Israeli and Palestinian Elections: Opportunities for Change or More of Same?

Ft. Peter Beinart, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Diana Buttu, and Orly Noy. Last week, Israelis went to the polls for the fourth time in two years to elect a new government. In parallel, Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem are now — for the first time in nearly 15 years — preparing for presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for May and June. What are the prospects for these elections bringing about real, positive change for either people or an opening to confront Israeli apartheid, annexation, or occupation? In what ways are these elections a distraction that enable the continuation of the current status quo, which includes the increasingly illiberal nature of Israeli politics and society, and the continued authoritarian and unaccountable nature of Palestinian leadership? More info, including panelist biographies, can be found at fmep.org “Original ‘Occupied Thoughts’ music by Jalal Yaqoub”