Nehemia Shtrasler

Organized labor is using the Labor party to fight structural reform which would open up the market for competition and benefit consumers

The news is full of domestic homicides, suicide bombings, and fatal car accidents. Why can't we have a little joy? Why can't this country do something for its citizens so they can forget about their troubles for one night and have fun?

Olmert surrenders easily, instead of encouraging the ultra-Orthodox to go out and work, he gives in to Shas' and UTJ's coalition demands to increase child allowances.

Education Minister Yuli Tamir is apparently unwilling to internalize the fact that the problem in the school system is not budgetary.

The battle between the good guys and the bad guys began immediately on the government's first day.

The last 10 days have proven that the public is suffering from a grave illness: manic depression.

Back in the 1950s, when Israel did not have money to pay for fuel and wheat, David Ben-Gurion was already talking about economic independence. He had vision.

Peretz understands that always, without exception, the offering will never satisfy the lion, and as much as he could give, there will always be complaints that he has given too little.

Is Shas insists on restoring discriminatory child allowance, thus allowing the corrosion of the greatest social accomplishment of Sharon's government, Olmert should not let it join the government.

The lenient policy of the legislature and the courts is sending the signal that committing murder in Israel is not so terrible - one can go on living pretty well in jail and even get out and start a good life at 40.

A message to the Bank Hapoalim chairman: Give back NIS 20 million to the bank so that the money can be distributed among shareholders, or to the tellers in the bank branches - in order to narrow the social gaps that so touch your heart.

Corruption, concealment and deception have permeated an institution that is supposed to serve as a beacon of justice and ethics.

Everyone knows that the banking system in Israel is a semi-cartel: the three large banks control the households, and the customers are, in effect, their prisoners.

Peretz's despicable attempt to form an alliance with Shas that would catapult the already exorbitant price demanded by Eli Yishai, is but one example of the difficulties facing Olmert if he forms a government with Labor, Meretz, the Pensioners Party, Shas and United Torah Judaism.

The massive vote for an unknown party, the Pensioners, demonstrates that Israel is fed up with the same old governmental corruption and economic failures. But should the focus on the public sector come too quickly, there runs the risk of a another, yet different, economic crisis.

The first request is that Amir Peretz not receive the finance portfolio and the second is that Olmert refrain from including Shas in his government.

Haim Ramon will be conducting the coalition negotiations for Kadima, and he will use every trick and pressure tactic in order to lower the costs; we can only make two requests - for the good of Israel.

The apathy of one third of the Israeli voter body is a symptom of the public's fatigue with politicians. But this apathy does not exist in the orthodox wing, which will take advantage.

The apathy of one third of the Israeli voter body is a symptom of the public's fatigue with politicians. But this apathy does not exist in the orthodox wing, which will take advantage.

It is possible that the zealots, lunatics, and messianic who sanctify land over humanity, will nonetheless manage to lead Israel to suicide.

It is possible that the zealots, lunatics, and messianic who sanctify land over humanity, will nonetheless manage to lead Israel to suicide.

Voting Shas will get you a place in heaven, but is it good for the state of Israel?

It seems Poraz, winner of the Quality Gov't Knight Award, is too straight, modest, hard-working for the Knesset.

The Likud's response was swift: "Kadima is making empty promises." Empty promises? Hello, the pot shouldn't call the kettle black, Bibi Netanyahu. Kadima's promises pale by comparison to your own - the ones you presented to the public only two weeks ago.