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Likud and 'not-Likud' By Yitzhak Laor Tags: Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu  In 1977, a group of adventurers headed by a Bar Kokhba-like figure, Ariel Sharon, came to power. Under his leadership, this group dealt a death blow to any possibility of reaching a real compromise between Israel and the Palestinians - the "settlement enterprise." Those who lost power in 1977 reacted to the new right by saying "we're less extreme than they are." Labor leader Ehud Barak is the deepest expression of that movement's final demise. Most Labor voters, at least since 1977, did not vote for it because of genuine feelings of belonging to the movement, but because of its new definition as the party that was "not Likud." Yet one huge side of the political map remains unrepresented. Four million people remain under Israel's control, in various ways, and they are at the heart of the Israeli conflict - yet they are unrepresented. Thus Israel is essentially selling completely delusional scenarios in relation to the negotiations with the Palestinians. Advertisement But that is not the only reason Israel is in the midst of a political crisis. For years, the center has denied the heterogeneity of Israeli society. Ethnicity, which sought independent representation, became an insult. The religious parties were kept in the secular parties' pockets (as philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz brilliantly described it, religion was the secular government's concubine). Israeli Arabs were quarantined - first by martial law, and later by other means. Their leaders were never seen as potential coalition partners. Much of the debate over Tzipi Livni's failed efforts to form a government revolved around the legitimacy of granting representation to those who were not part of the center (Shas, the Arab parties). In the Israel of 2008, representation is fading as the backbone of democracy. What, and whom, do elected representatives represent? What do Shaul Mofaz and Tzachi Hanegbi represent that Benjamin Netanyahu and Gideon Sa'ar do not? Centrists (comprised mostly of secular Ashkenazi Jews) are looking for representation. Will Mofaz, Hanegbi, Barak or Netanyahu represent them? If Kadima is swallowing up Labor's voters, it is because there is no real center. Complaining about Barak or Netanyahu or Ehud Olmert will not confer a political identity on anyone. To merit representation, you have to want someone to represent you because of his political views. It is easy to mock the Likud Central Committee in the days prior to Kadima's establishment, even though it is clear that most of the corruption moved to Kadima rather than remaining in that committee, as some of the public wanted to believe it would. It is easy to accuse Shas of extortion, because it represents a poor, religious segment of society. Would anyone accuse the universities' senior lecturers of extortion over their willingness, year after year, to shut down additional sections of the universities, despite their high salaries and excessive benefits? The truth is that Israel's middle class is seeking an easy life, and the parties are dancing before it like singing telegram messengers, offering them Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Dan Meridor in one election, Shinui in the next, and now, has-beens like Hanegbi and Haim Ramon, repackaged as "centrists." What exactly does this "center" signify? That it is neither right nor left. If so, what exactly does "left" signify on the political map? Negotiations with the Palestinians. Yet they neither vote for nor are elected to the parliament that rules over them. Thus the political system in effect chooses who will rule over the Palestinians - whether Mofaz or Netanyahu or Barak. In other words, what are they offering, other than arguments among themselves? Don't kid yourselves: None of them are offering a way out of the mess, because historically, this mess has given the political community a very good life. Just look at how Olmert's career ended - with a flurry of talk about "historical mistakes regarding the Palestinians" and profitable real estate deals. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Obama goes white A new advertisement reminds Americans to consider the real issues when voting Sarah Palin hits a nerve The antipathy to Palin is located at the intersection of feminism and Jewish identity   1.   i never dreamed I`ll agree whith YL ... 15:53  |  nelly 04/11/08   2.   Laor "knows" his history like Biden knows his! 17:00  |  Claire Magyar 04/11/08   3.   Right and Wrong 09:29  |  MarkC 05/11/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: Live Blog: A class act - Obama and McCain both Responses: 78 Barack Obama: Change has come to America Responses: 63 35 Qassams hit west Negev, day after deadly Gaza raids Responses: 89 Editorial: U.S. election is example of democracy at its best Responses: 27 Aluf Benn: Advice for Obama Responses: 5 Arab commentators want to be able to admire America again Responses: 13 More Headlines 08:38 Obama tells cheering, weeping victory throng 'We are one people' 05:35 EDITORIAL / U.S. election is example of democracy at its best 09:30 Jerusalem worried about effect of Obama win on U.S. relations with Iran 08:33 35 Qassams hit west Negev, day after deadly IDF strikes on Gaza 05:31 Arab commentators want to be able to admire America again 09:05 Live Election Blog: For Republicans, a word of advise and comfort 07:56 Favorite TV moments from the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign 02:54 Some drinking games to help Americans in Israel make it through election night 01:50 On Rabin anniversary, Ben-Eliezer says 'next political murder is around the corner' 23:28 McCain turns black and Obama goes white to focus voters on the issues 18:27 Israel's UN envoy: Dangerous words, like Ahmadinejad's, sparked the Holocaust 22:24 Peres to join Saudi King on interfaith panel for first time 23:52 ANALYSIS / So is Obama a danger to Israel after all? Previous Editions Select Day 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 27 oct 26 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct

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