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Ehud Barak
Photo: Ido Erez
Ami Ayalon
Photo: Vadim Daniel

Barak failed to deliver

While former PM boasts experience, end result of his actions far from impressive

The results of the Labor party primaries set to be held Monday are crucial, as it is highly probable that within a year from now the winner will be contending for the premiership against the Likud party.

 

If the opinion polls publicized over the weekend depict a realistic picture, and this is somewhat doubtful, none of the candidates will garner the 40 percent required to win in the first round and a second round is expected to be held between Ehud Barak and Ami Ayalon in two weeks time.

 

Barak and his supporters are relentlessly highlighting the former prime minister's experience. And indeed vis-a-vis the outcome of the Second Lebanon War, initiated and conducted by an inexperienced cabinet, clearly experience should not be taken lightly. Yet whereas Barak scores highly when it comes to experience, this does not necessarily apply to another area, which he himself argued was the most important – the end result.

 

Barak began his term in office upon forming the government in 1999. Critics said "he appointed each minister to the most suitable post and then asked them to move up a seat." He couldn't keep his coalition, which was fragile from the start, together. He ended talks with Syria, which had already reached an advanced stage, without due cause, except for opinion polls that scared him and which he was unable to interpret properly.

 

He engaged in talks with the Palestinians immediately after that and its sole achievement, according to Barak himself - was "unmasking Arafat," but it directly led to the outbreak of the second Intifada.

 

Ayalon's credentials impressive

And as to resolving the problem of "the elderly lying in the hospital corridors," it seems that Barak himself will admit that he didn't think of it much during his term in office, just as he didn't take an interest in the economy or in education.

 

No one doubts Barak's impressive intellect, his analytical mind, and ability to see and understand complex situations and systems. However, the end result of all this, as was reflected in his short term in office, is far from being impressive.

 

The record currently being presented by Ami Ayalon, an IDF major-general and a former Shin Bet chief, does not fall far from the one presented by Barak when he first ran for party leadership in 1997. At least when it comes to this aspect, party members can rest assured that the helm will not fall into the hands of an inexperienced captain.

 

Early elections in 2008 appear highly likely. Kadima's chances of winning them are slim and the struggle will take place between the Likud and Labor parties. Therefore, in any result that will emerge Monday, or in two week from now, it should be hoped that both candidates will remain in the party ranks and continue their political activities as a "full time job" - not as a temporary side kick.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.27.07, 14:38
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