Yoram Meital

Yoram Meital is the head of the Chaim Herzog Center and on the faculty of Ben Gurion University. He spoke last night to a small group of BGU supporters. He was scheduled to speak on changes in the political structure of the Arab middle east, but concentrated more on Israel in light of the recent major changes in that country.

He described himself as optimistic in some areas, and pessimistic in others. An "opssimist".

The optimism comes from the naming of Peretz as new head of the Labor Party, mainly because of his Morrocan background and his union/Histadrut background. He believes that Peretz will bring domestic, social issues back to the forefront of Israeli consciousness, something that has been missing for decades.

The optimism also comes from the withdrawal of Sharon from Likud, and the formation of a new "centrist" party. He believes that most Israelis (right or wrong) are comfortable with the Sharon foreign policy, and with the Peretz domestic policy, so he believes that the next government may be set and stable.

He recognizes the need of the new part to be more than a one-man party. (In the car, after the session, as we were driving him back to his hotel, Meital said that BGU president Avashai Braverman has been approached by Sharon to come into a new government; Braverman's term as president of the university is ending.)

His pessimism comes from the short term inability of any Israeli government to reach an accommodation with the Palestinians. Apparently, Sharon, who is now in favor of reconciliation, believes that a minimum of 70,000 West Bank settlers will be affected. After the turmoil of 7,000 in Gaza, Meital does not know how this can be handled domestically. He also believes, and believes that Sharon thinks, that Abu Massen does not have sufficient control over Palestinian affairs and that Hamas will strengthen. But, he thinks, that if Hamas comes to power, you can't tell whether they will hold on to their current strident position, or modify it. Look at Begin, he says, or De Gaulle, or Nixon in China.