Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., August 05, 2008 Av 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:00 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 21:18 04/08/2008 The gospel according to Mofaz By Akiva Eldar Tags: Shaul Mofaz, Ehud Olmert  A senior Israeli official once told me that our secret weapon is not the nuclear bomb that foreign sources say is hiding in Dimona. After all, one day the Iranians, and maybe the Egyptians and the Syrians, will achieve nuclear capability. Rather, our most valuable strategic asset is the widespread belief in the Middle East that the Jewish Israelis are the smartest people in the world. Shaul Mofaz refutes this myth. If he wins the Kadima leadership race, he will show our neighbors that Israel is losing its qualitative edge. And if the Labor Party crowns him prime minister, the move will prove that Israel is suffering from a chronic decline. When the prime minister made Mofaz the minister responsible for strategic dialogue with the United States, as a consolation prize for not winning the defense portfolio, he didn't take into account that Mofaz would use this title in his primary campaign. Less than a month after his comments in an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, in which he said Israel will have no choice but to attack Iran with American approval, drove up the price of oil, Mofaz is once again pouring oil on the global fire. At a Washington research institute he announced that Iran was on the verge of a major breakthrough in its nuclear program. Advertisement As the United States tries to reach an agreement with Iran via diplomatic channels, Mofaz is announcing that Israel must be prepared to use all options to defend itself. He rejected criticism regarding his statement's influence on the oil market with the crushing argument that Israel's existence is more important than oil prices. On the eve of the 1996 elections, Moshe Ya'alon, then the head of Military Intelligence, said Iran was hoping for Benjamin Netanyahu to win. He meant that Tehran thought a Likud leader would make the Oslo process fail, cause the reformation of the Arab refusal front and pave Iran's way to the territories. On the eve of the Kadima primary, it appears that the Iranians have good reason to hope for a Mofaz victory. As chief of staff and defense minister, Mofaz did more than Netanyahu to contribute to the fall of the centrist-secular rule in the territories and the strengthening of the settlers' hold on it. Beforehand, he managed to thwart then-prime minister Ehud Barak's efforts to get the Israel Defense Forces out of Lebanon in coordination with the Lebanese government. The unilateral withdrawal in 2000 made room for Hezbollah, Iran's ally, to take over southern Lebanon. The hasty retreat from Lebanon showed the residents of the territories that the violent way to get rid of the Israeli occupation, the way Hamas has adopted, is a shorter path than Fatah's diplomatic way. Early last week, Mofaz expressed his vehement opposition to negotiations with the Palestinians over a final-status agreement. Then, over the weekend, he said he believes we need to negotiate with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, "so he will have the power to fight terror, which enjoys Iranian support." Who knows, maybe Kadima members include a few people from the peace camp. Two months ago, Mofaz went up north to announce that the Golan Heights are not only a strategic asset that we must not give up under any circumstances, but also a very nice region where Mofaz is considering moving with his family. Mofaz took the opportunity to declare that withdrawing from the Golan would bring Iranian soldiers to Israel's borders, and suggested not "running amok" after every Syrian overture. In other words, it's better to push Syria into Iran's embrace than to speak with Damascus. This past weekend, however, Mofaz announced from Washington that if he is the one who replaces Olmert, he will immediately continue negotiations with Syria, without preconditions. Have I mentioned that a primary campaign is underway? None of the candidates vying to succeed Ehud Olmert has major news to share. They did not initiate a single important project or achieve anything exceptional as ministers or cabinet members. They have all reached the top because they jumped from the Likud to Ariel Sharon's party at the right time. Each is responsible, to some degree, for the failures of the Second Lebanon War, the trampling of the peace process and the spread of the settlements. Middling politicians like them come and go by the dozens without leaving a mark on history, for better or for worse. But it's hard to find an Israeli public figure who damages the country's crucial strategic interests more than candidate Mofaz. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Coerced collaboration Shin Bet accused of forcing ill Palestinians become informants. A French feud French satirist denies making anti-Semitic remarks towards President Sarkozy's son.   1.   Mofaz! 21:20  |  Paul 04/08/08   2.   Akiva Eldar belittles coz he envies General Mofaz`s achievements 21:45  |  Genuine Tosefta 04/08/08   3.   Eldar-What a Loser 22:01  |  Michael Gorinsky 04/08/08   4.   He was thought to be a problem, now he has removed any and doubt 22:20  |  jewish doctor 04/08/08   5.   Eldar&Co have made Israel into a cringing entity,now he dares 23:38  |  Absolute Sweden 04/08/08   6.   Genuine Foolishness 23:46  |  David 04/08/08   7.   not king David 03:24  |  Genuine Tosefta 05/08/08   8.   Godspell, human forgery based on someone who did not exist? 03:30  |  JMK 05/08/08   9.   Mofaz prime minister? 05:01  |  J.G. 05/08/08   10.   Yesterday oil was down to $121, is Gen. Mofaz credited by Eldar? 06:53  |  Genuine Tosefta 05/08/08

Read & React Israeli food company: We won't sell produce grown by Arabs Responses: 114 Barak: If you miss Gaza raids, don't worry - they'll come Responses: 57 Settler group planning to reestablish Gaza bloc Responses: 54 Israelis in West Africa: We live in Hezbollah state Responses: 48 Pentagon: We thought engineer was Israeli spy because he's a Jew Responses: 90 More Headlines 15:17 Iran sidesteps nuclear freeze in answer on incentives 18:40 Report: UNIFIL training for possible rescue of IAF pilots in Lebanon 16:50 New book claims Bush White House used forged documents in case for Iraq war 14:07 Pentagon: We thought engineer was Israeli spy because he's a Jew 12:53 Abbas to urge Olmert: Free Palestinians jailed before Oslo 17:30 Ex-Chelsea coach Avram Grant eyes return to English soccer 14:10 McCain's Jewish potential VP not shy about attacking Obama 13:08 Settler group planning to reestablish Gaza bloc 17:25 Israeli policeman arrested over death of Palestinian boy at Na'alin protest 17:42 Following Russian pressure, Israel freezes defense sales to Georgia 15:18 Israeli security sources: Not enough intel to free Shalit 16:11 Palestinian refugees in Iraq to be relocated to Scandinavia 15:51 Egypt uncovers eight smuggling tunnels north of Gaza crossing 17:00 Dozens of Ethiopian immigrants arrive in Israel 15:37 Romanian official order probe into anti-Semitic display at art expo Previous Editions Select Day 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug 31 jul 30 jul 29 jul 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Isaac Maimon at Dreamshoppe Special summer sale. Make an offer now. You will be surprised. MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved