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A C-minus for now By Yoel Marcus Tags: Ehud Olmert In our neck of the woods, national leaders, and prime ministers in particular, are not in the habit of grooming an heir. Politicians rise and fall at random, or in the wake of political intrigue. Each to his own. When Ruby Rivlin suggested Ariel Sharon grant Ehud Olmert the title of acting prime minister, the aim was to persuade Olmert to make do with the industry and trade portfolio. In practice, the title has always been an honorary one, activated on the few days when the prime minister was out of the country. Even then, holders of the title never set foot in the Prime Minister's Office. Olmert never dreamed that one night, between the 4th and 5th of January 2006, the cabinet secretary, Yisrael Maimon, would call and solemnly inform him that for the next 100 days he would be Israel's de facto prime minister. Advertisement Today it is two years since the elections for the 17th Knesset. The country went to the polls with the brew of political revolution in the air. The Likud had split into two parties, and the pundits were forecasting 40 seats for Sharon, who was sent into a coma by some higher power. This was an election campaign in which the Labor Party was irrelevant, with some of its members deserting to Kadima, and a front-runner for prime minister who was more of a political wheeler-dealer than a leader. Winning a macabre lottery, Olmert found himself in Sharon's oversize shoes. Today, as the current administration reaches the halfway mark, many questions remain unanswered. The first is what Sharon would have done after the withdrawal from Gush Katif. The second is where we stand today, or where we are heading, with Olmert at the helm. If Sharon were conscious, if he were alive and kicking, chances are we wouldn't have been dragged into a campaign like the Second Lebanon War. Sharon chose Dan Halutz as chief of staff on the assumption that his lack of sensitivity was perfect for getting the tough job of evacuating the Gush Katif settlers done. If Halutz had come to him with the war plans he brought Olmert, Sharon would have shooed him away. With Sharon in charge, Amir Peretz would never have been appointed defense minister and Avraham Hirschson would never have become finance minister. Despite the investigations against Sharon and his sons on the subject of electoral fundraising, it would never have crossed his mind to undermine the legal system by appointing a character like Daniel Friedmann as justice minister. Ehud Barak probably wouldn't have returned to politics. The disengagement was in August 2005. More or less around this time, Barak withdrew from the Labor Party race with the historic dictum: "Now we must stand behind Shimon." There is no question that Sharon, determined to expunge the dream of a Greater Israel from the public mind, would have unilaterally carried out stage two of the evacuation of West Bank settlements. This intention is duly recorded in my notes. On February 2, 2004, Sharon said to me: "I have absolutely made up my mind to evacuate settlements that will not be ours in a final-status agreement." With those 40 predicted seats, I have no doubt that Sharon would not only have run a tight ship in the Knesset, but would have become a major force in confronting the settler extremists. Olmert declared that he would follow in Sharon's path, but he is far from being his twin in power and authority. He declared that a continuation of the status quo is dangerous for Israel, but up to now, he has not evacuated a single illegal outpost as requested by the Americans. The Second Lebanon War cast a heavy shadow over his sense of judgment, but it also taught him something: A defense minister, even a brilliant general like Barak, let alone Amir Peretz, cannot be the ultimate judge in matters of life and death. On his desk, President Harry Truman had a little plaque that said: "The buck stops here." That is something Olmert needs to bear in mind in his upcoming decision on how to respond to the Qassam rocket fire. The economy is not too bad these days, and seems to be improving. Internationally, Olmert has hit the jackpot. Our standing has improved immeasurably thanks to Iran, Hamas and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. The parade of diplomats, prime ministers and presidents who have visited Israel, with more to come, is an expression of faith in our sanity and strength. Such parades don't happen in the countries of the lepers and the extremists. But these gestures come wrapped in expectations of bold moves, and Olmert, up to now, has not shown that he has what it takes. As he begins the second half of his term, the test will be in taking action and recognizing that when it comes to the peace process, standstill is not an option. Olmert is a pro at chummy pats on the back and hosting world leaders. Over the million or so kilometers he has traveled in his lifetime, he has learned something about manners and mingling with dignitaries and millionaires. For his mid-term report card, he gets an A in music; but with a C-minus in leadership, you wonder how come he's still singing. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terror online Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack. Remembering Gaza Knesset approves bill to commemorate the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif.   1.   Marcus - He Wants to Accelerate Israel`s Liquidation 17:37  |  Tod Zuckerman 28/03/08   2.   mr. olmert`s "schoolreport" 18:24  |  saul a. readner 28/03/08   3.   But wait!! There`s more,......... 14:46  |  Gideon Reader 29/03/08   4.   OLMERT MUST RESIGN BECAUSE HE IS A DEFEATIST 08:11  |  ROB SCHWARTZ 30/03/08

Today Online Dutch MP's anti-Islam film shows clerics' calls to behead Jews Responses: 622 Hamas gets Iranian plans for improved Qassams Responses: 180 Avigdor Lieberman: Israel's minorities must be loyal to the Jewish state Responses: 136 UN: Ex-Lebanon PM Hariri killed by criminal network Responses: 117 Ex-Muslim says converted to Christianity due to Islam's anti-Zionism Responses: 162 More Headlines 07:25 Top official: PM has communicated with Assad to test his desire for peace 03:04 UN wants UNIFIL to have full responsibility in northern Ghajar 01:37 UN officials: Syria still suspected in Lebanese PM murder case 01:04 Anti-Syrian protesters march in Beirut in wake of Arab summit 07:11 ANALYSIS: IDF ups Gaza ground ops in face of heavier rocket fire 04:35 Anti-Islam film 'Fitna' draws Dutch Jewish condemnations 02:51 Genealogy Web site attempts to map out entire Jewish people 07:12 Knesset to vote on benefits, shorter duty for IDF reservists 01:19 Palestinians: IDF kills 2 Gazans; 4 others wounded in IAF strike 08:37 Rice arrives in Israel, urges improvements in West Bank life 05:54 PMO prepares 2009 budget without consulting Finance Ministry 07:18 Conference aims to address problems faced by Israeli stutterers Previous Editions Select Day 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar

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