Barak has failed
Is defense minister again failing to realize this is time for actions, not words?
A long time has passed since Ehud Barak assumed the post of defense minister. Those who spoke with him say that he explains the situation in length and assesses it analytically. Yet at the end of the day, “when it comes to results,” as he likes to say, nothing came out of it. Nothing.
If we wanted a defense minister who specializes in slapping other people on the back, we could have had Binyamin Ben Eliezer – he’s more authentic. If we wanted someone who doesn’t do a thing, we could make do with Barak’s predecessor, Amir Peretz. Yet Barak was billed as the brilliant professional who would be able to run the defense establishment, which was desperate for a master.
Yet what did we end up getting? What did Barak give us? Tens of thousands of people in the south are facing endless anxiety, while he engages in negotiations with Hamas. This is morally flawed, as Hamas wishes to destroy Israel and kill its citizens – both religious and secular, rightists and leftists. Hamas should be fought against, not compromised with. What exactly are we going to compromise on? A slower pace of murdering Jews?
Two ministers are currently the main proponents of lull negotiations with Hamas – Minister Raleb Majadele and Minister Barak. Both of them apparently share the same security doctrine. Yet Barak is supposed to know that even if he agrees on a lull with Hamas it will only be temporary. It is clear to everyone that such arrangement won’t hold for long, as Hamas does not accept our presence here. It says so openly. It needs time to organize and grow stronger, and once it has the power it will continue to target our citizens.
So what do we get out of it? Where is the wisdom here? Barak demands that Hamas pledge an end to arms smuggling. Does he want them to make a Boy Scout pledge to deepen their commitment, or does he trust their word, which isn’t worth a thing?
Buying some more time is important for Hamas. In that time it will acquire more weapons and more explosives, booby-trap the roads, and better prepare for a confrontation with Israel. But what will we gain from the time that is passing and being wasted, while our communities are being pulverized and deserted?
Barak’s empty threats infuriating
Thousands of years ago already, the Romans realized that when you are ready for battle and know it is unavoidable, it should not be postponed, because one cannot know what will happen tomorrow. It is better to engage in war within enemy territory rather than wait for it to reach our home. Today, there is understanding in the world to Israel’s need to defend itself. Who promises us that this freedom to maneuver will be maintained in the future?
Barak’s empty threats, which come after more and more civilians are hurt, are especially infuriating. It is good and important to display coolness and appear level-headed, but it cannot come at the expense of performance. A calm façade is not an action plan.
Safeguarding the lives of IDF soldiers is necessary, and it is better to see homes in Gaza razed than seeing our soldiers hurt. It is important to adopt all possible means in order to risk our troops as little as possible, yet it cannot go on like this.
The prime minister and his herd of ministers are not with us, it is unclear what they are doing, and they fail to understand that a failure to decide is also a form of decision – and a terrible one under the current circumstances.
Olmert is preoccupied with talks with the Syrians, who host, fund, and arm Hamas. He is involved in what’s going on in Sderot just about as much as Cinderella’s father was involved in treating his daughter fairly, or just like Snow White’s father safeguarded her.
Barak, who distinguished himself as a young officer, has failed in his handling of Palestinian terrorism as a prime minister, and instead of fighting it attempted to appease it, while the Intifada was raging in the territories. Even though he considers himself to be a very wise man, he failed to understand this was no time for talking, but rather, for actions. Is he failing to understand it again this time around?
