Toward his midterm, when things went sour and his administration was in disarray – President Carter decided
to mend fences. He summoned American society’s leading experts and personalities to Camp David for a retreat. For three consecutive days they deliberated, analyzed,
assessed and evaluated in seclusion the reasons for the prevailing predicament of the administration.
They enumerated one by one the shortcomings of Carter’s policy in practically all walks of life. After defining the ailments of the administration this group of experts came forward with recommendations on how to repair and ameliorate the situation; how to solve those lingering outstanding problems – to enable the Carter administration to embark on a new beginning.
In retrospect, the newly equipped president managed only to partially recuperate. But the message was loud and clear: “I recognize my mistakes; I will solicit the best advice from the best people available for the benefit of the country.” This deed earned him great respect and appreciation.
Regardless of the two committees set to investigate the war in Lebanon,
it is incumbent on the prime minister of Israel to seek the best available advice and set of recommendations as to what needs to be done and how – at this particular juncture that we are in.
A thorough, profound deliberation and consultation are called for. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would
be well advised to summon the best experts and figures and pick their minds beyond the mind and advice of Uri Shani and Dov Weisglass.
He should listen, together with his entire government in a secluded retreat – devoid of daily ongoing politicking and conniving – to their sound advice and prudence.
Those dignitaries and wise men of Israel will surely suggest how to get organized afresh… how to replace the empty sloganeering with substance; how to shore up the obliterated value system of the country; how to truly eradicate corruption and, at long last, to loosen the inextricable interdependence between capital and government.
This phenomenon is at the foundation of the ailing Israeli society: Promoting the Hedonistic way of life, the solely materialistic attitude toward the needs of society. The unsightly side of the ugly capitalism endangers the fabric and robustness of society. It perpetuates and exacerbates the economic gaps, thus rendering the lives of the underprivileged more miserable.
This group that would be convened will no doubt tackle those aspects of Israeli life, at the roof of the current quandary in the aftermath of the war in Lebanon. They will suggest a blueprint for immediate governmental action so as to stem the deterioration and bring hope.
Such an effort is the obligation of this government to the memory of the fallen soldiers and their families, the wounded soldiers and the mighty combatants of the war who demonstrated the highest degree of heroism and dedication. It is time to minimize the gap between their supreme quality and the incompetence and lack of responsibility of the political system.
Should the prime minister decide to convene such an emergency consultation as to better our lot, he should not include public relations people who so ill - effected the government. It is enough to read in the press statements by PR men like Eyal Arad and Ran Rahav, who are now at the disposal of army generals such as Maj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky. This is a disgrace to the IDF.
This phenomenon is a reflection and ingredient of the ailment and malaise that must be urgently addressed, treated and cured.
Eytan Bentsur is the former director-general of the Foreign Ministry
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