And Peres will go home
Peres, Labor appear determined to die in Sharon's arms
Here indeed is an exaggerated wish for the year that has recently arrived, a wish that apparently will not come true: That Peres will go home already. However, "enough is enough" maybe for regular mortals, not for politicians, all the more so for Peres, who has never had enough. Now he is competing once again for the leadership of his party. And the party's voters, out of a mixed feeling of despair, conservatism and inertia, might still crown him.
Peres' obsessive interest in continuing the partnership with Sharon is clear and goes beyond his narrow personal interest to stay in the government, and not to end his borrowed political time, God forbid, in the oppositional wasteland.
Peres, also when he was young, always viewed the opposition as what is called in ancient Mapai (workers' party founded in 1930) language "de-construction" – an arena with no purpose or expectancy. A sort of political, infantile and unimportant mission. A penalty seat for all kinds of Yossi Sarids, not for action people like himself.
Labor's stubborn refusal to serve the public from the opposition, and on the other hand, its truly ecstatic enthusiasm of Sharon and its willingness to serve as his group of cheerleaders headed by soloist Shimon, deviates in its meaning from the embarrassment and wretchedness it stimulates.
After all, we are talking about the second largest party, whose designation was to serve as an oppositional engine and put meaning into the concept of parliamentary democracy.
Israeli anomaly
National unity is a rare political recipe in the vast majority of civilized countries. Germany has been dragged into it for the first time nowadays, against its will and for lack of any other option. The defeated social-democrats are charging an enormous price for their partnership: an equal distribution of portfolios and receiving the important governmental offices.
Outgoing Chancellor Schroeder, who cooked up the deal, has enough sense to go. Worthy people with style and virtues, like Joschka Fischer, are taking advantage of this time of downfall in order to retire. While in Israel, unity has transformed from a formula which one should avoid altogether, into an ongoing chronic disease.
For more than 50 years, since the State of Israel was established up to the beginning of the 21st century, Israel actually only had one unity government. Assuming that Eshkol's initiative to add Herut Leader Begin and Liberals Leader Yosef Sapir to his government, on the eve of the '67 War, as ministers without portfolio and for a limited time, can hardly be defined as unity.
Therefore, the first unity government was that of Shamir-Peres ('84-'88). The second one was of Sharon-Ben Eliezer ('01-'02). That is to say, for more than five decades this dangerous and corruptive tool has been used once. Whereas in Sharon's era, which has been going on for five years, two unity governments have already been established and the third one can be seen in the horizon. Followers of the political incorporation are even talking about a joint party for Sharon and Labor.
Room for anxiety
The opposition is not a random collection of parties that have nothing in common. Like Shaul, they eyed a monarchy and got she-asses. Lapid was red from pleasure and authority in the government until Sharon shoddily threw him to opposition land.
At the moment, he is voicing opposition and threatening to bring Sharon down. Come on!!!!
Shas assumed from its first days that it was destined to join the government yet Sharon ostracized it and refrained form inviting its elite to join the cabinet. The National Religious Party, which joined Sharon at first and later abandoned him, is making initial contacts to come back.
What about the Arabs? Their support and rebuke are certain. In fact, except for them and Meretz, all other parties were created in the objective of being in power.
Immune system collapse
All the political players are aware of the ongoing conservative period and realize that Sharon’s hegemony doesn’t seem to be dissipating in the near future. Therefore they are asking for the conciliatory prize of being in government, however briefly.
The lack of a real opposition will have destructive, long-term consequences. In light of the lack of an opposition in the Knesset it is more difficult to form an opposition outside the parliamentary frame.
What’s most alarming is that social institutions are also becoming weaker: The press and the General Attorney, who calls himself ‘the legal adviser’ in Hebrew.
Here lies the responsibility of Labor --- a responsibility that has been shaken off. For all these considerations Peres should not be elected for a second term as Labor Party leader, and Israeli democracy should be favored instead.
