Sharon and arch rival Netanyahu
צילום: איי פי
The masks of politics
Ariel Sharon's departure from the Likud has shook up the whole establishment
The political stage, that just yesterday was so boring, has filled up with colorful characters, dancers, runners, screaming and fighting to win the attention of the suddenly awake audience. Turns out that our party players have worn many different masks for several months, and now that they are falling off, we can see who has been hiding behind what.
Ariel Sharon: As opposed to the mask he's been wearing, and still wears, Sharon never had any doubts about leaving the Likud. He decided to bolt the party many months ago, but kept his decision quiet.
Back in September, he delivered a far-reaching address to the United Nations General Assembly that could only have been interpreted as a final goodbye to the Likud and its ideology.
After making his decision, Sharon carefully scattered a thick ash of hesitation, stuttering, and hints. The image of a man torn up inside served his aims well and managed to confuse a lot of people.
When the time came, Sharon tortured his former party, degraded it and chopped it apart with an axe. The world of politics (and not only in Israel) has never seen anything like it.
Sharon will continue to cloud over his diplomacy-policy plans until Election Day. This strategy will win him votes.
If and when he puts together his next government, he will head straight for more pullouts from the West Bank, in order to establish secure borders (as he sees them) for Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu: Despite the image he portrayed, Netanyahu did not feel abandoned when he resigned from Sharon's government. Even when Silvan Shalom, Limor Livnat, Tzahi Hanegbi failed to stand by him, he knew full well that if his senses hadn't failed him, as sometimes happens to him, then he stood a good chance to become the party chairman and candidate for prime minister during the next elections.
Netanyahu acted like an experienced politician, with his eyes on the long-term: He new there would be no honest reconciliation between the traditional agenda of Likud activists and the one Sharon was trying to force on the party.
He looked on quietly as he lost the September election at the Likud Central Committee, and now his patience has paid off.
Shimon Peres: As opposed to the brave face he put on at the time, Peres was stung to the very core by his loss to Amir Peretz. He has been munching on bitter herbs for years in the Labor Party.
Peres would accept an outstretched finger from Sharon warmly and strongly.
If Sharon fails to offer one up, Peres will swallow his pride (he's an expert at this) and line up alongside Amir Peretz. Or behind Amir Peretz.
Ehud Barak: The former prime minister could well make his way to Sharon's new party. Like Sharon, Barak believes there is no Palestinian partner to talk peace with, and so Israel must act unilaterally to withdraw and evacuate, and unilaterally establish its own borders.
Ideologically, too, Barak belongs in the new party. Don't be shocked if he actually does join.
Eli Yishai: The Shas party chairman is licking his lips at the dismantling of the Likud. A dismantled Likud no longer serves as a political home to those given to voting according to gut feelings. He is sure these voters will abandon both Likuds and move towards Shas.
Yosef Lapid: Despite the image he portrays, Lapid is in great distress over the Likud's dismantling. Sharon's new party pulled the rug out from under Shinui's feet and kidnapped most of that party's voters. Even more than Likud I, Shinui could pay the price for the forging of Likud II.
Shaul Mofaz: Despite the mask he continues to wear, Defense Minister Mofaz will not last in a right-wing party whose principles Ariel Sharon openly opposes.
There are strong personal ties between Mofaz and Sharon. Mofaz's policy beliefs are the same as Sharon's. There are wide gaps between Mofaz and Bibi Netanyahu. Mofaz won't be number two, or even number three, on Netanyahu's list.
These are just some of the masks that have fallen in recent days. But do the newly revealed faces really show the true face of Israeli politics? We'll have to wait until after the elections to know for sure.
