Date: 20.01.2000

On Tuesday, January 20th, Geneva Initiative welcomed Israel Hayom's chief political columnist, Chemi Shalev, for a survey of the domestic arena and the political process in light of the new situation and ahead of the elections. Shalev briefed dozens of representatives of the diplomatic community in Israel, among them ambassadors and foundation directors, on the current situation and possible future developments.

Chemi Shalev is currently the deputy editor and political analyst of Israel Hayom (Israel Today), Israel's fastest-growing daily newspaper. He has been covering Israeli politics and the Middle East peace process for close to 25 years, previously serving as diplomatic correspondent and chief political analyst for the dailies Jerusalem Post, Davar, and Ma'ariv. He has also conducted hundreds of public opinion polls on Israeli attitudes towards the peace process and internal political affairs. Mr. Shalev has also been a regular guest-commentator on CNN and other television networks during times of Middle East crisis or elections in Israel. Mr. Shalev has served for many years as Jerusalem correspondent for the New York-based Jewish weekly, The Forward. Late last year, he returned from a four-year stay in Australia, where he was associate editor of the Australian Jewish News.

Geneva Initiative Director General Gadi Baltiansky opened the event, presenting some results from the most recent poll conducted by the Geneva Initiative during the IDF's operation in Gaza. Even in the days of the fighting, with Israeli society more nationalistic and militant than it normally is, most Israelis support a package deal final status agreement along the lines of the Geneva Initiative. Other recent polls provided similar data.

Shalev then addressed the participants, first discussing Israeli public opinion during the three-week war in Gaza and the Israeli media's presentation of the war. He then went on to survey the history of public opinion since the peace process was first launched in 1993. Finally, Mr. Shalev addressed the upcoming elections, providing his estimates and analysis and discussing possible developments in the political process in the new reality that will emerge in their wake.