Bibi Netanyahu
Photo: Amir Cohen
A question of priorities
Who cares about Bibi’s London hotel room when Israel faces existential threat?
On occasion, when nobody is looking, I go back to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper from the eve of Yom Kippur, October 5, 1973.
Only one day before the outbreak of the difficult war that took the lives of almost 2,700 young people, only a few hours before two immense armies started moving with complete surprise towards the Golan Heights and the Sinai, what were we preoccupied with? What was the State of Israel dealing with at the time?
It hard to believe: Zaire severed its diplomatic ties with us, employees of the Israel Aircraft Industries elected a new secretary general, and Austria’s chancellor was reprimanded for failing to offer as much as a glass of water to Golda Meir during their meeting in Vienna.
What else? Italy defeated Israel 94-73 in a basketball game. And by the way, the newspaper also informed us that “there has been an improvement” in the stock market. Several hours later, the sky came tumbling down and the land shook.
So why am I recalling these sad days now? Because the preoccupation with Benjamin Netanyahu’s hotel room in London may be very important, but it would be good to realize that at this time the State of Israel is facing a genuine existential threat, perhaps for the first time since 1948.
Urgent matters should take precedence
We must draw on all the strength we have in order to get the world to act and prevent the continued nuclear development work in Iran. Yet what we see at the top of the agenda at this time is Sarah Netanyahu’s haircut?
I am not saying this is not important. It may even be very important. There will be some amongst us who would say that without values and ethical conduct, certainly on the part of our leaders, we will not be able to safeguard our existence and survive over time. This may be so. However, right now urgent matters take precedence over important matters - assuming the abovementioned issue is indeed important.
And just so you know: Almost all our distinguished leaders were and are great hedonists. The days where late Prime Minister Levi Eshkol left a surprising inheritance for his son-in-law – cuff links – are long gone.
Late Minister Yigal Horowitz said once upon a time: “Crazy people, get off the roof!” At this time we ask: “What, are you still up there?”
