they are all the same crap. livni is totally overrated. she has ruined the MFA to such an extent that honestly there is nothing that dumb mofaz can do. livni did such damage that it is almost irreversible.

Here in the US, if someone were to be considered for a cabinet post, whether Treasury, Energy, Education, Defense, etc. we have the curious expectation that the candidate have extensive experience in the field, and know something about the mission of that department. But that's not how it is in Israel where, it seems, politicians are assigned to "head" ministries only according to the needs of the coalition, and irrespective of qualifications. What, after all, did Mofaz know about Transportation? Those with an eye on the PMO want only to "sit" at the head of the prestige posts - Foreign, Defense and Treasury - to build their resume. Most other posts are deemed interchangeable except where money and ideology are concerned. Cabinet posts are created when potential "perks" are running short; ministries are cobbled together which make no sense (like Science Culture and Sports). But, hey, the ministers won't be around for long, so what does it matter?

Oh, I see. Livni wants him traveling and far away as much as possible so he does not look to essental in the government like he would as Defense Minister.

Quite right. 'To the political garbage bin' with this lot. Whose going to see it's done?! If we really want to save the country action must be taken now.

IS A TOTAL FAILURE IN WHATEVER SHE DOES. SHE DID NOTHING AS MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND SHE HAS RUINED THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TOTALLY. DRIVERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AMBASSADORS. YOU HAVE AMBASSADORS THAT SPEAK NO ENGLISH. IN GERMANY THE AMB. KNOWS NO GERMAN AND OUR REP. IN ITALY DOES NOT SPEAK ITALIAN BUT SPEAKS GERMAN. THEY ALL NEED TO GO HOME. AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.

What is equally worrisome is that there are no successes. Kadima could use a name-change : perhaps the "Kishalon"party, soon to be the "Mitparek"party. But the author is certainly right - Livni & her Kadima hacks belong in the political garbage bin.

on the notion that a foreign affairs minister should be able to communicate in a more then the average Israeli English. I would even consider appointing you for the job, you speak better Arabic then most Arab speakers this somehow could be a benefit for us. Your interview with Al-jazeera was not for nothing 'a slam dunk'. keep throwing them in the political garbage bin!

Kadima politicians value hanging on to power as more important than doing a good job while in power. Thus Israel will see Kadima in power till the end of its term (another 2 years or so), doing a lousy job as usual. Why lousy? Think of Kadima's choices of defense, treasury and even education ministers.

Here in the US we do WHAT? hahahaha. Don't you watch the news Raymond? Don't you see the mess we are in as a direct result of the total insanity of the Bush administration and his buddies in his cabinet with only one goal in life which is to make their bank accounts larger and our unqualified do nothing Congress? Is your real name Raymond VanWinkle? Have you had a good nap Raymond? You should change careers and write comic books.

what a joke !!! he was defense minister during the 3 and a half years before lebanon war 2 (until may 2006) and obviously didn't prepared the army to that !! how can you forget that ??? such an interpretation of yours of the country vital interests requires the readers to toss this article to ... you know where.

Sir Please pat your self on the back for me, please invite yourself for dinner on my behalf, You hit the rusty nails right on their heads, you are talented and it shows here in your article, you have just done Israel a great service! Too bad that the innocent people of Israel and Jews world wide will have to again for generations pay the price for the clowns mentioned above's gaining experience at a costly time for Israel. They are indeed unqualified and a danger to Israel. I blame the people for their silence and their demise is their own voting. It is in the DNA of the Jewish people to be numb at a time of danger, look at our history it happens again and again. Thank you Mordechai kedar.

Allowing the 1%ers to run the country, is not only ludicrous, it is disastrous. They have no mandate or support to carry out any actions or missions. A general electin, where all citizens will have a say as to what direction we are headed is long overdue

...of Israel. Your defense of the jewish people and Israel is unprecedented. I have not heard ANY politician defend Jerusalem, Israel and the jews like you... in my entire life. What are you doing in the academia?!!! please run for PM or MK!!! Israel needs you!!! Your defense of Jerusalem in AlJazzerra made me cry like a baby. (i also speak some arabic)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHpMhAzj-Tk and I haven't cried in 20 years.. Thank you Mr Kedar... you are a reason I am proud of Israel and the jews, despite all the mediocrity in Israel and the jewish world...

Consider re-reading what i wrote: "Here in the US... we have the curious expectation that the candidate have extensive experience in the field, and know something about the mission of that department." I said nothing about personal ambitions, underlying motives, or the rest. We simply expect that a candidate for Defense has a serious background in military matters, someone in Treasury has a serious background in economics, markets and banking; someone in Energy knows the energy sector, someone in Justice has a legal background, etc. In Israel, there's no such presumption or expectation. That's all I was saying David. Next time try understanding what you're reading.

Your points are well taken. Noo? What's the answer? I'll tell you: change this crappy form of gov't. to one that has checks and balances. This is the only democracy in the world where you can elect your favorite DICTATOR!

If you want a man to lead israel, who understands arabs, and who defends israeli rights to the land strongly, its mordechai kedar and not the weaklings of olshmert, ramon, peres, beilin, ayalon, and to some degree livni, thoiugh she is not as bad as olmert. Israelis should not negotiate out of demographic or military fears.Olmert negotiates and concedes out of total , total fear.

Never negotiate out of fear which olmert has done.Leaders have to have a positive conviction of israel and i'll give the coward olmert and others like him some pointers: 1) No more gas chambers and begging others like Bush and Putin to save Israel which Olmert does constantly. 2) if israel cannot live in the middle east and will be wiped out, then the arab states will be wiped out as well, all of them. 3) israeli history is real and should not be minimized as Olmert who says israel will be finished if this and that happens. 4) If someone punches you in the face, you respond-yes. Well Olmert's MO is no response, absolute cowardice. Israel needs to punch the arabs in the face and elsewhere. This is why the israeli arabs can taste independence, cause the state does not lead with a strong arm. 5)Hysterical rants about demographics will get israel nowhere. There are half-truths and other ways-like deporting arabs to Jordan that have to be considered. Livni should repeat these ideas every day to fortify herself. Kedar already knows them. Finally, Livni, get that lousy moron and olmert rearender out of cabinet-Haim ramon who is the biggest idiot and coward next to olmert that ever hit the stage. If you don't get rid of him, then you are as kedar suggests another olmert failure.

Abba Eban en Golda Meir were native English speakers who turned the Arab leaders with their thick accents into stumbling fools. I still remember the time that Israeli leaders were perceived as being right mainly because they said it all so beautifully. Today the Arab leaders speak better English than the Israeli spokespersons and that gives them the edge in the propaganda war. Israel must have native speakers in all the foreign media again. And Israel has plenty of those. So why not use them?