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Ophir Miller

Mofaz is the right choice

Combination of defense experience, social sensitivity makes Mofaz best choice for PM

A month ago we marked the second anniversary of the Second Lebanon War. The war’s outcome and the way it was managed prompted 20 of us, officers and reserve soldiers, to get together. We decided that we no longer want to stay out of the game – we can and want to have an influence. We chose to do this within the Kadima party, a centrist faction with a large, diverse basis that committed itself to a different kind of politics. This is how our reservists’ forum was established.

 

So far we enlisted hundreds of friends to help us in this mission. At this time, we are about to decide who the most suitable person is for leading the party and the State of Israel in the coming years. We have four excellent candidates, yet at the end of the day we need to choose one of them – we must not gamble or make a mistake here.

 

The State of Israel is facing existential threats. On the security front we have Hizbullah in the north, Hamas in the south, and the Iranian bomb in the east. On the economic front we are being told about an imminent recession. The next prime minister will have to take highly important decisions that will affect the country’s future.

 

The PM is alone at the top. Despite the many advisors, aides, commentators, and friends, at the end of the day he is the only one who makes the decisions. Therefore, the prime minister’s background, experience, and judgment are of paramount importance here, for better or worse. In light of the above, we have decided to choose Shaul Mofaz.

 

Anyone who meets Mofaz cannot ignore his simplicity, modesty, the fact that he does not talk down to anyone, and his to-the-point response to any question. Yet all this does not make one a worthy prime minister, just like being an uncorrupt person does not make one a better PM.

 

One of us

The fact that makes Mofaz worthier than the other candidates is of course his wealth of defense and diplomatic experience. Mofaz, who managed the Israel Defense Forces, commanded over operation Defensive Shield with great success, and accumulated vast experience as defense minister, would be able to grant us the required peace of mind, and at times of crisis take the truly important decisions – he would be able to do that based on his personal experience, without requiring various advisors to explain to him things he has been familiar with throughout his life.

 

Yet beyond his military experience, Mofaz has another advantage. As a new immigrant who grew up in a development town and served the State of Israel throughout his adult life, among other things as chief of staff and defense minister, he is connected to all strata of society and is able to bridge the gaps within it.

 

About a year ago I addressed the Jewish community in Los Angeles regarding business in Israel. Among other things, I was asked about my military service. Those present were unable to grasp how I can leave my wife and child behind, as well as the office and legal cases piling up, and proceed to defend the country for a miniscule financial reward. To my regret, bearing this burden is not taken for granted within Israeli society, and for us reservists it’s very important that the person who heads the government will be one of us – we want him to be able to take care of all strata in the country, and most importantly, we want him to be able to utilize us wisely and prudently.

 

The combination of defense experience and social sensitivity makes Shaul Mofaz the worthiest candidate, and my candidate for the party’s leadership and for Israel’s premiership.

 

The writer is a lecturer at Ben-Gurion University’s Management Faculty and the chairman of the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit’s non-profit group

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.03.08, 18:01
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