Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., October 06, 2008 Tishrei 7, 5769 | | Israel Time: 11:51 (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

OPINION / Israel won't top the agenda for Obama or McCain By Yoel Marcus Tags: john McCain, Barack Obama  Not everyone understands Ehud Barak with his seemingly bizarre demands and responses. But all sarcasm aside, the guy has a point. He wants to be an equal partner to the prime minister. Something like Yitzhak Shamir and Shimon Peres, with their rotation government, who decided between themselves not to reach any decision without mutual consent. Even though the right back then (in 1988) was stronger than the left, Shamir went along with it and upheld the agreement. Barak does not want to find himself back in the olden days, when Ehud Olmert made moves without informing the cabinet or letting him in on the deal (like secret talks with the Syrians in Turkey, for example). Barak is right in his demand for an equal partnership with Tzipi Livni, and in demanding an end to Friedmannism, for starters. As the chairman of a party without which Livni can forget about being prime minister, he insists on being fully involved in running the country. Livni is not overly worried about Barak and his demands. She has been meeting with him to talk about a future partnership. He has conditions, and that is legitimate. For example, not to change the basic policies of the current administration she now heads. Advertisement Ideologically, they are also very close. Both are striving for negotiations with the Palestinians, and neither sees the Syrian initiative as realistic. Both are battling for the same electoral public - the political center plus the moderate left. Neither wants elections. Both seek a stable government that will last two years. Most Knesset members today are not anxious to go to the polls. On top of that, Livni has never run for office, and the surveys predict that rushing headlong into early elections could whittle Labor down to 12 seats and catapult Benjamin Netanyahu into power. So there is a good chance the new government will work hard to hang in there until the 18th Knesset elections roll around in 2010. While the business of putting together a coalition goes on, it is customary to enumerate the complex problems facing the next government. The list is long, but there is nothing on it particularly new. In every one of these lists over the years, the spirit of the United States has starred in the background - as initiator, backer of the peace process, and supporter of the war on terror. Do you remember the Annapolis summit last November, where President Bush laid the foundations for a speedy resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the end of 2008? What a lot of hot air that has turned out to be. Bush is winding up his pathetic career as the butt of jokes on television. The only one in the U.S. administration who hasn't given up is Condoleezza Rice. If she could turn her frequent flyer points into money, she would be a millionaire. So much has been invested for so little. Israel has always put its trust in American backing and support. As long as America was around, we knew we had something to rely on. Not just arms supplies, but political backing for Israel's interests, including support for peace initiatives. Even though Olmert's government did not dismantle a single illegal settlement, we had this friendly superpower to lean on, forever supportive, forgiving and generous. With the approach of the U.S. presidential elections next month, America's order of priorities is liable to change. A senior adviser to the Republican candidate, John McCain, has already said there are 30 global crises more urgent than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Obama camp is projecting the same idea. On his staff of advisers, Obama may have some Jews we remember from past administrations, but in this department, he is no different than his competitor. His camp lists 42 international crises that need attention before Israel. It is not clear what U.S. policy changes we will be seeing in the fight against the axis of evil. On Iran, for example, former secretaries of state, including Henry Kissinger, agreed at a conference in Washington that no matter how poisonous the rhetoric emanating from that country, the problem needs to be solved through diplomacy, not force. An Obama associate declared that Iran was not that close to building an A-bomb and dialogue was the way to go. The next man in the White House will devote himself first and foremost to the economic crisis and its repercussions. Another matter high on the new president's agenda will be making good on promises to pull American soldiers out of Iraq and Afghanistan. And now, as the government of nuclear Pakistan totters and a hotel belonging to the American Marriott chain was blown sky high, even Obama has made it clear that the U.S. Army will fight the Taliban on the Pakistani border if necessary. The two presidential candidates want the Jewish vote, but forget about them putting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the top of their list. That makes it doubly important for us to have a stable government capable of putting forward a serious peace plan. What we don't do, nobody is going to do for us. We must get ready for a year without America. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Forgotten peace French FM: I fear distracted world may forget Mideast peace process. Settlers vs. Shin Bet Daniela Weiss: Shin Bet behind attack on left-wing advocate prof. Sternhell.   1.   Where is the beef? 10:15  |  Shimon Cleopas 03/10/08   2.   Where is the beef? 10:16  |  Shimon Cleopas 03/10/08   3.   It`s America they`re hoping to lead 10:28  |  English Resident 03/10/08   4.   Happy New Year ?!! 10:43  |  Shimon Cleopas 03/10/08   5.   If Israel doesn`t take the reins over itself and 11:08  |  nate 03/10/08   6.   i would prefer if israel could make herself ready... 11:48  |  saul a. readner 03/10/08   7.   To of the agenda ? 15:18  |  Dani 03/10/08   8.   Issue not America but Israel 15:52  |  US Resident 03/10/08   9.   it will be on the top of McCain`s list to tell the PM of Israel 16:23  |  glenna 03/10/08   10.   # 1 SHIMON CLEOPAS 16:58  |  The Teacher/Instruct 03/10/08   11.   Israel won`t top the agenda in USA - why should it? 17:07  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 03/10/08   12.   PALEN, MCCAIN, AND OUR EMBASSY 17:19  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/10/08   13.   # 1 Shimon Cleopas (Arlington,Vig.) 17:28  |  The Twacher/Instruct 03/10/08   14.   #11. Barry Roffman. Just campaign promises. 17:55  |  Stephen. 03/10/08   15.   English Resident; Greetings and 18:21  |  Gray 03/10/08   16.   #14 - MCCAIN, CHARACTER, AND JERUSALEM 18:23  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/10/08   17.   Israel won`t top agenda 18:28  |  American 03/10/08   18.   Jesus the meshumad 19:07  |  Yael 03/10/08   19.   Brilliant observation Einstine! 19:25  |  Tom Clark 03/10/08   20.   top of the agenda 19:42  |  Shmuelshachor 03/10/08   21.   #.16. McCain will not be foolish. 20:03  |  Stephen. 03/10/08   22.   Yoel, Excuse Me.... 21:01  |  Persian Kitty 03/10/08   23.   OPINION / Israel won`t top the agenda for Obama or McCain 21:02  |  n_erber 03/10/08   24.   Barry Roffman 21:04  |  Persian Kitty 03/10/08   25.   To Barry Roffman 21:17  |  Persian Kitty 03/10/08   26.   #21: EMBASSY in JERUSALEM NOT FOOLISH 21:19  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/10/08   27.   #12 Barry Roffman....we have a lot more 21:40  |  Lynn 03/10/08   28.   Ehud NOT equal to Tzippi 21:45  |  Kate 03/10/08   29.   Yael 21:58  |  Persian Kitty 03/10/08   30.   why 22:08  |  tt 03/10/08   31.   Why Should It? 22:52  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/08   32.   a year without a... 23:53  |  scallywag 03/10/08   33.   shimon cleopas - where is the beef 23:56  |  scallywag 03/10/08   34.   #29 Mark Lincoln.....I put it right up there with 00:25  |  Lynn 04/10/08   35.   why do you get ready for 00:26  |  Steve 04/10/08   36.   USA embassy in Jerusalem? You really think???? 01:21  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   37.   Lynn - no comparison 02:01  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/08   38.   #36, Leeza ditzy Coleman 02:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/10/08   39.   Welcome to Silly Season, when Anything Goes 03:11  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   40.   To Leeza Cohen Coleman 04:37  |  Persian Kitty 04/10/08   41.   To leeza 05:18  |  Gordon 04/10/08   42.   To Persian Kitty 05:53  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   43.   To Persian Kitty again: forgot to say meow to you,too! 05:55  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   44.   International law, defined & taught at Cornell U Law School 06:00  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   45.   #36, 39, leeza, wrong on all points 06:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/10/08   46.   #41, Gordon 06:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/10/08   47.   Recognition of Jerusalem as capital: A political ploy 06:41  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   48.   #45 Cipora Shana Tova and interesting facts about Jerusalem... 06:50  |  Smadar 04/10/08   49.   #47, leeza 07:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/10/08   50.   #48, Smadar, Shana Tova 07:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/10/08   51.   God bless the hostile, for they will have agita. 08:13  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   52.   THE LAST CBS POLL 08:26  |  indrajaya 04/10/08   53.   Leeza didn`t lie Cipora, see S/Res 478 08:41  |  BBSNews 04/10/08   54.   International law 08:45  |  Gordon 04/10/08   55.   Funny, Israel Was Mentioned Last Night at the Debates 09:20  |  Baruch Gold 04/10/08   56.   #13, Rabbi Instruct 09:56  |  Shimon Cleopas 04/10/08   57.   The Super Small Boy 10:06  |  Shimon Cleopas 04/10/08   58.   #51, leeza, you are wrong on the law 10:53  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/10/08   59.   #53, bbs, so what? 11:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/10/08   60.   Translation 11:07  |  Ben Dover 04/10/08   61.   Kohn back from your interplanetary travels 15:15  |  Labhras 04/10/08   62.   Marcus "deep analyses" wrong as usual 17:51  |  Absolute Sweden 04/10/08   63.   nor should it be 17:57  |  Gila 04/10/08   64.   America`s President 18:05  |  Brod 04/10/08   65.   what peace plan ? the tired old 90years of going nowhere 18:19  |  v.hardman 04/10/08   66.   #45 smadar new years resolution must be to acquire common sense 18:22  |  v.hardman 04/10/08   67.   Leeza Cohen Coleman 18:43  |  jc 04/10/08   68.   Leeza Cohen for PM of Israel 18:58  |  jc 04/10/08   69.   a note just for jc 23:10  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   70.   ME, for PM of Israel 23:13  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 04/10/08   71.   #24 & 27. oF EMBASSIES AND HEROISM 02:22  |  Barry S. Roffman 05/10/08   72.   #52- ANOTHER REASON WHY BIDEN LOST 02:29  |  Barry S. Roffman 05/10/08   73.   To Barry Roffman on #72 03:17  |  Persian Kitty 05/10/08   74.   #73 - KITTY LITTER... WHY SARAH WON 04:14  |  Barry S. Roffman 05/10/08   75.   U.S. support for Israel 06:34  |  Shtarka 05/10/08   76.   Indonesia 10:34  |  The Teacher/Instruct 05/10/08   77.   to Barry S. Roffman #12 10:42  |  zeev 05/10/08   78.   #76- You assume to much 11:23  |  Shtarka 05/10/08   79.   Indonesia For # 78 15:15  |  The Teacher/Instruct 05/10/08   80.   # 78 Shtarka 19:51  |  The Teacher/Instruct 05/10/08   81.   #80 L`shana tova 11:44  |  Shtarka 06/10/08

Read & React Burston: Obama-hate, and Sarah Palin's War on Terror Responses: 9 Amir Oren: Nuclear deterrence attributed to Israel doesn't affect its enemies' plans Responses: 5 Livni to France's Kouchner: I oppose Olmert's peace plan Responses: 52 U.S. Jewish group recruits former Israeli defense officials for pro-Obama ad Responses: 30 Editorial: Livni mustn't decide to strike Iran out of a desire for prestige Responses: 5 More Headlines 10:05 Livni tells France's Kouchner: I oppose Olmert's peace plan 08:18 PA forces foil suicide bombing bid by Hebron terrorists 10:43 Obama-hate, and Sarah Palin's War on Terror 11:21 Was Egyptian ex-Mossad agent murdered in London? 07:25 Economic woes put a strain on coalition negotiations 10:43 Hamas funds being transferred to Israeli Arabs, documents reveal 10:39 Top Israeli defense officials star in pro-Obama ad 08:22 Afraid of setting precedent, IDF delays letting woman visit father's grave 05:24 Report: Dutch thought Anne Frank House 'not worth saving' 08:26 Foreign Ministry, PR firm rebrand Israel as land of achievements 02:54 Livni, Barak advisers could be big winners in coalition talks 10:51 European countries ramp up deposit protection as stocks slump 11:12 Gaydamak's fraud, arms trafficking trial starts Monday in Paris 21:49 NGO appeals decision to hand over J'lem compound to Russia Previous Editions Select Day 05 oct 03 oct 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep 29 sep 28 sep 26 sep 25 sep 24 sep 23 sep 22 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 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