Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., September 24, 2008 Elul 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:28 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Scaredy-cats By Yoel Marcus Tags: israel At the moment, there is no reason in the world why Israel should find itself in either of these predicaments, let alone both - dawdling for months over forming a new government or being dragged into early elections. Midterm elections are warranted in two cases: When a national catastrophe has occurred for which the government must pay, or when it is not possible to put together a coalition that enjoys majority support in the Knesset. What has happened now is that a prime minister under police investigation has resigned and a candidate for that office untainted in the honesty department has been elected to replace him. Since entering the political arena and serving in a variety of posts, no whiff of corruption has ever clung to her. Under these circumstances, there is no reason the current government cannot continue to serve, sticking to the same coalition format, with the only difference being a switch at the top. What can we look forward to if the country is dragged into early elections? In the best case, the same parliamentary platform headed by the lady who won the Kadima primary. In the worst case, Likud gaining on Kadima and Labor, and saddling us with leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman. What good is that going to do the country? Will it promote the peace process? Will it improve Israeli society? Advertisement And let's say Shaul Mofaz flip-flops back to Likud and becomes defense minister. Will Israel be better off militarily than if Ehud Barak serves as defense minister under Tzipi Livni? The criticism of Livni's nomination for prime minister as a party decision is also unfounded. Half of Israel's prime ministers were elected by party vote: Moshe Sharett replaced David Ben-Gurion, Ben-Gurion replaced Sharett, Levi Eshkol replaced Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir replaced Eshkol, Yitzhak Rabin replaced Golda, Shimon Peres replaced Rabin and Yitzhak Shamir replaced Menachem Begin. Barak is the one who pushed Kadima into holding a primary to get rid of Ehud Olmert, who had become a burden on the coalition. Since he is not a Knesset member, Barak knew in advance that he would not be prime minister at this stage of the game, and that the natural candidate was Tzipi Livni. With his analytical brain, he could have figured out that the next administration would be more or less the same - a peace and security government led by Kadima and Labor. So what kind of bug bit Barak all of a sudden? Why is he talking to Benjamin Netanyahu about establishing a national emergency government? Even his close friends have no clue. But let's start in the manners and friendship department. Why was he the last to congratulate Livni on her victory? Wasn't he the one who forced Olmert to schedule a primary, knowing full well that Kadima and Labor would continue their current partnership regardless of who won the party nomination? It is becoming more and more difficult to find people who understand Barak, especially in his party. Were the talks with Netanyahu some kind of anti-Livni maneuver? Maybe. Barak has sharp ears. He heard Livni giving interviews in which she tossed around the idea of a national unity (as opposed to emergency) government. The left wasn't so left any more, she said, and the right wasn't so right, so maybe a broad coalition with Bibi was possible. Barak's people suspected that she might try to put together a government for a couple of months, which would give her enough time to establish a foothold, and then call general elections when the time was ripe. Labor is not going to lend a hand to that kind of scenario, says one Barak associate. If Livni can't put together a stable government that will last two years, Barak prefers elections now. Not many are privy to the secrets of his logic. Livni was elected by a slim margin, but that doesn't make her a doormat. As Menachem Begin used to say, even a majority of one is a majority. The question is what you do with it. In her victory speech, Livni promised a different kind of politics. True, politics are politics, with all the tricks and high jinks, but I wouldn't be so quick to write her off. With Tzipi at the helm, Israel is embarking on a new era. Things could take a surprising turn. She is strong and determined, endowed with common sense and a sober eye. When Tzipi threatens to go to the polls if she fails to form a government within a month, I would advise the belittlers to take her seriously. This is a lady with iron balls. Maybe that is why our macho politicians are in such a tizzy, trying to trip her up before she gets going, with talk of elections, hooking up with Bibi and other intimidation. They're just scaredy-cats, that's all. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Iranian suspects Argentina asks Iran to hand over suspects in 1994 Jewish center bombing. Einstein's telescope Physicist's telescope renovated and on display to the public at Hebrew University.

Read & React Bradley Burston: Erasing Ahmadinejad from the map Responses: 129 Poll: 28% of Palestinians back idea of joint state with Jordan Responses: 64 IDF officer kills terrorist who rammed car into crowd in Jerusalem Responses: 238 ANALYSIS / Another attack in Jerusalem - get ready for more Responses: 113 Iraqi MP may face death sentence for Israel visit Responses: 68 More Headlines 01:10 Ahmadinejad: Zionist regime is on a slope to decline 22:29 Peres at UN: World in danger if Iran produces nuclear bomb 00:02 Livni to Qureia: Israel will respond with force to Palestinian terror 21:45 Top adviser: McCain would not get in way of Israel-Syria talks 23:25 Charge Ahmadinejad with incitement to genocide, say former U.S., Israeli envoys to UN 00:49 This Hyphenated Life / How a little humor can save the world 00:42 Five Palestinians killed after Egyptian forces detonate smuggling tunnels 21:41 Fatah official: Group could agree to Hamas rule in Gaza Strip 19:12 Einstein's lost telescope to go on display at Hebrew University 23:08 Netanyahu: Israel owes Olmert a debt of gratitude 22:07 VIDEO / Father of Jerusalem attacker: My son's no terrorist 20:43 Argentina asks Iran to hand over suspects in 1994 Jewish center bombing 22:12 VIDEO / Syria's Assad calls for Israel-Syria talks to continue 19:27 Two Israelis and a Palestinian - conquering Everest together 18:54 Sources: Mofaz to decide political future after Rosh Hashanah Previous Editions Select Day 23 sep 22 sep 21 sep 19 sep 18 sep 17 sep 16 sep 15 sep 14 sep 12 sep 11 sep 10 sep

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th 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