Only a Few Israel-Related Names on FP Thinkers List

Foreign Policy released a list of the world’s top 100 Global Thinkers, with only a minimal number of Israel-related public figures appearing. Many of the lists thinkers clearly represent revolutionary views in foreign affairs and economists; other list members, however, are simply not among them.

Notably, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, a former IMF official who advocated for institution building in the territories, came in at number 61 “for showing how to govern effectively in the middle of a conflict.” However, Fayyad has minimal support, Palestinian society is still fragmented, the peace process is stalled, and institutions have a long way to go before the Palestinians could effectively self govern. However, Fayyad has attempted to change tactics in the conflict by encouraging Palestinians to take ownership and responsibility for their future, as opposed to pursing an identity of victimization. In describing Fayyad, FP notes:

“With his boss tottering and peace talks stagnating, Fayyad has emerged as the last, best hope for a permanent settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. Fayyad, who holds a Ph.D. in economics, rose to prominence as the IMF’s representative in the Palestinian territories, where he subsequently became finance minister. In June 2007, he was promoted to prime minister, finally giving him the authority to root out corruption and embark on institutional reforms, such as making the Palestinian Authority’s notoriously opaque annual budget public. Now, he is calling for the creation of a Palestinian state within two years — regardless of the progress of peace talks. With the West Bank’s economy projected to grow 7 percent in 2009, Fayyad is building a reputation as an effective guarantor of his people’s economic and political welfare. In this region, that’s no small thing.”

Conversely, the only Israeli on the list is author David Grossman, who opposed the 2006 war in Lebanon and continues to speak out against military force, coming in at 94 “for demonstrating how Zionism and pacifism can coexist.” However, the presumption of the need to demonstrate coexistence between Zionism and pacifism represents a skewed – and potentially biased – interpretation of the movement to develop a Jewish state. Zionism and pacifism, while occasionally separate, are by no means mutually exclusive and should not be placed on opposite ends of a scale. FP says:

“Grossman knows tragedy too well. Three years ago, during the Israel-Lebanon war, the famed Israeli author spoke out in favor of peace and urged his country’s military to back down. Three days later, his 20-year-old son was killed in the conflict. Nevertheless, Grossman has remained a steadfast pacifist and peace activist. He first became famous as an advocate for Palestinian recognition and rights with The Yellow Wind, his 1988 study of the lives of people in the West Bank. Ever since, he has urged Israel toward open engagement (even with Hamas), an end to occupation and settlements, and decisive moves in the direction of a two-state solution. “[R]eality is not one hermetic story that we, and the Palestinians, too, have been telling ourselves for generations,” he wrote in January. “Reality is not just the story we are locked into, a story made up, in no small measure, of fantasies, wishful thinking and nightmares.””

Meanwhile, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman came in at 21 “for his genius at popularizing complex ideas.” Friedman has written extensively on the Middle East, including his widely read best seller From Beirut to Jerusalem.