A government led by the change bloc would bring a significant shift in Israel’s security policy toward the region, former senior Shin Bet official Dr. Doron Matza said Thursday morning.
Speaking in an interview with Danny Siman, Matza said such a government is expected to move away from an active security posture toward an approach that leaves more room for accommodation and diplomatic moves.
Matza began by laying out the political makeup he expects. Under his scenario, the change bloc parties will form the government with backing from parts of the chareidi parties and a safety net from the Arab parties.
“As it looks right now, we’re heading toward a political change in Israel, toward a new government that will include a mix of those parties defined as change parties, with support from parts of the chareidi parties and a safety net from the Arab parties,” Matza said.
Turning to policy, he said the new government would favor political tools over military initiative in dealing with the region.
“We’re going to see a move from an activist security policy in relation to the region to a policy that is softer, more accommodating, more inclusive of elements like containment, like statesmanship,” he said.
Matza also invoked the Oslo period, though he stopped short of a direct comparison. He said such a government would place its trust in diplomacy and political dialogue as the main tools for managing Israel’s security challenges.
“We’re going back, I wouldn’t say to the days of Oslo, but we’re going back to days of belief in diplomacy and in a kind of political discourse as a mechanism that can arrange the business,” Matza said.
