Ya'akov Arnon
Encyclopedia
Ya'akov Arnon was a Dutch-born Israeli economist
and government official in the 1960s
who later became active in the Israeli peace movement.
, The Netherlands to a well off family of Dutch Jewish diamond dealers, Arnon survived World War II
by concealing his Jewish identity. After the World War II he led the Zionist Federation of the Netherlands until 1948 when he emigrated to Israel
after the war, changed his name and joined the Ministry of Finance under Levi Eshkol
to become the new ministry's director-general. In 1965, he initiated policies that led to a serious recession
in Israel. He subsequently served as Chairman of the Board of the Israeli Electricity Company.
After the Six Day War, Arnon co-ordinated a committee of government officials that attempted to implement an "enlightened occupation" of the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
but which laid the foundations of the ongoing Occupation
.
In the 1975 he joined with two other dissident establishment figures, Uri Avnery
and Mattityahu Peled
, to found the Israeli Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
The ICIPP Charter called for Israeli withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967 and the creation of an independent Palestinian state in these territories, Jerusalem being shared between them. At the time this was considered a very radical plan, which the ICIPP was the first Zionist organization to support.
The ICIPP sought to promote private and unofficial dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians in as many ways as possible, but also to try to bring about official negotiations between the Government of Israel and the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization
.
Arnon helped found the Sheli
party prior to the 1977 elections
but as the seventh candidate on the party list was not elected to the Knesset
after the party won only 6 seats. He was also a candidate for the Progressive List for Peace
in the 1984 elections
and was the fourth candidate on the party list; however, only 2 MKs were elected.
In 1980, Arnon went on a clandestine mission to Morocco
on the invitation of King Hassan II
along with Avnery, Peled and PLO liaison Issam Sartawi
.
His Hebrew-language biography, They Called Him Jaap: Jacob Arnon from Amsterdam to Jerusalem, was published in 2010 by Hakibbutz Hameuchad. Yitzhak Rabin biographer Yossi Goldstein wrote its first section, and Aryeh Dayan, author of a book about the history of Shas, wrote the part documenting Arnon's political activity with people from the radical left.
In 1991, he received the award of Yakir Yerushalayim
from the city of Jerusalem.
A street was named after him in Jerusalem shortly after his death.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and government official in the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
who later became active in the Israeli peace movement.
Biography
Born Jacob "Jaap" van Amerongen in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, The Netherlands to a well off family of Dutch Jewish diamond dealers, Arnon survived World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by concealing his Jewish identity. After the World War II he led the Zionist Federation of the Netherlands until 1948 when he emigrated to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
after the war, changed his name and joined the Ministry of Finance under Levi Eshkol
Levi Eshkol
' served as the third Prime Minister of Israel from 1963 until his death from a heart attack in 1969. He was the first Israeli Prime Minister to die in office.-Biography:...
to become the new ministry's director-general. In 1965, he initiated policies that led to a serious recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
in Israel. He subsequently served as Chairman of the Board of the Israeli Electricity Company.
After the Six Day War, Arnon co-ordinated a committee of government officials that attempted to implement an "enlightened occupation" of the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
but which laid the foundations of the ongoing Occupation
Israeli-occupied territories
The Israeli-occupied territories are the territories which have been designated as occupied territory by the United Nations and other international organizations, governments and others to refer to the territory seized by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967 from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria...
.
In the 1975 he joined with two other dissident establishment figures, Uri Avnery
Uri Avnery
Uri Avnery is an Israeli writer and founder of the Gush Shalom peace movement.A member of the Irgun as a teenager, Avnery sat in the Knesset from 1965–74 and 1979–81...
and Mattityahu Peled
Mattityahu Peled
Mattityahu "Matti" Peled was a well-known Israeli public figure who was at various periods of his life a professional military man who reached the rank of Aluf in the IDF and was a member of the General Staff during the Six Day War of 1967; a notable scholar who headed the Arabic Language and...
, to found the Israeli Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
The ICIPP Charter called for Israeli withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967 and the creation of an independent Palestinian state in these territories, Jerusalem being shared between them. At the time this was considered a very radical plan, which the ICIPP was the first Zionist organization to support.
The ICIPP sought to promote private and unofficial dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians in as many ways as possible, but also to try to bring about official negotiations between the Government of Israel and the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization
Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed...
.
Arnon helped found the Sheli
Left Camp of Israel
The Left Camp of Israel was a left-wing political party in Israel. It was also known as Sheli , an acronym for Peace for Israel .-Background:...
party prior to the 1977 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1977
The Elections for the ninth Knesset were held on 17 May 1977. For the first time in Israeli political history, the right-wing, led by Likud, won the election, ending almost 30 years of rule by the left-wing Alignment and its predecessor, Mapai...
but as the seventh candidate on the party list was not elected to the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
after the party won only 6 seats. He was also a candidate for the Progressive List for Peace
Progressive List for Peace
The Progressive List for Peace was a left-wing political party in Israel formed from an alliance of both Arab and Jewish left-wing activists.-History:...
in the 1984 elections
Israeli legislative election, 1984
Elections for the eleventh Knesset were held in Israel on 23 July 1984. Voter turnout was 78.8%. The results saw the Alignment return to being the largest party in the Knesset, a status it had lost in 1977...
and was the fourth candidate on the party list; however, only 2 MKs were elected.
In 1980, Arnon went on a clandestine mission to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
on the invitation of King Hassan II
Hassan II of Morocco
King Hassan II l-ḥasan aṯ-ṯānī, dial. el-ḥasan ettâni); July 9, 1929 – July 23, 1999) was King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999...
along with Avnery, Peled and PLO liaison Issam Sartawi
Issam Sartawi
Dr Issam Sartawi was a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization .-Medical background:Issam Sartawi attended university in Baghdad, graduating in medicine, before specializing in cardiology and getting his MD in the United States.-Politics:Sartawi returned to Palestine in 1967, joined...
.
His Hebrew-language biography, They Called Him Jaap: Jacob Arnon from Amsterdam to Jerusalem, was published in 2010 by Hakibbutz Hameuchad. Yitzhak Rabin biographer Yossi Goldstein wrote its first section, and Aryeh Dayan, author of a book about the history of Shas, wrote the part documenting Arnon's political activity with people from the radical left.
In 1991, he received the award of Yakir Yerushalayim
Yakir Yerushalayim
Yakir Yerushalayim is an annual citizenship prize in Jerusalem, Israel, inaugurated in 1967.The prize is awarded annually by the municipality of the City of Jerusalem to one or more residents of the city who have contributed to the cultural and educational life of the city in some outstanding way....
from the city of Jerusalem.
A street was named after him in Jerusalem shortly after his death.