Before you vote
Nahum Barnea analyzes Kadima primaries, urges voters to go with their heart, gut
Dear Kadima
voter,
We can assume that you appreciated Sharon – otherwise it is doubtful whether you would join the party he established. Sharon led a government that was able to cope, both security-wise and economically, with the worst terror wave in the nation’s history. However, you also remember the disengagement from Gaza. Sharon’s insistence on a unilateral move accelerated Hamas’
Gaza takeover. You don’t miss the Qassam rockets.
A moment before you arrive at the polling station, try to recall when was the last time you missed a prime minister. It was, most likely, in November 1995, and this is true only if you arrived at Kadima from the Labor Party. After that we had Peres’ short and failed term in office, followed by Netanyahu and Barak – God forbid.
Primary Day
Attila Somfalvi
Ruling party's 114 ballots open nationwide, candidates cast their votes at their hometowns. Livni calls on 'everyone to come and vote,' Mofaz predicts 'a good ending to this evening.' Sheetrit: I have a great feeling. Dichter: Polls have been proven false in the past
And then came Ehud Olmert, and then came the war. There is no reason to miss the war, or the corruption probes that eliminated any chance Olmert may have had to lead a positive change in the state of the country. He sank so low that no successful operation or brilliant move, and there were some of those, could bring him back up.
When Olmert became PM he possessed more political experience than Livni and Mofaz have today. He was more articulate and more sophisticated. Sharon became PM boasting a more prolific military and political career than Mofaz or Dichter, and his old age protected him against hastiness. Barak and Netanyahu excited us more, the former because of his distinguish performance in an elite army unit, and the latter because of his distinguished performance at the United Nations. Yet this didn’t help them much once they entered the Prime Minister’s Office.
It is not their predecessors who overshadow Kadima’s current leadership candidates, but rather, the problems faced by the country, which seem too much for them to handle. But let’s not go there yet: Even before the winner has a chance to address the country’s problems, he will have to convince a series of opportunistic, cynical politicians who are only focused on their own fleeting interests to join the coalition. This mission will require slyness, determination, political experience, and personal connections that the Kadima candidates lack (Meir Sheetrit has something to offer on this front, but he won’t win today.)
Strong supporting cast needed
The two leading candidates have made it to the finish line without a team that would help them in leading the country – should they get to do it. The question of the team should concern you, Kadima voter, no less than the questions regarding the political, or security, or social principles of each one of them. Anyone who thinks that the job of prime minister is a one-man show is wrong and misleads others.
Rabin, Peres, and Sharon built a successful team that did well following them (and at times walked in front of them.) Netanyahu and Barak chose aides that made them fail all along the way. The talent of choosing good people and nurturing their loyalty is the first trait required of a prime minister (sadly, candidate Avi Dichter thinks otherwise.)
It is doubtful whether you bothered, Kadima voter, to closely review the answers provided by the four candidates during the endless interviews they submitted to ahead of the primaries. You know the differences between them: Mofaz does not believe in final-status agreements with the Palestinians or with Syria, but supports negotiations; Livni believes in agreements, as long as they do not include a right of return to Israel. She is willing to pay the territorial price, but she’s not rushing. Mofaz opposes a wide-scale Gaza operation; Dichter is in favor; Sheetrit is the most dovish among the candidates. He believes that peace is an arm’s length away.
Political views are a flexible matter. A hawk can turn into a complete dove (see Shimon Peres and Ehud Olmert.) A person who believes in annexation can order evacuation (See Begin, Netanyahu, and Sharon.) What makes the difference is the instinct: Mofaz and Dichter would approach any diplomatic initiative with suspicion; Livni and Sheetrit will look for its positive aspects.
Much has been said during this campaign about the phone that would ring at 3 am. Yet when we are talking about candidates who have not fully matured yet, the question of what one will do when the phone rings is a trap. At times, the wise thing is not to do a thing. Hastiness is the great enemy of rookie prime ministers.
For you, Kadima voter, there is only conclusion: Go with your heart and your gut. Everything that the union head or clan leader babbled about when he spoke to you is irrelevant. We are talking about your country. We are talking about you. If you don’t vote for the candidate you prefer, who will?
