Politics (almost) as usual

Despite the war, senior politicians are quick to criticize Ehud Olmert, Amir Peretz, even the IDF – off the record

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 07.18.06 , 10:24

Israeli politics would seem to be silenced. When artillery roars, not only do people stop musing about, but politicians retreat into themselves, hold their tongues, and are careful not to criticize those conducting the war.

Even in off-the-record chats, government ministers and members of Knesset take care to swear the people they are talking to to silence. "When this is all over," they say, "then we'll talk. Now's not the time to criticize. We're at war."

War or not, the things the country's leaders are saying, both on the right and the left, are worrying and must become public in one way or another. In a democracy, criticism is legitimate and necessary, even during times of war.

Whispered criticisms

It must be said that even if the country's leadership is united in their desire and intent to fight terrorist groups wherever they may be, not all politicians are happy about they way senior diplomats and security types are running the show. They may whisper their criticisms, but the criticisms are there.

The kidnapping of three soldiers, a missile strike on an Israeli warship off the coast of Beirut and the appalling silence of the security-political echelon is slowly bringing out the ghosts. There is a feeling, say the pols, that Ehud Olmert and Amir Peretz are confused by the situation. They aren't running the show. They are too befuddled to act.

Several of the country's most senior politicians are no longer hiding their criticisms.

"Nasrallah set a trap for us, we got dragged into it, and now we're in over our heads. Because it isn't being managed properly, the army dragged the country into a new Lebanese quagmire," said one person.

Criticizing the army

The main criticism the politicians have is for the military. Even if Olmert and Peretz are still learning the ropes, leaders of the IDF aren't.

"How can it be," said one well-known public figure told Ynet, "That after so, so many warnings that Hizbullah would try to kidnap soldiers, how could it be that they actually managed to do it? It just doesn't make sense.

"It can't be that they've been threatening this for a year, we've all heard, and – voila! – they managed to surprise us and nab two of our soldiers. It's more than absurd."

The prevalent feeling amongst much of the country's politic in recent days is that something bad is happening in the IDF. There are too many screw-ups, too many mistakes. The policy makers may be new at this, but the senior officers, the chief of staff, the commanders – they aren't new at this.

They are expected to know their jobs, supposed to know how to get things done. The prime minister and defense minister don't run the IDF on a day-to-day basis. They don't give orders, don't bolster defenses at outposts, they aren't working in the field. That's up to the officers. Someone better come up with some answers when this is all over.

Crumbling feeling

But the politicians aren't voicing their criticisms. Despite the war, despite the crisis, politics never really goes on vacation. Under the surface politics continue to function, even during such a crisis. Someone is always following opinion polls, ascertaining just how strong the government is, Kadima's stability, etc.

Very, very senior politicians, on both the right and left, are closely monitoring the feelings of the Israeli public, and measuring up how and when they will be able to draw some benefit from the crisis situation.

Right-wing vindicated

The right feels vindicated, like they "told us so." People such as Avigdor Lieberman and Benjamin Netanyahu are delighted by recent events. Even if they publicly support the government, inside they feel they were right to warn about the disengagement and about unilateral pullouts.

They also felt this way a month ago, before this latest war broke out, and they certainly still do, with missiles falling on Israeli settlements and killing people.

Right-wing politicians believe that in light of recent developments, Ehud Olmert's realignment plan has been buried, far away from the public.

"There will be an Israeli consensus against realignment," says one senior member of a right-wing party. "The public is coming around to agree with the right. So what's left for the government? True realignment today is the country realigning against realignment."

Government not in danger

The right doesn't believe the government will fall in the coming months.

"Governments fall when the public feels they have been milked," they say. "In the meanwhile, the present government has no substance and no leadership. Kadima is crumbling faster than expected, and Meir Sheetrit's criticisms of realignment last week are a sign of things to come. He's not stupid."

Over in the Likud, they say the criticism from Kadima about the realignment is not alone. They say former Likud members now in Kadima are trying to reconcile with their former colleagues.

"It turns out more and more that Kadima is a temporary hostel," say the Likud members. "Important members of Kadima haven't really foregone the Likud."

Optimists inside the Likud, by the way, believe that within two years, none other than Benjamin Netanyahu will be prime minister.