The three mimics

The closer we get to the elections, the bigger the gap between the importance of political, security, economic and social questions on the agenda and the treatment of these questions by the three candidates for the premiership.

In theory, Tzipi Livni, Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu, the heads of Kadima, Labor and Likud respectively, pose three options for the voters: center, left and right. In practice, all three are putting forth an agenda that distorts any significant commitment or position.

Netanyahu is asking the voters to vote Likud because "the country needs to be governed." Livni says that she was born a fighter and that the country is important to her, and Barak argues that his record speaks for itself and promises to govern. Netanyahu says that Kadima will divide Jerusalem, while Livni and Barak promise, as he does, a unified city.

Livni and Barak are proud of the gains of Operation Cast Lead and are promising to respond with determination and force against any challenge from Hamas, while Netanyahu is calling on the government to respond with force and determination.

Even in economic matters they are not exhibiting any major differences, as is normally the case between left and right in other countries. Even though Labor claims that it is a "social-democratic party," it backs a free market with "social justice"; Kadima "will seek to shape Israel's economy as a modern and competitive one that is based on a strong, healthy and developed society" (which is almost the same thing as Labor). Likud makes do with a declaration that Netanyahu is "strong in economics." All of them are promising tax cuts.

It is hard to shake off the feeling that this sort of lack of clear distinction is intentional. The three candidates, and the parties they lead, are not offering a political alternative to the current direction. On the contrary: They are building an alibi for the day after the elections, when they and their political factions will become part of the three-part puzzle that will set up a coalition with Shas, the ultra-Orthodox parties, and most likely, in spite of the limp opposition of Labor, also with Avigdor Lieberman.

Electing the three candidates while their positions are not clear, in view of the extremism on the political periphery, the breakdown of the Knesset into small factions and the difficult challenges facing the next government, is dangerous. During the short interval that is left until the elections, the voters must demand clear answers and unequivocal commitments on matters of security, politics, society and economy.