Olmert. A serious, reserved man
צילום: רויטרס
Winograd lessons in Gaza
Man who addressed nation Saturday looked nothing like Lebanon War’s PM
The man who appeared at the press conference Saturday night looked nothing like the man who spoke to us in July 2006, at the start of the Second Lebanon War. Something fundamental was missing this time around: The arrogance. The over-confidence. We can even say that the hastiness was missing.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was a serious, reserved man, who learned that some situations call for modesty and humility. Even the absence of a colorful tie screamed of change. The same was true of the PM’s words: They lacked the pathos that characterized the beginning of his term in office, the grandiose promises on the eve of the Second Lebanon War, and the presentation of ambitious goals that could crash in the face of the harsh reality. In other words: It was a speech devoid of haughtiness.
In simple, clear words, Olmert explained the operation’s objective: Enabling southern residents to live a normal life. He also addressed Gaza residents and Gilad Shalit’s family – he merely addressed them, without promising a thing or obligating to a thing. My heart is with you, he said. How simple. How accurate. How appropriate.
There was something calming about the joint appearance of the prime minister, defense minister, and foreign minister. There was a feeling this was different than the amateurism that took place here two and a half years ago, when people who lacked experience, not to mention a sense of responsibility, led Israel into an adventure whose ending was etched well into our conscience.
Who can forget the arrogant promise of then-Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who said that Nasrallah will remember his name? Yet what distinguished the haughty Olmert of the past from the reserved Olmert of today is a thick document: The Winograd Report.
Barak can be big winner, or loser
It appears that there is consensus across the political establishment, ranging from the Right to Meretz, that this operation had to be launched, and that the situation in the south could not continue for even one more day. The heads of all Zionist parties formed a united front Saturday in support of the government, and even announced that their elections campaign are on hold.
The campaigns may not dissipate completely, yet the negative campaigns will be put away, and we shall see calm prevail in respect to the mutual mudslinging that was expected to go up a notch this week.
We already know that it would be impossible to separate the results of the operation from its implications on the elections. Netanyahu and Livni are going to take a backseat in the coming days or weeks. This is mostly going to be the show of one man, who up until yesterday starred in satire programs. The man who has been telling us on billboards across the nation that he is not friendly, not trendy, and not pleasant, yet has promised us that he is a leader.
That man, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, can be the big winner in this operation – or the big loser. Failure or success will be ascribed to him. Should the operation prove successful, it may significantly change his public standing and the level of popular support he enjoys. Yet should he fail – oh well, he can’t sink much lower than where he is now.
