Olmert's morning ritual
The prime minister is paralyzed in all parts of his body. He can still pose for photographs with his friends from Binyamina and joke with Condoleezza, but the opportunity of his lifetime is slipping from his hands.
By Gideon LevyWhat does a prime minister have in his life? He gets up in the morning and the morning in him does not get up, to paraphrase David Avidan. What does Ehud Olmert say to himself when he gets up every morning? What will he do today? And when he goes to bed at night, what does he think about his day? Does he think about how he made full use of this day in the lofty and coveted position to which he aspired his whole life? Does he worry about whether he managed to react to the report on Channel 10 about the political appointments? Or that he was successful in dodging another blotch to his name? Or that he was able to get the appointment of a tourism minister approved - or even that of a social welfare minister? That he succeeded again in pleasing the American administration by rejecting the signals from Syria? Or by smashing the Mecca agreement? Or by fleeing the Saudi initiative? Or by badmouthing his defense minister and even ordering another liquidation in the territories?
And what will the prime minister say to himself at the end of his first year in office? And what about at the end of the second? What does he think he will leave behind, except for his survival, even if he remains in office for a long time?
The more time passes - and the days are going by, already 10 months in office - it is becoming increasingly clear that the former substitute for the prime minister is continuing in this role: He is filling a place, as simple as that. He is filling an empty place in his office, an empty place in his official vehicle, an empty place in the plane that takes him on another barren trip overseas, an empty place in the prime minister's seat.
Beyond this, there is nothing - only a terrifying vacuum. Yitzhak Shamir, a prime minister who turned doing nothing into an agenda, seems like a particularly activist prime minister in comparison to the current one.
Olmert was given a golden opportunity that arose because of an unhappy and unexpected coincidence. He was catapulted into the center of the political arena at a time when he was relatively young and energetic, and before being relegated to its margins, he was able to seize the opportunity and make full use of the chances it entails. After all, his success and legacy will never be measured by the number of days he manages to survive in his office.
One might have expected Olmert would try to leave his mark, to think about the day after, about the way in which he will be remembered. He should have remembered what his teacher and leader Menachem Begin did during the first months of his term, even though Begin was more despised and aroused much more suspicion.
At the beginning, everything seemed to be auspicious. Olmert did not fudge his positions during the election campaign. While resting on the glory of his predecessor, Olmert was elected because of his path, not by virtue of his personality. He promised "convergence," spoke about the need for a solution to the conflict, albeit unilateral, and even about an end to the occupation. Whether unrealistic or not, the convergence went up in smoke a long time ago and he has not proposed anything to replace it. Does he want the stupidest war in Israel's history to be the sole "Olmert legacy"?
It is already late now. Olmert and his government are up to their necks in serious allegations. But it is still not too late. His government enjoys quite a large majority, one that some of his predecessors could only dream of, and the prime minister could still arise from his ruins.
But to our great consternation, there is no sign of this happening. The prime minister is paralyzed in all parts of his body. He can still pose for photographs with his friends from Binyamina and joke with Condoleezza, but the opportunity of his lifetime is slipping from his hands.
His personal fate need not interest us. But the time lost is critical. A moment longer - a binational state; a moment longer - outposts of Iran surround us on all sides. Opportunities are being missed one after another.
Does the prime minister see all of this when he looks in the mirror? Does he think about this when he gets up in the morning, to another morning of sinful inaction, and the morning in him (and in us) does not arise?
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Bush and Cheney are two cut from the same cloth as Olmert Todd so I wouldn't slag off Gideon if I was you.
Suddenly PM due to Sharon's stroke, the unsuccessful ex-mayor of Jerusalem, had a chance to change history, to make a mark. INSTEAD: appointed an ignorant clown as Defense Minister...was overwhelmed by an "inheirited" War...incapable of re-structuring the IDF...lost as to how to contend with Hiz, Ham, pals...Syria...Iran Enough!! ...How long must Israel suffer such a poor PM ? It is a sad day when even the G. Levy (Ha Aretz apologist for the pals), can find fault too. moshe, Israel
make peace, make war. nobody seams to know what to do. It is Israel that is lost.
Olmert is just another child of bankrupt Secular Zionism. Heisnot at fault without Shabbat, Kashrut and Torah there is no justification of our "Occupation"of the land of Israel. There is no "Jewish Pride" Gaon Yakov. In their stead we find embarrassment, shame confusion and indecision. This is true of all modern day politicians in Israel not only Olmert. The only thing he may have over some of them is his corruption on a personal level and as such he is the perfect legacy to Sharon & Co.!
No explanation required.
I am frustrated too. But exactly WHICH opportunities is this article talking about? I would like to hear which one the writer would have liked taken? And what was to be done? Was it the chance to withdraw from Gaza? Was it the opportunity to negotiate with Hamas? Was it the chance to push the Americans to help move the peace process, Americans who have absolutely no skills of diplomacy? The tragedy is that there are no real opportunities.
Both failed to live up to their election promises. Not just Olmert, Peretz is part of the vacuum - the hollow leadership! Otherwise a great article.
As many problems as we have in this country, at the very least when our politicians make grave mistakes - like that rapist Katsav - or are totally unfit to hold office - like that racist liar Esterina - the media holds them accountable and they our removed from their position. I am not sure why after all of the accusations of graft and impropriety and the foolish destabilizing military operation in Lebanon, Olmert is not being held to account. He has shown his willingness to whore himself and his office for cash. Should we be surprised when he ignores the interests of his country and submits to his American pimps (Condoleeza et al) as they tell him to fight Hizbollah and not engage Syria and Lebanon in peace talks? How can we be sure he won't destabilize the region further by foolishly engaging Iran? Olmert has proven to be a whore and a fool and that makes him very dangerous. He needs to be removed from office.
HaSchem is the Only One who can know that kind of thing, OF ALL OF US. I suggest - against all odds - trust and respect. Besides, for reasons of fairness, physical problems which in fact cause a lack of spirits and energy (more than people who DON'T know them believe) must be considered. As the British who are always good for a cup of tea say: "Let's wait and see"!
The only reason we have Olmert is because Sharon had chosen to begin to disengage from occupied lands. That was something the majority of Israelis agreed with. When Sharon became incapacitated, his second in command, Olmert, said he would continue Sharon's path of bringing stability. He didn't. What he did do was destabilize the region by attacking Lebanon under the guise of fighting Hizbollah. What we know of Olmert is that he will use his position and influence for personal gain (the land he bought in Jerusalem). He is strategically unwise (the operation in Lebanon). And that he is a liar (not keeping his word about continuing the disengagement from the territories). He also appears very weak when dealing with the Americans and easily capitulating to their vision of the Middle East. From his actions we see that he does not hold the country's interests in the same regard that he does his own or that of the Americans'. If that's the case, it's really time for him to go.
One of the greatest signs of Israel's robustly democratic and free society is that the publication of this 7th grade creative writing project caliber writing is allowed unrestricted. Critisism is necessary for any healthy society, so I am glad for Ha'aretz's liberalism, but this is just heavy handed mellow drama without any point to it. Olmert is bad because Mr. Levy ponders what he thinks about in the mirror? Fluff
Both Olmert and Gideon Levy have in common ,is their total lack of caring and feeling for the Jewish people and their hatred of religious Jews and the Jewish citizens of Yesha. Levy's problem with Olmert is that due to Olmert's corruptness and incompetence, Olmert can't speed up and inflict more pain and destruction on the Jews of Yesha.Eventually Levy will be able to make it his morning ritual by visting Olmert in jail where he belongs.
Well written article. It reminds me of the poem, "The man in the mirror." The failure of Olmert is that he did not have the character to stick with convergence. It is crushing to not have character, I know... for I have looked carefully at the man in the mirror myself.
"...could still arise from his ruins" should probably have been written: "...could still rise from his ruins" Goot article, nontheless!
Very, very funny. I giggled through the whole article. Olmert is a meanie, Olmert is a meanie, Olmert is a meanie! Gideon sounds like a child who hates his father, because papa won't help him set the cat on fire. If anyone owns a candy store, please do not hire Mr Levy to run it, he will give it away.
couldn't have said it better myself!
I wish Olmert would include reading this article as part of his morning ritual.