Skutki Arabskiej Wiosny z perspektywy izraelskiej
The effects of the Arab Spring from the Israeli perspective

Summary/Abstract: During the first days of the Arab Spring many hoped that the series of protests and revolutions could bring a wave of democracy and stability to the Middle East. Such an outcome would have been greatly welcomed by the Israelis, who have been surrounded by enemies for years. Yet, more than two and a half years after the Arab Spring began, its effects for the Jewish state are far from satisfying, to say the least. The turmoil in Egypt, Israel’s western neighbor, resulted in Hosni Mubarak’s fall from power. While the former president might not have been one of Tel Aviv’s favorites, he was undoubtedly a fairly reliable partner. The subsequent rise of the Muslim Brotherhood was regarded as a threat to Israel`s security. Even after the July 2013 coup d’etat, which ended the organization`s rule over Egypt, the future of Israeli-Egyptian relations remains uncertain. Also problematic is the situation behind Israel`s northern border. While the Jewish state is not directly involved in the Syrian civil war, it still poses a potential danger for the Israelis as more and more Islamists and radicals are partaking in the struggle against Bashar al-Assad. If the Syrian president falls, these groups may try to seize power or engage in hostile activities against Israel. Moreover, it is possible that the unrest could spill-over to Lebanon, which would also affect Israel’s national security. Overall, Israel feels threatened by the Islamist rise in the Middle East caused by the Arab Spring. It must also be noted that the Arab Spring pressured the Palestinian leaders to become more active on the issue of Palestine’s independence. As a result, the UN recognized Palestine as a non-member observer state in late 2012. The mounting international pressure on Israel is very inconvenient for the Netanyahu government as it is not ready to make any serious concessions.

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