More holes than Swiss cheese

But she gave up her seat, as she needs time out to be with her family, she said Wednesday evening. Avigdor Lieberman, who sat by her side, responded to this announcement with a tormented expression. He recalled other regimes where a moment after a politician is thrown out, an announcement is made that he resigned of his own free will due to ailing health.

Lieberman catches on quickly. He understood that the appointment would not be approved. He heard from other politicians, including Ehud Olmert, that it was a lost cause.

To Lieberman's credit, he managed Tartman's ousting well. Outwardly he supported her, but in parallel he authorized her resignation and quickly appointed a replacement. On Wednesday afternoon he held a press conference at the Knesset, showered Tartman with praise, but in fact placed the gun on the table. Later he paid her a visit at home, at the new Givon settlement, and made sure the gun would fire.

Every person is entitled to his or her day in the court of public opinion. Esterina Tartman, just like President Katsav several weeks ago, is entitled to present her version on live TV. The problem is that her version is full of holes, more so than Swiss cheese.

It wasn't I who said that I couldn't work just four hours a day, she said. The industrial physician made this recommendation for a period of 12 months. Further review of the verdict to the claim she submitted shows that during her testimony she said that the industrial physician had instructed her to work 3-4 hours a day, yet despite this her medical condition continued to deteriorate.

She was awarded NIS 2.5 million (roughly $600,000) by the court – it wasn't to compensate her for her temporary disability, but rather, to compensate her for a severe handicap that would reduce her working capability for life.

The district judge calculated that she had 18 years left until she becomes eligible for her pension and awarded her NIS 1 million on this clause alone. She appealed to the Supreme Court and apparently received an additional sum.

No one, not even more successful people than Tartman, receive millions for losing four hours of work for one year. Tartman, time and again, is causing harm to the honest community of handicapped people in Israel, who contrary to her, are met with suspicion when they honestly demand their rights.

The same applies to her academic degrees. In an attempt to protect Tartman, Lieberman suggested keeping things in proportion. How important are Tartman's "mishaps" compared to the Iranian bomb, he asked. But this is exactly the problem: The incumbent cabinet is likely to be called upon to decide on existential issues. No Israeli would want to place his destiny in the hands of liars, ignoramuses, illusionists or crooks. 

Likud Central Committee curse

On Wednesday evening, Channel 10 TV publicized a document compiled by a political aide who worked with Olmert during his term as minister of industry, trade and labor. The document boasts 115 cases where the Ministry assisted referents who contacted it, many of them members of the Likud Central Committee.

Ostensibly, the document ties Olmert to criminal wrongdoings. A more in depth examination raises doubt. In some of the cases no assistance was granted, or it was legitimate at the time it was granted. In three cases involving a former prime minister, an Israel prize laureate and a senior attorney, Olmert assisted in obtaining a permit for nursing aid. Scores shouldn't be settled over such matters.

This is the curse of the Likud Central Committee. Not today's Committee, which miraculously disappeared, but that Committee, the sausage committee. The further Olmert tries to get away from it, the more it chases him.