Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., January 06, 2008 Tevet 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:56 (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

Last update - 10:07 03/01/2008 Now's not the time By Aluf Benn Tags: Ehud Olmert The Winograd Committee's final report on the performance of decision-makers in the Second Lebanon War has not yet been released, but already some are calling for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's resignation. The desire to punish Olmert, albeit belatedly, for his errors before and during the war is understandable, beginning with Amir Peretz's appointment to defense minister, the hasty decision to launch into battle, and allowing the Israel Defense Forces to be dragged into a war of attrition and to the final and unnecessary campaign. But anger is not a good compass for practical politics, and the main question is whether removing Olmert at this point would be beneficial or counterproductive for the country. Advertisement Olmert has achieved impressive success since the war with the goal that he had set for himself: "Focusing on running the country." According to any yardstick, Israel is faring better under Olmert than all of his predecessors. The economy is booming, terrorism has declined, the political system enjoys stability, and the IDF is rebuilding its strength under an experienced defense minister. Olmert has renewed peace talks with the Palestinians, and is acting to freeze settlements - while avoiding internal conflicts. His risky decision to go ahead with the Israel Air Force strike in Syria did not lead to a confrontation, and resulted in no damage on the international front. "The world" is friendlier to Israel than before, and the president of the United States is on his way to Jerusalem, for the first time in his term. But Olmert has failed in providing hope for the future. A year and half after the cease-fire in Lebanon, the national mood according to polls is still low. Financial growth and few terrorist attacks do not serve to calm the public, which fears for its country's future as it faces radical Islam under an unpopular leadership. Yawns are all the shaky talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas seem to elicit. The statement at the Annapolis peace summit in November - which promised to "make every effort" to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian agreement - was taken to be a collection of empty words. The impressive handling of the coalition that enabled the cabinet to pass the national budget on time and without scandals, is perceived as a political deal, and more an exercise in survival than proper leadership. The main lesson from Olmert's time in office is that the ability to make the right decisions and propel political systems is not enough. National soundness requires popular leadership with a calming effect. But suppose Olmert is forced to resign following the Winograd Report - what would his predecessor do? Is any one of the contenders offering a different solution for the country's problems? A different direction? Would Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni handle negotiations with the Palestinians any differently? Would Defense Minister Ehud Barak have a better way of dealing with Palestinian Qassam rockets landing in the northern Negev? Would opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu change his tune on Iran if he takes the helm? Would he stop the talks with Abbas, which are so important for the Americans? Would any of them jump-start talks with Syria, when even France is boycotting President Bashar Assad? Israel does not have a genuine political argument like the one that former prime minister Yitzhak Shamir had with Shimon Peres, or Netanyahu had with former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. All candidates point to the same path: Cautious negotiations with the moderate Palestinians, boycotting Hamas diplomatically, zero progress on the Syrian channel, fear of Iranian nuclear weapons and continuing financial growth. In such a situation, replacing the prime minister would only make noise and put the country in an unnecessary elections campaign whose outcome would change nothing. The year 2008 will be marked with the declining term of U.S. President George W. Bush, and his political ability will determine the moves on the diplomatic and security fronts. First and foremost, it will determine Israel's decision on whether to strike Iran or leave it alone, in the hope that the next U.S. administration would succeed in reaching understanding that would soften the Islamic Republic. The government will also be required to make as much headway in peace talks as it can, achieve a stable cease-fire with Hamas in Gaza and retrieve Israel's abducted soldiers. Next year, things will be different. The White House will see a new leader who will try to differentiate his or herself from Bush, and apply a new American leadership in the Middle East. It would be a proper timing for a re-inspection of Israeli leadership, and refitting it for the new era in the region. That is why it makes sense to go to elections in 2009 - when the focus of attention will be electing a proper leadership for the country, instead of settling scores for the last war. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Remembering Anne Replica of Anne Frank annex opens in Liverpool church. After Iowa Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani's campaigns?   1.   Aluf Benn forgets the most important issue of 2008 10:46  |  Natallie Durson 03/01/08   2.   Aluf Benn is officially Senile 10:52  |  Mark Hamil 03/01/08   3.   re: Natallie Durson 10:58  |  Efox 03/01/08   4.   Israel Must Admit OSLO was a Historic Mistake 10:59  |  Mark Hamil 03/01/08   5.   This is how corruption starts 11:00  |  Dov 03/01/08   6.   with peres as president and olmert as pm israel is doomed 11:22  |  victor hardman 03/01/08   7.   Wrong attribution 11:36  |  Xaxam 03/01/08   8.   Tel Aviv Stock Exchange would not Suffer a Bit should Olmert Go 11:40  |  Joseph E . 03/01/08   9.   WAKE UP ? STOP TWEDDLING THUMBS 11:53  |  H.H.M 03/01/08   10.   #2 about senility 12:45  |  A.M. 03/01/08   11.   i agree with aluf benn that olmert should stay 13:00  |  harzion 03/01/08   12.   Clickfool 13:53  |  Nik "BANNED" Miller 03/01/08   13.   #2 & #6 Correct 14:29  |  Simon 03/01/08   14.   "Olmert has renewed peace talks with the Palestinians" 15:18  |  redmike 03/01/08   15.   aluf benn is dead wrong 15:23  |  geroge 03/01/08   16.   Haaretz backs immoral corrupt PM, afraid RIGHT will win election 15:35  |  Moshe 03/01/08   17.   Failed Leadership 17:43  |  Joe 03/01/08   18.   All of the good works left unsung 17:59  |  Gideon Reader 03/01/08   19.   Recommended waiter job 18:01  |  Robert 03/01/08   20.   We can`t allow an almost certain criminal to govern our nation. 18:55  |  Chaim 03/01/08   21.   Remove right from the knesset 19:50  |  Shulamit 03/01/08   22.   Shulamit ??Remove right from the knesset?? 20:38  |  Robert 03/01/08   23.   Benn`s Endorsement - It Proves Olmert Must Go 23:51  |  Tod Zuckerman 03/01/08   24.   Let the mad woman #21 Shulamit speak. 02:10  |  Chaim 04/01/08   25.   21 - time to learn, if you`re ready 09:06  |  redmike 04/01/08   26.   Aluf Ben - You are as corrupt as Olmert if you support him 12:03  |  Zev 04/01/08   27.   Israel faring better 16:50  |  Marv 04/01/08   28.   I REST MY CASE...READ !!! 13:27  |  Nathan 05/01/08   29.   NO! NO! Aluf Benn! 10:46  |  S 06/01/08

Today Online Bush says U.S. would defend Israel in event of Iranian strike Responses: 125 Har Homa homes slated for 'absentee' Palestinian land Responses: 27 Israel and PA to form panel to negotiate core issues Responses: 17 Gideon Levy: Bush's policies are not friendly toward Israel Responses: 7 Percent of world Jewry living in Israel climbed to 41% in 2007 Responses: 12 Editorial: The right to smoke outside without affronting others Send response More Headlines 10:53 Israel, PA to form panel to negotiate core issues 08:14 Har Homa neighborhood slated for 'absentee' Palestinian land 10:11 Report: Israeli agents in U.S. gathering nuclear intelligence 09:57 IAF kills two Palestinian militants in response to Qassam barrage 04:56 Percent of world Jewry living in Israel climbed to 41% in 2007 08:06 Bush: We'd defend Israel in event of Iranian strike 08:03 Report finds unfair judicial procedures in military courts 05:58 ANALYSIS: Olmert gets by with a little help from Bush 04:43 Police investigate drive-by shooting death of man in Taibeh 05:44 PA forces loyal to Abbas detain two Hamas leaders in Ramallah Previous Editions Select Day 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem 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! AMERICANS ONE MONTH LEFT US citizen in Israel beat online Democrats-Abroad Presidential Primary deadline.

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

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved