The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict #65: "The Public Is The Only Critic Whose Opinion Is Worth Anything At All"
What Was Public Opinion About The Oslo Accords?
Public Opinion Among Palestinians
Palestinian reactions to the agreements were mixed. Hamas and extremist movements in the Palestinian public strongly opposed the agreement, criticized Fatah for its willingness to negotiate with Israel and recognize it, and increased terrorist activities to sabotage the progress of the process. Fatah, the largest and controlling organization in the PLO, adopted the agreements.
The refusal organizations, such as Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front, opposed the agreements because they refused to recognize the "Zionist entity" and completely denied Israel's right to exist.
Public Opinion Worldwide
The Oslo Accords earned Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Yasser Arafat the Nobel Peace Prize 1994. The prize was awarded to them on December 10, 1994, but the committee that chose the prize winners had disagreements about Yasser Arafat.
Public Opinion in the Arab World
Iran, which funded terrorist activities by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah, strongly opposed the peace agreement. It called for violent resistance to prevent the agreement. The Cairo agreement was called a "stain of shame" and "unprecedented betrayal" in Iran.
Public Opinion in Israel
The adoption of the Oslo Accords, which included direct talks with the leadership of the PLO, represented a complete change in Israel's policy, which until then had refused to hold talks with the terrorist organization whose charter called for the destruction of the State of Israel. When the Oslo Accords became known to the general public, a sharp dispute developed in Israel surrounding the agreements, and the Jewish public in the State of Israel was divided about them. In front of the support of the left-wing political side stood the fierce opposition of the right-wing political side.
What Did The Opposers Of The Oslo Accords Claim?
The period after the signing of the Oslo Accords was tumultuous in Israel. The massacre at the Cave of the Patriarchs and a wave of suicide attacks in Israel in 1994-1995, in which dozens of people were murdered, caused a sharp rift between the right and the left. The right accused the government led by Yitzhak Rabin of leading to Palestinian terrorist attacks, and an extensive public campaign was conducted against the government's policy and against Rabin, who headed it. Many demonstrations and protest actions were held all over the country - impromptu demonstrations organized at the scenes of terrorist attacks immediately after their occurrence and organized demonstrations, some of which included blocking roads and intersections. During the demonstrations, chants were heard calling "Rabin a traitor" and "Rabin, a murderer," and posters showing Rabin wearing Keffiyeh and hugging Arafat were hung throughout the country and waved in right-wing demonstrations. In March 1994, a demonstration was held at the Ra'anana intersection with the participation of opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu, in which demonstrators carried a coffin with the inscriptions "Israel is in danger," "Rabin kills Zionists," and "Rabin kills Zionists," and wrapped nooses around their necks. Following the demonstrations, a government meeting was held in which the possibility of prosecuting those who allowed the Prime Minister's blood and incited harm to him physically was discussed.
Following the progress in the Oslo process and the signing of another interim agreement, which granted the Palestinians self-government in the major Palestinian cities and about 450 other villages in the territories of Israel, the country was torn apart by a fierce internal dispute. In August, a young man tried to drive Minister Yossi Sharid's car into an abyss. On October 2, 1995, a Pulsa Danora ceremony took place in front of Rabin's house in Jerusalem. On the night of the debate on the Oslo Accords, a large demonstration was held in Zion Square in Jerusalem, where leaders of the right-wing parties spoke. During the demonstration, chants of "Blood and fire, expel Rabin" and "Death to Rabin" were heard, and pictures of Rabin were burned. At the end of the demonstration, several hundred demonstrators marched from the square to the Knesse building, where they went on a violent rampage, attempting to break into the Knesse square and destroying the cars of government ministers and coalition members. The Speaker of the Knesset, Shevah Weiss, denied Knesset member Hanan Porat the right to speak in the plenary due to the riots and shouted, "Calm down, your people are out there." During and after the demonstration, a poster created by a minor was published, in which Rabin was shown dressed in SS uniform, and one of its copies was given to journalist Rina Matzliach by Itamar Ben Gvir.
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Not far from the demonstration, Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer was attacked in his car on his way to the Knesset. A few days later, when Rabin attended a gathering at the Wingate Institute, a mob attacked his car, and one of those present attempted to attack him physically. After that incident, Itamar Ben Gvir, an activist like that, now the Minister of Internal Security in the Government of Israel, was interviewed on television with a Cadillac car symbol, which he claimed was removed from Rabin's car, and said: "Just as we reached this symbol - we can reach Rabin."
What Did The Supporters Of The Oslo Accords Claim?
Among the supporters of the agreement, there is a widespread opinion that moderate elements in Palestinian society, who embraced the peace process and are ready to negotiate with Israel, should be strengthened.
In their view, the increase in terrorism came as a result of the slowdown in the peace process and as part of the attempt by extremists on the Palestinian side to thwart it, along with the expansion of construction in the settlements and acts of Jewish terrorism that fueled the flames. In the two years after the Oslo Accords, foreign investments in Israel increased 30-fold, and political relations were established with many countries that previously boycotted Israel, leading to a positive improvement in the country's economic and political situation.
Some in the left political parties warned against harming Rabin at the hands of extreme right-wing activists. Journalists warned that "'Rabin betrayer' is a phrase that can incite someone from the right to settle the score with the traitor.?
As a counterweight to the right-wing demonstrations, left-wing movements organized a large demonstration on Saturday night, November 4, 1995, in support of the coalition, the government, and Rabin, under the title "Yes to peace, no to violence."
Curious to know what happened in the demonstration of support for the government and the peace process? Arrive on time for the next class and find out.
That's all for today, class. We'll continue next week.?
Take care.