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Last update - 08:44 28/11/2008 Obama, phone home By Yoel Marcus Tags: Israel News, Barack Obama The French singer Joe Dassin had a comic song about how he escaped from jail. He made himself a pair of shoes with the heel facing frontward and tricked the prison guards, who thought he was walking back while he was really heading straight out the prison gate. Reading that Israeli basketball champion Tal Brody, now 65, coiner of the victory whoop "We're on the map," has joined Likud, I found myself humming Dassin's song. Illogical, but good for a laugh. Most, if not all, of the new stars that Benjamin Netanyahu is recruiting are "exes" of some kind - an ex-chief of staff, an ex-army spokesman, ex-Likudniks like Dan Meridor and Benny Begin, and even Pnina Rosenblum, an ex-model. Anything to keep Likud from looking too extreme. Advertisement Maybe that explains why Uzi Landau decided to join Yisrael Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman, although Netanyahu's "new" Likud is where Landau, yet another ex, really belongs. After Ehud Barak's saber-rattling speech in the Knesset, Landau quipped that Gaza was now shaking, but with laughter. A typical Landau response to the rumors that Netanyahu plans to make Barak his defense minister if he gets into power. Anyone watching Israel's three major parties gearing up for early elections in December is forced to reach the depressing conclusion that our Barack Obama has not appeared yet, if he ever will. Obama, all of 47, electrified not only America but the whole world. Unlike Tzipi Livni, who is 50, Obama has never been an acting president or a vice president or the prince of any party. He is just a young man who decided early in life that he wanted to be something and could. The slogan "Yes we can" is mainly about him. Obama didn't get any special TLC from his party. He didn't fight like 72-year-old Benjamin Ben-Eliezer for sixth place on the list. He didn't set ultimatums like Ami Ayalon - "prime minister or nothing." He just slogged away until he got to the top. His novelty lay in proving that the impossible was possible, that one could win against all odds, and against prejudice. Obama has come to power as a global economic crisis looms. But despite his age and color - a shocker for America - the people of America trust him. In contrast to Obama, Netanyahu, who messed up twice, is trying to get back in the race for a third time and step into Ariel Sharon's shoes. For the moment, he is not revealing his cards, and is surrounding himself with "new" people. But the man perceived as the father of the pension-fund fiasco has not proposed any alternative. Ecstatic over the public-opinion polls, he has let the numbers go to his head. Livni, like Ehud Olmert, got onto the prime minister track by chance - unlike Obama, who readied himself for the takeover since he was young, through knowledge, planning, ability, and above all, honesty. The two former Likudniks were cultivated on Sharon's ranch, but they don't have Arik's talent and experience. The Sharon and Olmert era gave politics a bad name. According to a recent survey, 72 percent of Israelis believe the government is corrupt. One prime minister was suspected, along with his sons, of misappropriating funds to finance his election campaign. Another is suspected of various acts of fraud, among them the Rishon Tours double-billing affair, which may lead to an indictment. Livni is Mrs. Clean in both conduct and character, but that is not enough to rouse the public and create the tidal wave of excitement that Obama has generated in the United States. The obstacle on Livni's path to untainted leadership, despite hopes that she could succeed where others have failed, is Ehud Olmert. The man who said that the moment an indictment was filed he would resign, and who was expected to maintain a low profile, at least while under police investigation, is deliberately setting a trap for her with a slew of pseudo-initiatives. Olmert is getting Livni into hot water with his declarations that the only solution is to go back to the 1967 borders and withdraw from all the territories. He is ruining things for her by promising concessions in talks with the Syrians without bringing her into the loop. He convenes a forum to rescue the economy and doesn't invite her. He is creating the impression that he would rather see Bibi win. Olmert has not forgiven her for demanding that he resign over the failure of the Second Lebanon War. His response to her galling attempt to replace him is "Let me die with the Philistines." Despite the billboards proclaiming "It's good for the state" alongside Livni's picture, I wouldn't say she is on the way to becoming Israel's Obama just yet. But leaders like Obama are born when a nation is in trouble. There is no denying that the State of Israel, with its vast array of problems, needs such a leader. At the moment, we are still waiting for our Obama to phone home. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A real mensch Chabad leaders say the slain rabbi's only concern was helping Jews away from home. An immodest proposal Likud MK suggests using Palestinian prisoners as human shields against Qassams.   1.   He surely would exist, but unfortunately our Israeli friends.... 09:28  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/11/08   2.   Still waiting for phone from Marcus, what is so good about Obama 10:16  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/11/08   3.   Awaiting the New Journalists 10:42  |  FOX 28/11/08   4.   Dino, so sad, so sad..... 10:52  |  FOX 28/11/08   5.   Ugly Swiss burgoiser preaches to Israelis on Obama 11:02  |  Absolute Sweden 28/11/08   6.   The Cultural Aspect to this Election 12:55  |  FOX 28/11/08   7.   i knew.... 16:17  |  saul a. readner 28/11/08   8.   i knew... 21:02  |  saul a. readner 28/11/08   9.   Marcus - Forever, the Dimwit 02:31  |  Tod Zuckerman 29/11/08   10.   Marcus+more drivel 22:06  |  JfromC 29/11/08   11.   Livni and Obama are a threat to Israel`s future 00:56  |  Uri 30/11/08   12.   Israelis aren`t brainwashed like Americans.The socialist thing is 07:14  |  Bill 30/11/08

Read & React 9 dead in Mumbai Chabad house assault; Israel to help identify bodies Responses: 540 ANALYSIS / Is Al-Qaida behind the Mumbai terror attacks? Responses: 158 Roni Bart: Obama only makes demands of Israel, not the Palestinians Responses: 178 Anshel Pfeffer: U.S. Jews jealous of Israelis who don't have to grapple with Jewish identity Responses: 98 More Headlines 00:29 9 dead in Mumbai Chabad house attack; Israel to help identify bodies 09:34 Is 'the most dangerous man in the world' behind the Mumbai attacks? 00:58 At Chabad house, Israeli paramedics checked the dead as crowd hailed the soldiers 03:40 Israeli experts: Slow operation meant 'no chance' for hostages at Mumbai Chabad house 00:32 ANALYSIS / Are the Mumbai attacks Obama's first test? 05:08 IN-DEPTH / How Israel managed to hinder Iran nuclear plans 05:50 Bush to Olmert: Why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing? 05:07 Only after Shabbat was Rivka Holtzberg's family told of Chabad house deaths 01:11 Tensions escalate between India and Pakistan in wake of Mumbai attacks 06:17 'Everything is from the tunnels', says savvy Gaza nine-year-old 08:18 Israel to free Hamas 'bargaining chips' arrested over Shalit kidnapping 01:48 IDF soldiers: We tried to no avail to have base near Nahal Oz relocated 03:57 Recent poll success has made Likud irresistible to donors 04:33 Israel's silicon valley seeks NIS 500 million state investment 03:08 U.S.-funded youth center aims to lure Palestinian teens from extremism Previous Editions Select Day 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov

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