About the Council for Peace and Security
PROFILE
The Council for Peace and Security is a voluntary body with no party political affiliation, bringing together some thousand members, each with a rich background in fields associated with security and diplomacy. Members include former high-ranking officers of the Israel Defence Force (IDF), former holders of equivalent positions in the Mossad and Shin Beth Security Services, the Israel Police, retired diplomats, directors of Government Ministries and academics from various fields. It is a membership that has rich experience of security, politics, economics and problems of society. It considers the support of the Middle East Peace Process to be a necessary component of National Security.
The Council for Peace and Security was established in 1988 by a group of reserve officers led by the late Gen Aharon Yariv who was the Head of the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University. The notion that security is a field requiring experience and professional knowledge was the motivation for establishing the Council.
A major aim is to bring members’ experience and knowledge to the public, thereby enabling the public to form knowledgeable opinions on security-related issues, particularly in connection with the Peace Process.
The Council has a Management (President, Director and about twenty members). The Management stands for election every three years.
Membership of the Council is conditional upon satisfying criteria of expertise and experience. A candidate must accept the basic principles of the Council and be ready to contribute and participate in its activities.
The Council is registered as a “Non-Profit Organization of Experts on Peace and Security”.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES
DELIBERATIONS ON SECURITY ISSUES MUST BE NON-POLITICAL A public debate on peace and security is an essential activity in a democracy. At the same time every effort should be made to keep assessment of security matters on a professional level. Influence by political party interests should be avoided, particularly at the run-up to elections. The Council denounces illegal confrontations of citizens with the army and the other security services. Soldiers and members of the security services answer only to the law of the land and to their commanding officers. The Council denounces the interference of political elements that are trying to manipulate actions of the Security Services.
PEACE IS ACHIEVED BY COMPROMISE Peace and a strong army are the essential ingredients for Israel’s security. The army must at all cost retain its deterrent ability. It should however be borne in mind that peace is not achievable without compromise and willingness to make sacrifices.
THE OCCUPATION IS CAUSING DAMAGE Continued occupation of the Territories and control over the Palestinians is damaging the democratic character of the State of Israel. It is weakening the army, undermining its ability and its preparedness to respond to military threats.
A PALESTINIAN STATE IS NOT A THREAT The establishment of a Palestinian State in the major part of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip – with necessary security provisions – does not constitute a threat to Israel. On the contrary, it is essential in order to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel. A realistic permanent boundary between Israel and a Palestinian State should be that of the Green Line (Israel’s provisional border before the Six Day War in 1967), with certain adjustments in Jerusalem and in other places. The large Jewish settled domains on the eastern side of the Green Line should be annexed to Israel.
JERUSALEM, THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL Israel has a deep interest in retaining the character of Jerusalem, her capital. A peace agreement must ensure Israeli control over a Greater Jerusalem, not including Palestinian neighborhoods. (These neighborhoods were annexed to Jerusalem in 1967, and today are populated by nearly a quarter of a million Palestinians.) Special provisions will be necessary for the Old City of Jerusalem and its Holy Places in order to ensure the rights of believers of the three faiths.
THE “RIGHT OF RETURN” MUST BE OPPOSED The Council considers that the giving of “Right of Return” to Palestinians is a threat to the very existence of Israel, and strongly opposes an agreement that would allow
any of them to return to Israeli territory.
ISRAEL MUST REMOVE PROBLEMATIC SETTLEMENTS Now, after the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza has been completed, there is an immediate need to remove those settlements in Judea and Samaria which are causing friction and blood-letting, thereby undermining the Peace Process. These settlements do not contribute to Israel’s security. On the contrary, they serve the Palestinians tactically and propaganda-wise.
ISRAEL MUST RESIST PROVOCATION The Peace Process is liable to be long and fraught with crises. Armed groups are trying to achieve political gains, and extreme elements are trying to derail the Peace Process completely. Israel must resist provocation aimed at wearing away her staying power, and calling into question her regional and international role. In these times of crisis efforts should be made to keep open channels of communication between the parties, thereby holding out hope for a return to the negotiating table.
PEACE WITH SYRIA IS A STRATEGIC NECESSITY The Council considers a settlement with Syria to be a strategic necessity for Israel. So long as peace has not been achieved in that Northern Sector there exists a danger of regional conflagration.
THREAT OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION Countries arming themselves with weapons of mass destruction and with missiles constitute a serious threat to the region. To meet this threat Israel must retain her deterrent power and strive to recruit international forces (under the leadership of the United states of America) to combat it. Israel’s willingness to persevere with the Peace Process will assist in this endeavor. Every agreement or treaty that takes yet another neighboring country out of the circle of hostility increases the stability of the region.
CONSCRIPTION FOR ALL The Council deems conscription to the army or to other recognized National Security Services to be essential both for the army and for the moral and physical strength of the country. The Council opposes the giving of blanket exemptions to specific sectors of the population.
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR MINORITIES The Council is of the opinion that an end must be put to double standards applied to Jews and non-Jews in the matter of policies for urban and rural development. The Council calls upon the Government to work towards establishing equal conditions for non-Jews, integrating them fully into the life of the State. It calls upon Israeli Arabs to serve as a bridge for peace with the Arab World.
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THE COUNCIL’S ACTIVITIES
The Council’s ATTITUDE TO POLITICAL PARTIES AND TO THE GOVERNMENT is determined by their policies and their actions with regard to National Security and to their efforts in furthering peace.
The Council gives expression to its views on all aspects of National Security. It strives to INFLUENCE POLICY MAKERS AND PUBLIC OPINION in matters of Peace and Security. It attempts to generate PUBLIC DEBATE on Peace and Security, an activity that is vital in a democracy.
LECTURES AND MEETINGS The Council holds Lectures, Conferences, open and closed Discussion Seminars – all with the participation of senior personalities from the security, diplomatic and academic communities.
ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS Members of the Council are frequent contributors of articles to the press, and givers of interviews to the Media. The Council frequently places notices in the press, signed by large groups of members, announcing and/or supporting activities and events in the quest for peace.
TOURS AND STUDY TOURS The Council conducts educational guided tours to sites of historic battles throughout the country. It also arranges tours designed to throw light upon complex security issues that are relevant to the search for peace. Many of these tours are for youth and new immigrants.
FIELD ACTIVITIES Council members participate in street demonstrations and protest rallies on topical issues concerning the peace process.
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