers have suggested alternative peace plans in which the Palestinian refugees would either establish themselves in Arab countries ("transfer with agreement"), or remain in their place, but be granted Jordanian citizenship.
The right wing also have hard criticism over the left's "partner for peace". They claim that the true intention of "Arafat's terrorist Tunis gang" is the destruction of Israel, and that the Oslo_accords were actually a Trojan_horse. Following the Al-Aqsa_Intifada and major Fatah involvement in Terrorism_against_Israel, many in the Israeli public agreed that the right were justified in their criticism and warnings about the PLO.
=== Political center and pragmatists ===
The Israeli political center is composed from the moderate right, the liberals and the security-oriented left ( שמאל ביטחוני ). Their position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is pragmatic and derived from security and economy interests, rather than a dogmatic ideology.
Criticism from the center says that the right was right about the PLO and currently Israel don't have a Palestinian partner for peace, at least not until Yasser_Arafat is gone.
However, the peace camp was right about the need to disengage from the Palestinians and the need to give them a state of their own so they won't be a demographic and political burden over Israel. Many of this group are what the Israelis call "Oslo disappointed" ( מאוכזבי אוסלו ) – people who used to support the peace process and the peace camp until the Al-Aqsa_Intifada. This group favor Unilateral actions to disengage from the Palestinians and widely support the Israeli_West_Bank_barrier and Israel's_unilateral_disengagement_plan of 2004.
Centrists usually refrain from voting to the left and support it publicly since many of them believe that left-wing politicians (such as Yossi_Beilin) are incapable of standing up for Israel's rights and fear that they might endanger Israel by trying to appease the Palestinians.
=== Zionist left wing ===
Criticism from the left is focused mainly on the "small details", since they still believe that Land_for_peace and negotiations with the Palestinians is the right way for peace. "Small details" that are criticized are:
* The marketing of the peace process and the failure to gain wide public support.
* Their negative attitude toward the Israeli_Defence_Forces and toward the settlers which creates them a "Jewish_self-haters" reputation among the general public.
* The lack of pro-Israeli rhetorics in the peace rallies.
* The focusing on political arrangements while leaving the social and economic infrastructure for popular support at the hands of fundamentalist groups on both sides
Ami_Ayalon, former head of the Shin Bet and the initiator of the National_Census peace proposal (along with professor Sari_Nusseibeh), has criticized Peace_Now for demonizing the Jewish settlers, often treating them as "enemies", thus encouraging hate towards settlers, and providing the general public reasons to dislike the peace camp. Ayalon scorns Peace_Now for failing to rally the masses in support of the Israeli Peace movement, although surveys indicate that the Israeli public supports a separation from the Palestinians and a peaceful solution. Ayalon explains that this because Peace Now and the Left_wing have shown alienation, hostility and a patronising attitude towards the general Israeli public, and that this attitude combined with increased terrorist activity over the past four years are to blame for Peace Now's current poor standing within the Israeli public, which feels the peace camp is not committed (enough) to stop Palestinian_terrorism and protect Israel's interests.
Ayalon concluded that many settlements should indeed be disbanded, but the transferred settlers should be embraced and receive support - both financial and moral - from the state and the public, and not being treated as enemies. http://news.walla.co.il/?w=//543668, http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2916824,00.html
=== Far left ===
Criticism from the Far_left criticized the adherence of the major movements (such as the Israeli_Labor_party and Peace_Now) for Zionism and commitment toward Israel. They claim that the Oslo accords was a Capitalist-Zionist fraud in order to exploit the Palestinians and deceive the world, while expanding the Israeli_settlements and deepening the Occupation. As the Israeli Far_left is very pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli, they think that true peace can only be achieved by a radical solution which include the elimination of Israel as a Jewish_state: many of them offer Bi-national_state or a two-states solution with full or limited Right_of_return for Palestinian_refugees.
Example for such criticism, may found in Gush_Shalom's review of the National_Census "Statement of Principles".
Moderate left-wingers often blame the far left as a major reason for the bad image the Israeli peace camp has in the eyes of the Israeli public.
== People ==
===Political leaders===
* Shimon_Peres (head of the Israeli_Labor_Party)
* Yossi_Beilin (head of Yachad)
* Yossi_Sarid (former head of Meretz)
===Leaders of organizations===
* Yariv_Oppenheimer (head of Peace_Now)
* Uri_Avneri (head of Gush_Shalom)
* Tzeli_Reshef (former head of Peace Now)
* Uri_Savir (head of Peres_Center For Peace)
===Politicly affiliated peace activists===
* Ami_Ayalon (Israeli Labor Party)
* Amos_Oz (Meretz - Yachad)
* David_Grossman (Yachad)
* Juilano_Mar_Hamis (Jewish-Arab actor, Hadash activists)
===Peace activists without political affiliation===
* Amnon_Rubinstein
* Amnon_Lipkin_Shahak
* Dalia_Rabikovich
== See also ==
* Politics_of_Israel
* Left-wing parties which affiliated with the peace camps:
** Israeli_Labor_party
** Yachad - Meretz
** Hadash
** Shinui (not supported by Peace Now)
* Projects_working_for_peace_among_Israelis_and_Arabs
* International Peace_movement
* Tami_Steinmetz_Center_for_Peace_Research
===Arab-Israeli peace diplomacy and treaties===
*Paris_Peace_Conference,_1919
*Faisal-Weizmann Agreement (1919)
*1949_Armistice_Agreements
*Camp_David_Accords_(1978)
*Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty (1979)
*Madrid_Conference_of_1991
*Oslo Accords (1993)
*Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace (1994)
*Camp_David_2000_Summit
*Peace_process_in_the_Israeli-Palestinian_conflict
*Projects_working_for_peace_among_Israelis_and_Arabs
*List_of_Middle_East_peace_proposals
*International_law_and_the_Arab-Israeli_conflict
Category:Middle_East_peace_efforts
Category:Politics_of_Israel
He:שמאל_ציוני