Peres announces his decision
Photo: Eli Algrat
A great diplomat. Peres in Barcelona
Photo: AP
Revenge of the losers
History will remember Peres as a man who dedicated his life for peace
White as snow, his face and lips signed, he entered the room holding several folded pages, his speech printed in huge letters, so he wouldn't need his glasses.
finished broadcasting their stinging introductions to the cameras. It was an uncomfortable moment, one of many during the few minutes in which he delivered his parting speech.
Shimon Peres sat in front of the microphone looking shrunken in his dark suit, eyes downcast and screaming for help from long-time advisor Yoram Dori.
He waited, bewildered, as TV reporters
The Announcement
Attila Somfalvi
Veteran statesman announces end of his political activity in Labor; says he will support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in March elections: “I ask myself where I can contribute, and the answer is: Advancing the peace process”
It was a moment in which Peres appeared weak, forlorn, worn out - at least, as weak as Peres is capable of looking, even during the hard times.
Later on, in a departure from his usual custom during events such as this, Peres turned to the folded papers and in a voice occasionally sounding strong, confident and occasionally shaky – he read out the announcement that he was leaving the party that had been an inseparable part of his life for decades.
"In my opinion," he said, in what would have sounded like a bad joke just a year ago, "The best candidate we've got to head a coalition for peace and development is Arik Sharon."
Loser's revenge
Every critical expression in the political lexicon can be applied to this embarrassing, almost pathetic, situation in which Shimon Peres announced he was leaving his political home to join Sharon.
No moisturizing cream, no bleach could do the trick, could manage to change the reality, and could remove the political stain that will stick to this man forever more: Shimon Peres left the Labor Party because he wanted revenge. Because he may be a great statesman, but he is a terrible politician.
He just wanted revenge – revenge on the party, revenge on the membership, revenge on the voters that withheld victory from him again and again. Revenge on the winners, revenge on the loss. Revenge on being a loser.
He couldn't stand the notion that he'd lost, especially to Amir Peretz. He couldn't take the thought that he'd play second fiddle to this guy with no limits, a guy Shimon himself had brought back to the party, hoping he would help him survive at the top.
He simply couldn't continue this way. He's swallowed spit many times in the past, but this was just too much. Now he needed revenge, a scorching punch in the faces of the people who have punched him so many times over the years.
Historical judgments
In the coming days, thousands of words will be written about Peres' break from Labor and what it all means. Enemies, supporters, lovers and haters – everyone will make sure their opinions are heard.
Everyone will eulogize, criticize, and bury him, both politically and publicly. Or they will praise him.
Until Sunday, Peres is expected to keep a low profile, to let the storm surrounding him die down a bit.
After that, he will once again take to the microphones, with Sharon at his side as an ally and supporter. He will try to explain, to douse the flames a bit, and to give some answers.
They say history is a better judge of people than anything else. No one is more aware of history than Shimon Peres. No one has made more of an effort than Peres to make the history books, to be written in huge letters on every page.
No one in Israeli politics has considered his every step for many years, as Peres has, in order to make the history books and in order for people to remember him.
Therefore, if everything goes according to plan Sharon really does win the elections, he will build a government and move to establish permanent borders for Israel during his last term – then history will remember Shimon Peres as the one who helped him do it, as the one who was there to make it happen.
Peres will even go down as the one who was willing to degrade himself and withstand withering criticism and humiliation at the hands of analysts and the public alike.
But Peres won't be remembered as someone who made a childish, pathetic, vengeful move, even if it's true. He will be remembered as a great man, who dedicated his life for peace, even (apparently) sacrificing everything for it. Even his self respect.
Hurting Labor
In the Labor Party, despite the public declarations to the contrary, members are well aware that Peres' departure is likely to have a meaningful affect on the party's election showing.
Whether Labor members want it or not, and no matter how many times Amir Peretz is photographed hugging Ehud Barak, the image of Shimon Peres next to Sharon could create a strong stream of voters away from Labor to Sharon's Kadima Party.
The prime minister, for his part, got what he wanted: he screwed the Labor Party by taking away its most recognizable symbol, bought himself a rubber stamp from the international community, and he is laughing all the way to the voting booth.
The main question now is: Will Peres' defection help Sharon, or will it bring him bad luck? Will Peres bring his legendary penchant for being a loser to the new party?
At the moment, it appears that nothing could hurt Sharon, not even Peres. From his personal, intimate perspective, Peres made the right choice. He is finally part of the winning team.
Peres made the right move, not because he is the one that will bring about peace, and not because he will make the Negev flourish or the Galilee.
Rather, it is because if it all works out for Sharon the way it has the last four years, Shimon Peres will go down in history they way he'd always hoped: As the greatest prophet and fighter for peace modern Israel has ever known.
All the rest, including his pathetic performance last night, will be history. Material for the archives. Just like his penchant for losing.
