No Israeli Obama
Photo: AFP
No Israeli Obama, thankfully
Amos Carmel pleased that Israel does not have the right conditions for Obama equivalent
Barack Obama may end up curbing Iran's nuclear program via international sanctions and diplomatic efforts. He may also come up with an elegant way to pull American forces out of Iraq without gravely undermining the United States' prestige and without undermining regional stability.
Obama may also be able to extract the American economy from the quagmire it is currently struggling within and undertake many more miracles in respect to oil, the environment, and the standards of living. All of this may happen. However, until even a small part of the above-mentioned hopes materialize, we are allowed to say with a sigh of relief: Thankfully, there is no Israeli Obama.
We don't have an Obama because, first and foremost, we do not have the same past that grants America's president-elect its most prominent uniqueness – the first non-white to win the post. There are many flaws in the history of the Jewish community in the land of Israel and in the State of Israel's history, but we have no equivalent not only of the slavery era, but also of the horrifying phenomena that came in its wake.
With all the shameful injustices in our society, both past and present, we never had segregation laws around here that kept people out of restaurants and public washrooms and universities because of the color of their skin. Despite all the discrimination and political obstacles around here, there is no comparison between the representation afforded to minority groups during the 59 years in the Knesset and the fact that only five African-Americans have served in the US Senate in its 232 years.
What can we do, and how wonderful that this is the case, but the first non-Ashkenazi to be elected as prime minister here would not be able to ameliorate the sense of discomfort that prevailed in the US.
There is also no Israeli Obama because Hebrew is a language that does not provide speakers with the kind of verbal means utilized to promote the Obama phenomena. There is plethora of demagoguery and foolish words that can be uttered in Hebrew, but it is impossible to make use of utterly meaningless and catchy three-syllable slogans such as "Yes, We Can."
What can we do, and how wonderful that this is the case, but it is difficult to stir hope among Israelis by repeating hollow chants.
There is also no Israeli Obama because the American government system, on all its benefits and drawbacks, has not been adopted around here. We do not have a presidential system of government where the winner takes all. We do not have an elections arena where rhetorical skills and the ability to charm the masses carry such considerable weight.
What can we do, and how wonderful that this is the case, yet for the time being (and despite all the problems associated with Israel's government system,) we do not elect our leaders in a similar way to the selection of the winner of American Idol.
Moreover, there is no Obamania around here because we do not have the same sense of crisis that has overcome the US. Of course, we are facing plenty of existential troubles of our own, which are much graver than the ones faced by Americans. We also have plenty of worrisome question marks regarding the quality and abilities and resilience of premiership candidates here. We also have experience when it comes to failed protest votes that undermine public healthy. However, we still do not have the right conditions for enthusiastic belief in a savior that lacks any experience or actual plans. And that's a good thing too.
