Last update - 00:00 31/07/2007
Seven comments on the situation
By Yoel Marcus
1.The American decision to sell billions of dollars' worth of cutting edge weapon technology to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, and to compensate Israel by increasing military aid to $30 billion over the next decade, boils down to an admission by President George W. Bush that after two botched terms, he is leaving behind a lot of scorched earth. The situation in Iraq is gridlocked; Iran is still developing the bomb; al-Qaida continues to stalk the earth; and the two-state solution in our neck of the woods is still far from being implemented, if it ever will be. His push for democratic elections in the territories has produced Hamastan in Gaza. Bush is ending his failed career the only way America knows how: Here, take the money, and work it out yourselves.
2. Tonight at 10 P.M. on Channel Two: "A Star is Born 5" - the duets. At midnight: "A Star is Born 5" - the solos.
3. When Shimon Peres said good-bye to Kadima to be instated as president, Ehud Olmert invited him to get involved in political affairs: "Make use of your contacts and your skills, which no statesman in the world can match, and if you have advice, I will be happy to hear it." In response to that generous statement, Peres complimented Olmert on the way he ran the Second Lebanon War and applauded him on his strong nerves. Seasoned politicians are great at scratching each other's backs. Now let's see if Olmert doesn't hit the ceiling if Peres actually follows his advice and gets involved in the negotiations with the Palestinian leadership.
4. Tonight at 9 P.M. on Channel Two: "A Star is Born 5" - who's in and who's out. At 11 P.M.: "A Star is Born 5" - the cream of the crop. At 2 A.M.: "A Star is Born 5" - the selection process.
5. Olmert is a man with friends. He is a backslapper. He is a guy who does favors and likes to get favors in return. Sometimes this lands him in hot water. Sometimes his buddies are so eager to help that they get into trouble. This happens when the line between doing a favor and being paid back grows hazy, and starts to intrude on proper governance. At least two ministers opposed certain stages of the Second Lebanon War, if not the entire war. Peres testified before the Winograd Committee that he was against the war but voted in favor of it so as not to challenge the prime minister's authority. Strange reasoning, but worth it if you want to be elected president. Haim Ramon, another personal friend, told the committee that he voted for a ground offensive in Lebanon even though he personally opposed it, according to testimony made public. Why? To back Olmert. Ramon denies it, but political insiders are sticking to their story: He thought it would "impact badly on Olmert's authority and ability to lead during the war if he was faced with even minority opposition in the government." That is what prompted him to vote "with a heavy heart" when the proposal was brought before the cabinet. It is no accident that he is now the minister closest to Olmert - deputy prime minister - who Olmert has called one of his "two best friends." The question is how many soldiers died for the sake of that friendship.
6. Tonight on Channel Two: Instead of the evening news, "A Star is Born 5" - rerun.
7. Ehud Barak married his sweetheart and he didn't invite me to the wedding. Can you believe it? Not only didn't I get an invitation, but he didn't even tell me they were getting married. "And you know what?" a minister told Ma'ariv. "I was sitting with him on Wednesday and tried to set up a meeting for Friday, but he claimed his schedule was full. He never said a word about a wedding. Incredible." What a scoop. The paper proceeds to offer a blow-by-blow description of the terrible thing that happened in the Kingdom of Didd. A top minister wrings his hands at not being told about the wedding. "We worked our butts off for him and he keeps a happy event like a wedding secret from us? It's insulting, regardless of whether I was invited. It says something about how much he trusts us," says one of his associates. "I gave him a second chance, and he blew it. Either he's autistic or totally inhuman." This earth-shattering news was accompanied by a double-sized column by Ma'ariv's leading political commentator with a quote to the effect that he betrays his friends and runs off "like a thief in the night" to get married. What this goes to show is that he hasn't changed. He hasn't learned his lesson. Nothing has changed. The old Barak is back.
In my opinion, these conclusions are hasty. Barak is going to change. Just wait and see. His next party will be at Ramat Gan stadium, and everyone and his grandmother will be invited.