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PM Ehud Olmert
Photo: Channel 2

Wise, yes. But smart?

Olmert simultaneously decides to expand and freeze military operations, making him a fair political tactician - but not much more. A small story on how Israel, throughout history, strengthens its enemies

On Wednesday, Israel's prime minister again demonstrated his sharp wits. The man who, in a moment of outrage led a nation to battle, crying that it was "an unavoidable war", was forced to deal with the fact that a whole month of military operations in Lebanon had not produced results.

 

Granted, the IDF expressed willingness to undertake any additional mission required, but the catch is that the prime minister can no longer ask them to – because the entire international community and their brother is on his case, demanding an immediate cessation to the violence and bloodshed in the land of the cedars.

 

But a man such as Olmert will not be deterred. Olmert, as Olmert, will find a way navigate through the obstacles. Six exhausting hours of cabinet discussions, Wednesday, yielded his desired outcome: On one hand, a dozen of his cabinet minister approved of an extended IDF operation to the Litani River and beyond. On the other hand, the military was left in "stop and go" mode until a diplomatic solution can be found.

 

Cynics will spew vitriol claiming that this decision embodies the prime minister's personality: Ongoing lofty statements, but no deeds. But the truth is that, in the difficult political and military situation in which he was trapped, Olmert succeeded in bringing about good results: he implied faith in the international community's ability to bring about Israel's desired objectives regarding Hizbullah, and he also kept the strength of the IDF hammer at hand.

 

Sharp, without a doubt. But as the saying goes: the smart man wouldn’t have gotten into situations that the sharp man knows how to get out of.

 

The chief of "City Command"

 

Anyone who knows Vice Premier Shimon Peres says that it's not pleasant to be near him when he's angry. This week, he was furious. Incensed. The reason – the neglectful treatment of northern Israel residents, bombarded and trapped in shelters for a month. "What is this powerlessness? How can it be that the handicapped, the elderly and the children of the north are not being cared for? What is preventing Israel from providing a solution?" Peres raged, his burning brain beginning to search for answers.

 

"We should put a reserves Maj. Gen. in every northern city, to be responsible for everything that goes on in the shelters…We need to take all IDF soldiers not in a combat position, and put a soldier in every shelter…their role to care for the needs for the people in this shelter, from diapers to food. They'll also need to report to the appropriate general, sitting with the mayor, so that the citizens of the north will know that someone is taking care of them. These are human lives, not a game," Peres said in anger.

 

Peres, who returned this past weekend from a public relations trip to the United States, where he sponsored an attempted American ceasefire proposal, is turning his attention to the battered northern Israeli homefront. As if it's not enough that he's trying to create a "City Command", he's already thinking of the morning after, of rehabilitation of the north and a return to daily life.

 

Yesterday, the Vice Premier convened a meeting of the ministerial committee for the development of the Negev and Galilee. He wants government ministries to start moving and to arrange funds, large funds, to address the issue. It seems that Peres will be satisfied, if not with a new Middle East, than at least with a rehabilitated north.

 

Iranian treasury

 

A while back, I sat with an Israeli friend in a restaurant in Paris. As is customary in this restaurant, a French family was seated beside us – parents in their 60s and a daughter in her 20s. Filled with good food and wine, the father jovially wagged a finger at us, recounting a previous encounter he'd had with the IDF.

 

It turns out that, in the 70s, the man was the export manager for Pegeot in the Middle East. He sold hundreds of 404s purchased by Syrian staff members, with the help of rubels arriving from Moscow. "One day, moments before meeting a shipment of some 500 cars in the port in Takya, Israeli Phantoms sank the ship. At first I cursed you, but then I laughed. I realized that, as long as Russian money was flowing into Syrian coffers, Damascus would happily pay for 500 new cars. You Israelis," he chuckled, "did nothing but good for Pegeot's business."

 

I recalled this story during a MK gathering this week. One of the ministers sat there, confident in Israeli government policy in this conflict, seeing a light at the end of the dark Lebanese tunnel. He claimed ardently that the destruction of Hizbullah rockets would bring us victory and security. The fundamentalist motivations of Nasrallah, backed by an Iranian treasury willing to finance thousands of Zelzals, Khaibars, and Fajrs for future launchings at Israel, seemed to disappear from his scope of vision.

 

"Is it possible that the wonderful skills of our excellent pilots will actually assist the Iranian weapons' industry, at the expense of the security of Israeli citizens?" we asked carefully. The minister waved a dismissive hand. It would be interesting to know how a French weapons dealer would have responded.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.11.06, 15:58
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