Roman BRONFMAN: “Israel has a right to expect from Ukraine a more balanced policy”
The Middle East conflict, which the world community is unable to resolve, has entered its second month. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s envoy, Knesset member Roman BRONFMAN told The Day about Israel’s stand on the presence of peacekeeping troops in the region, its surprise at Ukraine’s vote for the UN Security Council’s resolution condemning the excessive use of force by Israel, and about the possibility of a more active participation in the conflict settlement by Ukraine.
The Day: Mr. Bronfman, how do you evaluate Ukraine’s efforts to resolve the Middle East conflict? Could they be more active?
They definitely could. We were confused, to say the least, by Ukraine’s vote in the UN Security Council in favor of a resolution condemning Israel for the excessive use of force. We expected a different decision from the Ukrainian diplomatic corps. We are very grateful for the work done by the Ukrainian minesweeping battalion in southern Lebanon. This creates a positive image of Ukraine both in Israel and worldwide. We have a large number of agreements on strategic partnership with Ukraine and a considerable tourist and economic exchange. Thus we believe we could expect a more balanced and impartial policy from Ukraine in voting in the UN. Presently, the Palestinian proposal to bring peacekeeping troops into Israel and the Palestinian autonomous area is being analyzed by the UN Security Council. Israel strongly objects to it, and, I hope, Ukraine will heed the appeal of our government’s head.
In your opinion, what impact will the change of leadership in the US have on the peace process?
Bill Clinton has been Israel’s great friend. He made tremendous efforts to solve the Middle East conflict, trying to display maximum impartiality. Will the US principles be altered? I think not. For the US is primarily interested in its strategic presence in the Middle East, in the Persian Gulf region. This remains its top priority. How active will the future president be, what will be his understanding of the process itself, how personal will it be? These questions are hard to answer. I think, anyone elected will find it hard to step into the shoes of Bill Clinton, who took great pains to resolve the conflict.
On November 15 Palestinian autonomy is to be proclaimed. What will be the Israeli government’s response?
We are closely monitoring what is going on in the Palestinian administration. We consider that a unilateral proclamation of a Palestinian state will negatively affect the peace process. Israel will have to react. One of the steps may be a program of territories’ isolation, which is under scrutiny in Israel. It envisions annexation of the territories presently controlled by Israel, establishment of borders with checkpoints, cutting off all Palestinian infrastructure which certainly will be damaging to the economy of both sides. But, I anticipate, the proclamation will cause more damage to Palestine than Israel. The political proclamation of the Palestinian state without Israel’s consent calls into question Arafat’s seriousness.
Does Arafat have real power to influence the settlement of the actual conflict and the Palestinian groups participating in the clashes?
As of today, there are three terrorist organizations in Palestine. Arafat has never controlled two of them, Hamaz and Jihad. The third guerrilla organization, Tanzim, which is more active and radical than the others, is a youth group of Fatah movement. This organization was set up some years ago by Arafat himself. In general, it performs the functions of a Palestinian Communist Youth League. Supposedly, Arafat can almost control this organization ninety to a hundred percent.
What sentiments dominate at the moment among the Israeli population, to resume peace talks or to resort to a more radical action, including war?
I think, the Israeli majority is in a crisis at the moment, perhaps even in shock. Public opinion is gradually drifting to the right. In other words, the majority calls for decisive action, including the use of the military force. The Israeli government is doing its utmost to prevent the use of Israel’s outstanding military might against autonomous Palestine.
