Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., December 30, 2007 Tevet 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:10 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

del.icio.us Digg It!  new The year of missed opportunity By Nehemia Shtrasler Tags: Israel, politics, Ehud Olmert The year 2007 will be remembered as the year of the great missed opportunity. Three hundred and sixty five days passed, but nothing happened. The country did not take even one small step forward toward solving its difficult problems. True, there was plenty of lofty talk and promises, but in reality, nothing moved. There is admittedly a broad coalition, comprised of 78 members of Knesset, but it is directed by a prime minister who does not control either it or the MKs. In our grotesque reality, coalition members make deals with opposition MKs in order to bring down government decisions. And the government itself is large, clumsy and divided, with little in common between Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu), Eli Yishai (Shas) and Ehud Barak (Labor). The dismal results of the Second Lebanon War brought Ehud Olmert's popularity to an unprecedented low, and rightly so. He went to war hastily, then lacked the good sense to finish it off quickly, with the help of the ladder that the G8 offered him. The ongoing corruption investigations in which he is involved further weaken his position. Olmert also lacks the personal gravitas and authority that Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon had. They changed positions and forced the government and the public to go along, whether in signing the Oslo accords or in evacuating the Gaza Strip. But Olmert is weak. He is not capable of making difficult and unpopular decisions. He just tries not to make waves, not to annoy anyone too much - all for the sake of surviving for another month, another year. He has only one strong point: his rhetorical skills, which mislead his listeners. Advertisement At the beginning of 2007, Olmert exuded boundless optimism. He spoke rivetingly about his desire to reach a compromise with the Palestinians, about his understanding of their suffering, about the need to evacuate tens of thousands of settlers and about two states for two peoples. In the social sphere, Olmert also excelled in lofty talk about the importance of education, about the need to advance and improve it, and about closing the gaps between rich and poor. But in reality, the year looked very different. The Annapolis conference began with much fanfare and exalted talk, but it is gradually fading. Yesterday, when the sides met, the Palestinians complained about continued construction in the settlements and at Har Homa and the Israelis demanded that they fight terror - a dialogue of the deaf, without any sign of compromise. Meanwhile, Qassam rockets continue to fall on Sderot, the Israel Defense Forces continue to smite and kill in Gaza, and IDf soldier Gilad Shalit has been in captivity for a year and a half already. Even the Americans realize that there is no point in pressuring Olmert to evacuate illegal settlement outposts. He is simply not capable of it. Granted, Olmert continues to talk about the importance of peace. But this week, the government approved additional funding of NIS 811 million for developing a system capable of shooting down Qassams and Katyushas. The system will be ready (perhaps) in another two and a half years, but will be frightfully expensive, and will not even provide a complete answer to the problem. The direction is clear: not an agreement, but war. Olmert also speaks loftily about the importance of education and reforming the educational system to improve students' achievements. But 2007 will be remembered for its long strikes and the great missed opportunity in education. The required revolution did not take place. The "mini-reform" will effectively change nothing. The teachers will get a raise, and that is it. There will perhaps be a slight change in the elementary schools, but in the high schools, not even a slight change will be felt. The teachers' status will not change, the quality of teaching will not improve and the principal's authority will not increase. Israeli students' scores on the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) tests will continue to drop, because the world is not waiting for us; it is marching forward. The prolonged strike by university lecturers also shows just how powerless the government is. The damage is tremendous, but the lecturers refuse to compromise. They, too, are aware that when the cat is weak, the mice can play. The 2008 budget also teaches us that the government is incompetent. It is a tired budget that brings no good tidings. The few reforms it contained were removed under pressure from the MKs, except for one - relating to home gas supplies. Finance Minister Roni Bar-On was also forced to give up various cost-cutting measures and offer coalition parties hundreds of millions of shekels so that they would do him the favor of voting for the budget. Just a few days ago, Syrian President Bashar Assad said that "Ehud Olmert is the weakest prime minister Israel has ever had." Assad of course was speaking only about the Golan Heights issue, which Olmert has been "examining" for an entire year now. But his definition is apt in all spheres of life. And we will be the ones to pay the price. Bookmark to del.icio.us Santa's helpers Foreign workers hope for citizenship for Christmas. He's ba-ack In a new audio tape Bin Laden vows to free Palestine.

Today Online 2 Israelis killed, one hurt in W. Bank shooting attack Responses: 528 Benn, Rosner: Israel needs a 'Rice bypass road' to White House Responses: 174 PM to Abbas: Israel will not undermine peace efforts Responses: 114 Akiva Eldar: Peace deal must start with prisoner release Responses: 112 IDF kills former PA premier's bodyguard during W. Bank raid Responses: 98 New version of old defense group guards Jewish farmlands Responses: 51 More Headlines 22:53 Bin Laden vows he will 'expand jihad in Palestine' 01:09 IDF soldiers killed on West Bank hike eulogized for courage 22:55 PA premier Fayyad says suspects in killings of 2 Israelis caught by PA 22:47 Arab League ministers to meet on Israeli settlement policy 17:28 U.S. court overturns award over W. Bank shooting of yeshiva boy 18:51 Senator sees 'real opportunity' for resuming Syria-Israel talks 23:47 Hamas: Egypt agrees to allow Gazan pilgrims to return through Rafah 20:19 Chemicals used in making explosives caught at West Bank checkpoint 18:51 PA arrests three Israelis in Bethlehem, transfers them to Israel 10:34 PM announces intention to change building permits Previous Editions Select Day 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved