Opinion  Others
Time for new leaders
Frimet Roth
Published: 02.02.07, 22:46
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19 Talkbacks for this article
1. Oldmerde , Livni, et al
cato the younger ,   USA   (02.03.07)
are, by their negligence, indifference ,and kow-towing to Bush ,Rice,and the Eurabians , guilty of SEDITION. They should exit (resign )peacefully. If they refuse, they should be arrested , put on trial, and when found guilty, imprisioned or exiled.
2. Excellent article
Brod ,   USA   (02.03.07)
This is an excellent article. More outstanding articles as this should be written in the Israeli media. It is time for the weak and incompetent leaders to resign and give way for better and strong leaders. A country besieged by dark enemies who are hellbent on vaporizing Israel, must have strong, brilliant, competent and patriotic leaders. Israel's leaders must care and protect their own people and nation, and not be concerned with their dark enemies who use violence, trickery and external manipulations and pressures to achieve their goal of reducing Israel to a tiny indefensible enclave so that they can eventually destroy Israel as their Charter clearly stipulates. Israel must never delude itself into into thinking that the Islamist-Jihadists are peace- loving people. If they examine Abbas's writings, they are as vitriolic toward Israel as Arafat's terrorisms.
3. No leadership, yes but who can replace them?
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (02.03.07)
No one can begin to know the anguish, the grief and sorrow of the parents who have lost a child. When that child is killed because of the barbaric hatred of terrorists in their criminal aim of furthering the aims of Islamic Fundamentalism the grief has to be focused elsewhere and in Israel what better that at our self-seeking and egotistical politicians of all sides of the political divide. Whether the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister were at fault will no doubt come out in the finding of the Winograd Commission. The one question that will be asked is whether the bad decisions of the Chief of Staff and Olmert's and Peretz's dependence on them would vindicate their share of the responsibility. Surely common sense should have prevailed? The country was under attack and there should have not have been any delay in mobilizing our forces. This raises another point. Was the Prime Minister once again being pressured by our "allies" to wait and see and not to retaliate? Anyone with a modicum of intelligence knows how eager the American Administration is to appease and pacify its "allies" in the Gulf. Even now we hear criticism of Israel's use of cluster bombs. We used them in the defense of our country and our people. If we can't use them for that purpose why did we buy them? Regrettably our little land is the pawn in a huge international game which has oil at the centre of the playing board and countries like Russia, China, the UK with the EU and, of course, the USA will use any strategy to achieve their aim of control the oil supply even if it costs the lives of our children. Do they care about Gilad Shalit, Udi Goldwasser and Eldad Regev? The result of this is that you can change the government as many times as you like but the final decisions of how we can deal with the threat to our country will never be made in Jerusalem. We have to face the fact that without the US Veto in the Security Council we run the risk of international sanctions and total isolation. The world will fight the Islamic Radicals until the last Israeli. So who is the next “savior” of the State of Israel should Olmert be deemed “unsuitable”? Let’s not forget that Rabin was condemned with Peres for Oslo, Bibi Netanyahu for the Wye Plantation Agreement and giving away Hebron, Barak took us out of Lebanon and was criticized for this. Sharon caused the Likud to split down the middle over the Disengagement and Pullout from Gaza and of course his government must bear the blame for closing its eyes to what was happening with Hezbollah. Now the fingers are pointed at Olmert. Add to these failures the corruption, the wheeling and dealing and the anarchy that we find ourselves, it will indeed require a miracle to pull us out of the mess we are in but miracles seem to be in short supply these days.
4. we need new leaders
sas ,   israel   (02.03.07)
certainly true but are there any out in the field?????? looks very depressing.
5. far longer
Yisraeli   (02.03.07)
All thats happening are a direct result of the Oslo fiasco. Bringing ones sworn enemies into your living room and trying to placate them with nicities. If you examine the events leading up to Oslo and immediately thereafter have you any idea of the scale of treachary and perfidy done on Israel by our own? And then to have given your enemies weapons on a mass scale, where in history has any sane nation done anything like that? And no accountability for all the crimes these so called movers and shakers. A mass peoples revolution is in order but theyre apathetic as their children die. I dont see any change unless Israel gets hit so very very hard. But why do tens of thousands need to die before this? I see no one in the Knesset fit for leadership and dont kid yourself Bibi is the same as Olmert absolutely no different just theyre different suits. The only one I see capable of changing Israels direction to survivability is Moshe Feiglin and I say that as a complete secular myself. Only he is able to make the necessary changes. Check out jewishisrael.org to see for yourself.
6. Did Olmert really have a plastic surgery? Unbelievable.
AK   (02.03.07)
7. All Of Our Political Parties Are Corrupt.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (02.03.07)
8. How did Abe Vigoda take the PMO?
Ben Temalion ,   Shiloh, MO USA   (02.03.07)
Bolmert never was elected to a party spot that would afford him an MK seat. After one pogrom, voted against by Likud yet the same party did not not hold sharon accountable to his oath to uphold, there was another skull crushing pogrom after sharon created kadima out of thin air and took power without ever being elected. As the incumbent to a coup, bolmert Vigoda ostensible elected with 22% of the vote to continue his atrocities against those who love the land.
9. leaders
fish ,   t-a   (02.03.07)
I subscribe to every word in this article. The only sad thruth is - we don't seem to have any new leaders.We have the leaders we deserve. It was clear to everyone prior elections who and what Olmert and Kadima is, but still they got so much vote - can you blame it on them or on public which behaves like zombies and wakes up only to call Liebermann - a fascist for speaking an uncomofrtable truth, or to call Netanyahu - a liar and a thief for saving our economy. Our public prefers to stay home at the time of elections uttering "i'ie oto hara" - and that's exactly what they have. ISRAEL DESREVES ITS LEADERS.
10. To # 1: Mismanagement, igonorance, yes but sedition no.
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (02.03.07)
If you accuse Olmert and Co of sedition then I suggest that you certainly do not have the wisdom of neither Cato the Elder nor of the Younger. The only ones who should be charged with sedition and perhaps, in some cases, treason are our Arab MK's who consorted with the enemy in the last war and undermined the security of the country in war time by given the international media misinformation. Indeed, some of "left wing" MKs' should stand accused with them. Regarding your comment about "kow-towing" to Bush and Rice, kindly enlighten us mere Israelis how you would react when Bush and Rice abstain in the next attempt to put international sanctions on Israel in the UN Security Council. You might add to your elucidation of the point how you would envisage Israel's future isolated and ostracized by the rest of the world. It is very easy to sit in the comfort of the USA and tear the guts out of our leadership, particularly when you don't carry any of the responsibility. Instead of attacking Olmert and Co why don't you take your administration to task for their policies of appeasement of the pot bellied Arab Emirs who smile at America but have daggers under their robes pointed at the "Heartland" of the USA?
11. You need new leader
Kurt ,   Germany   (02.03.07)
You need new leaders that can see the truth of seeing the strength of the EU and the Palistinsian people and to give them the state in 67 border and Jerusalem as capitol so they can live in peace for now. We can help the Palistinsians for now until they are strong enough but your new leaders have to help us to achieve this.
12. #4
James ,   Ramat Hasharon   (02.03.07)
We do need new leaders. Unfortunately it seems that Bibi will be the next PM and he only cares about Bibi I vividly remember how bad times were when he was PM. "Never Again"
13. TO DAVID #10
cato the younger ,   USA   (02.03.07)
Dear David, You have made some very good points. As for "sedition" , let us just say that many of Oldmerde's actions , and lack of same, AMOUNT TO DE FACTO SEDITION. I was refering to Bush and Rice's imbecilic adherence to "The Peace Process/Road Map" and Oldmerde's naive idea that something will come of this. Of course, nothing will come of it. The longer Olmert &Co go along with this insanity, the more Israel will be slowly eaten alive-- a brave lion against 100 hyenas.-- "the thousand cuts.This is the strategy of the Pals , Iranians, etc. IT IS WORKING !!!
14. to No 12
fish52 ,   t-a   (02.03.07)
Times weren't that bad under Bibi - he was made a punch-bag by media to a point, that everybody was taught to call him a liar( also if you remember the Avoda campaign slogan was - Bibi must go, because it can't go on like this - what "like this" was never expalined or discussed, but the public likes catch-phrases). I have my doubts about B. Netanyahu as well, but the alternatives to him are a road into abyss. Who should be the next PM? Smiling Barak? Perez, an uneducated populist? Wise guy Peres? WHO?
15. Our "leaders" fear Europe & US more than death to our people
j ,   jerusalem, israel   (02.03.07)
They bow to pressure and we pay in blood. Other countries dont care if we die, Europe hates the Jews & Israel and the US is influenced by those that do. Just say no to them and we will have an Israel stronger than ever before.
16.  # 4 and al
Reality   (02.04.07)
In Hebrew we have the clever saying : "Lo Alman Israel" . There's no void in Political reality. If the corrupt so-called leaders quit - better leaders will be found , for sure. A reshuffle is needed anyway .
17. a note
mariya ,   jerusalem   (02.04.07)
i saw a program in the tv about the servants and the rubbery .one woman with a smile said i knew why my servantstole my jewelary .. she was poor her mother was divorced and/////////etc //one man asked you want to excuse her ...she replied no but i want to make some analysis ...i like this woman and i like her smile and her analysis .... now is there any one aske himselfe why the palastinian want to kill himselfe and the others ..any one must analyse the terror like that lovly woman with a smile .... sure i feel the hurt of any woman losting a son or daughter if it is israili or palastinian
18. It all goes back to Oslo
rivkah ,   jerusalem   (02.04.07)
It goes back to Oslo when Peres and Rabin called victims of terrorist attacks "sacrifices for the peace." After all, their messianic vision of peace could not understand that the other side never gave up its war against the Jews. New leadership needed.
19. to #1 cato the younger
chaim ,   brooklyn n.y   (02.04.07)
to #1 [cato the younger your deliberate misspelling olmetrs name to" oldmerde" is hystericall,i bet 99% of readers did not get it. you are absolutely right ,he is not better than "merde" if the people of israel will not impeach this piece of merde ,they will lose their country
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