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Last update - 10:32 14/12/2007
No one to rely on
By Yoel Marcus
Tags: politics

You know something? It's beginning to dawn on us that we have too many politicians and not enough leaders. What's the difference? Well, the politician ponders tomorrow's headlines, but a leader concentrates on long-term strategy - he identifies problems that will emerge in five to 10 years, and begins working on them now.

The leaders of the founding generation focused on "five-year plans" with a long-term vision. These included the nuclear reactor, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and even the free market. When the Shavit 2 rocket was first launched, the opposition mockingly called it an "election rocket."

Today we are one of the world's leading missile manufacturers, and IAI with Rafael are inventing devices sold worldwide. We wouldn't have ended up with the redundant teachers strike had our leaders dealt with the need for reform in time.
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Sadly, we haven't had a forward-looking leadership for years. It is not enough for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to telephone the old woman who was violently robbed. The question is, why haven't our national leaders been preparing to provide citizens with the required levels of security?

The government's ability to see projects through in all aspects of life has withered alarmingly. It starts with inadequate homeland defense and ends with a possible collapse in electricity supplies, because nobody has been capable of deciding to boost power production. So where are the long-term plans to fortify the home front, or to build more power stations, before some other disaster strikes?

Long-term planning also provides instances of profound incompetence. Both the railway line to Jerusalem and Ben-Gurion Airport 2000 were carried out belatedly and in a way requiring immediate adjustment to the next generation's needs.

Do we have to wait until a mass-victim accident before the airport adjusts to the needs of the 21st century?

Many matters require thorough treatment with an eye to the future. Are they receiving this treatment? It was reported, for example, that next year some 200,000 new vehicles are expected to go on the road. That means more traffic. Asked whether the roads will be widened, the officials in charge respond with the magic phrase "no budget." Instead of resigning in protest at the expected increase in traffic accidents, Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz is demanding Yuli Tamir's resignation from her post as education minister.

The politician, unlike the leader, is preoccupied with ensuring his survival more than with the public's welfare. It is common knowledge, for example, that the number of hospital beds per person is small by every professional standard. Is the government preparing for the expected shortage in hospitals in a few years?

Certain matters require decisions under the pressure of the moment. But here too there is a difference between a leader and a politician. When Olmert says the "evacuation- compensation" plan is good "but not now," it is clear that as a politician he does not want to confront the settlers. Why didn't he respond to Condoleezza Rice's firm demand in Annapolis to evacuate illegal outposts? Because he knows that he would be risking his political survival and open himself to extortion. The last thing he wants at this time is for Shas' Eli Yishai and Yisrael Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman to leave him without a coalition.

Unlike Olmert's optimistic forecasts, it is highly likely that the Winograd Committee's final conclusions will place the responsibility for the Second Lebanon War squarely on Olmert's shoulders, and he is doing and will do everything to preserve his seat.

Neither Olmert nor Defense Minister Ehud Barak, both of whom have an interest in sticking together, can chalk up improvement in any area within their purview to their government.

Hezbollah's missile capability reportedly covers Israel's entire territory. This may or may not be true. But the danger that in the future Israel will be subjected to stronger fire than that faced by Sderot exists.

Thirty Sderot residents filed a petition demanding that the state fortify 800 houses in the town. The state - incredible as this may sound - responded that it had never been established that it was responsible for providing citizens with complete protection from threats to body and property.

Two weeks earlier Olmert announced that "we won't fortify the country to death." It's easy for a politician to play the leader when he is protected by a safety belt that cost millions.

Neither Olmert nor Barak have the public's sweeping sympathy at present. As politicians in leaders' clothing, they are conveying the message that there is nobody to rely on.
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Should U.S. Jews have a say in shaping Israel's policies?
  1.   what a luck that at least we can rely on... 10:43  |  saul a. readner 14/12/07
  2.   Avigdor Kahalani for President... 10:53  |  Walter 14/12/07
  3.   I thought Barak would make a good PM this time. Why am I wrong? 11:49  |  S 14/12/07
  4.   whats new in glockamorra ? the world is full of 2nd rate politici 11:50  |  victor hardman 14/12/07
  5.   And this is news??? 12:02  |  Ofer Maimon 14/12/07
  6.   S is asking for Baraks "sins".......... 13:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/12/07
  7.   Bibi is outstanding in every way!!!! 13:42  |  Dr Eric 14/12/07
  8.   The Israeli Apathy 13:44  |  Alicia 14/12/07
  9.   swiss dino`s sin is... 13:51  |  scallywag 14/12/07
  10.   Re 3# and 6# 13:58  |  Esther 14/12/07
  11.   Have written about this crisis in Israel before... 14:35  |  Sharif Hafez 14/12/07
  12.   Yoel says " in the future Israel will be subjected to stronger 15:08  |  Joseph E . 14/12/07
  13.   to sharif hafez 15:13  |  scallywag 14/12/07
  14.   # 9 scallywag 15:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/12/07
  15.   # 10 Esther 15:41  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/12/07
  16.   Gideon Saar and Y.Steinitz have been consistenly right 15:57  |  Absolute Sweden 14/12/07
  17.   Thanks for the Obiective View 16:11  |  GPSW1 14/12/07
  18.   to smart Swiss 17:53  |  goldenberg 14/12/07
  19.   Marcus - Not Exactly the Analyst to Rely On 18:32  |  Tod Zuckerman 14/12/07
  20.   TO # 8 ALICIA 18:35  |  The Teacher/Instruct 14/12/07
  21.   lack of trust in government 18:43  |  Reuben Moses 14/12/07
  22.   Alicia: a strong individual voice 19:04  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 14/12/07
  23.   Esther #19 19:14  |  S 14/12/07
  24.   martin in switzerland (swiss dino) 19:36  |  scallywag 14/12/07
  25.   # 18 goldenberg 20:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/12/07
  26.   # 24 scallywag " Bye-Bye Blocher....." 20:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/12/07
  27.   #22 Gee MARGIE, I feel flattered! 20:59  |  Alicia 14/12/07
  28.   #25 dino if you post in haaretz everyone knows 22:26  |  victor hardman 14/12/07
  29.   Here in the US 22:28  |  Mark Lincoln 14/12/07
  30.   Just wait a minute.... 22:53  |  D.R. Zukerman 14/12/07
  31.   Alicia 23:12  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 14/12/07
  32.   Marcus` manhig ha-yehudim again 23:18  |  christoph 14/12/07
  33.   You may rely on a friend 23:28  |  Martha Hoelzermann 14/12/07
  34.   Re Absolute #16 23:35  |  Esther 14/12/07
  35.   Re S #23 23:43  |  Esther 14/12/07
  36.   # 13 to scallywag 01:02  |  Sharif Hafez 15/12/07
  37.   # 13 to scallywag (2) 01:09  |  Sharif Hafez 15/12/07
  38.   # 27 victor-Pauli hardman, taking out the "hammer"..... 01:12  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/12/07
  39.   # 13 to scallywag (3) 02:05  |  Sharif Hafez 15/12/07
  40.   # 13 to scallywag (4) 02:12  |  Sharif Hafez 15/12/07
  41.   Haaretz exists for the sole purpose of demonizing Israel 04:01  |  Steve Randolph 15/12/07
  42.   "You know something" ? 05:11  |  Akram Zekaria 15/12/07
  43.   Wrong 05:21  |  Danite 15/12/07
  44.   Simplistic Swiss 05:24  |  Danite 15/12/07
  45.   Alicia 05:50  |  Danite 15/12/07
  46.   The Last Honest Politician 05:57  |  Steve 15/12/07
  47.   43# Danite: An alliance with your enemies 06:18  |  Akram Zekaria 15/12/07
  48.   No one to rely on? 06:37  |  P. J. Casey 15/12/07
  49.   46# How right you are Steve .. 07:21  |  Akram Zekaria 15/12/07
  50.   Dan Meridor!!!! 07:35  |  Perfective 15/12/07
  51.   # 44 Danite 08:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/12/07
  52.   YOU DON`T NEED LEADERS, ONLY SLAVES 09:10  |  indrajaya 15/12/07
  53.   #38 the cuckoo clock strikes twelve for dino 09:17  |  v hardman 15/12/07
  54.   Esther #35 09:33  |  S 15/12/07
  55.   the electoral system to blame 09:37  |  mike 15/12/07
  56.   swiss dino and blocher 09:50  |  scallywag 15/12/07
  57.   indrajaya 09:53  |  scallywag 15/12/07
  58.   sharif hafez again 10:12  |  scallywag 15/12/07
  59.   Danite: "amen", hold on to your dreams 10:39  |  Alicia 15/12/07
  60.   # 57, SCALLYWAG 11:17  |  indrajaya 15/12/07
  61.   # 56 scallywag 11:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/12/07
  62.   Re S #54 13:06  |  Esther 15/12/07
  63.   indrajaya and his "facts" 16:04  |  scallywag 15/12/07
  64.   again martin in switzerland (swiss dino) 16:54  |  scallywag 15/12/07
  65.   An Island of Light 17:30  |  Steve 15/12/07
  66.   Esther #62 18:14  |  S 15/12/07
  67.   to Akram Zekaria #49, a real mystery 18:29  |  zeev 15/12/07
  68.   Re: the electoral system to blame 18:47  |  Douglas Woodard 15/12/07
  69.   Swiss proves my point 19:16  |  danite 15/12/07
  70.   Alicia 19:18  |  Danite 15/12/07
  71.   to Akram Zekaria #47 - a case of misreading 19:55  |  zeev 15/12/07
  72.   There are plenty of good leaders... 20:24  |  Israeli 15/12/07
  73.   Alicia 20:38  |  Danite 15/12/07
  74.   # 69 Danite, I have 2 questions for you (and no "spin" please)... 21:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/12/07
  75.   # 64 scallywag 21:48  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/12/07
  76.   to Akram Zekaria #42 (1) 21:56  |  zeev 15/12/07
  77.   to Akram Zekaria #42 (2) 22:08  |  zeev 15/12/07
  78.   to Margie in Tel Aviv #22 22:42  |  zeev 15/12/07
  79.   to Alicia #8 - badly informed 23:35  |  zeev 15/12/07
  80.   to Israeli #72 - you are absolutely right 00:56  |  zeev 16/12/07
  81.   Dichter for PM 01:16  |  POP