March 14, 2013
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=4546
Bravo! After six tortuous weeks of horse trading, spins and hypocrisy, Israel has its 33rd government.
Most of us, not already having
written off our politicians, were thoroughly distressed that even during
this crucial period for Israel our elected representatives still spent
so much time in jockeying for personal or political benefit.
The principal beneficiaries
were Yesh Atid and Bayit Yehudi who set aside their major political
differences and made a pact to negotiate jointly towards the formation
of the government. They succeeded and thus foiled Binyamin Netanyahu’s
efforts to play them against each other, ultimately obliging him to
concede to their core demands.
The principal losers were the
haredi parties who, despite Netanyahu’s extraordinary efforts to retain
them, were excluded from the government. Reviled by most Israelis as
extortionists willing to sell their votes to the highest bidder and
seeking to impose the most stringent halachic interpretations on the
entire nation, their exclusion was greeted with enthusiasm.
The outcome may have been
different had they been more cooperative with respect to sharing the
burden, in particular in relation to conscription and encouraging their
youngsters to earn a livelihood, but they refused to concede an inch.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Shas’ spiritual mentor, even outraged the national
religious Bayit Yehudi leaders by calling them “goyim”. Their subsequent
behavior extending to vile threats by United Torah Judaism to boycott
settlement produce - alienated whatever lingering sympathy remained.
As anticipated, in this
government, Netanyahu will be in a weaker position and far more
dependent on his coalition partners than was the case in the past.
Yet, if he plays his cards
properly, this may prove to be a blessing in disguise. It could even
represent a new dawn and provide him with the unique opportunity of
stabilizing Israel’s global position and implementing crucial overdue
reforms in the social and economic arena that had been repeatedly vetoed
by the ultra-Orthodox groups.
Netanyahu’s ministerial team
includes some stunning new talent but unfortunately in some cases,
politics prevented the best people from assuming positions optimally
suited for them. Thus, Yair Lapid’s ascension to the Treasury is a huge
risk. He has no financial or business background and it is a major
gamble for a novice to take on such a role especially when he must
grapple with a massive opening deficit which will require resolute and
unpopular cutbacks.
The choice of Foreign Minister,
whose primary requirement must be to effectively promote Israel’s image
and articulate the government’s policies, is also problematic,
especially now as we confront such a hostile and biased world.
Liebermann is a capable and talented politician who could take on any
key ministry. But why does he insist on retaining the one portfolio in
which rightly or wrongly, he is regarded with hostility by most global
leaders?
The appointment of the
respected former IDF Chief of Staff, Moshe Ya’alon as Defense Minister,
will strengthen morale and signal to the Palestinians that they will pay
a heavy price if they resume missile launches or terrorist attacks.
But despite such shortcomings,
the presence of many talented young new faces augers well for the future
if the parties concentrate on working for the betterment of the nation
rather than scoring partisan political points.
Although the likelihood of
being obliged to formulate major or controversial decisions in relation
to the peace process is remote, the inclusion of Yesh Atid (and Tzipi
Livni who will now be marginalized) may somewhat ease the international
hostility against Israel by demonstrating that the government represents
a broad cross-section of Israelis rather than an inflexible right-wing
party.
Lapid is a genuine centrist
committed to a two state policy but supports the retention of the
settlement blocs, Ariel and a united Jerusalem. This would hardly
qualify him as a left-winger and Netanyahu should find him a kindred
spirit in relation to most issues.
Besides, the Palestinians will
undoubtedly maintain their intransigent attitude and refuse to negotiate
or if they did, Mahmoud Abbas would be unwilling to even minimally
compromise on any substantive issue.
The government’s most urgent
domestic challenge must be to introduce painful remedial measures to
ensure that our economy does not suffer a meltdown and follow the
disastrous example of many European countries.
It will take advantage of this
historic opportunity to deal with outstanding issues relating to
religion and the state, especially the profoundly emotional issue of
equalizing the burden in relation to the draft. In the latest
compromise, national service will become universal in gradual stages
over a five year period. Up to 2000 Yeshiva students will continue
receiving exemptions and state subsidies.
More importantly, all
subsidized education will be required to incorporate secular core
studies of math, English, civics and history, creating constructive
citizens who will seek gainful employment rather than subsisting on
welfare. Although haredim should be treated with courtesy and respect,
they will no longer be a law unto themselves and will be obliged to
share the burden as well as benefits of citizenship.
Today, for the first time in
decades, there are more religious Zionist than haredi MKs in the
Knesset. Bayit Yehudi has the opportunity of reversing the tide of
haredi domination of religious instrumentalities like the Chief
Rabbinate and promoting Zionist rabbis to occupy state roles, making
Judaism more attractive to non-observant Israelis by example rather than
coercion. They must ensure that conversion, marriage and divorce, and
other life cycle events are conducted with compassion by enlightened
rabbis who have the capacity to make Judaism more inclusive.
This government will amend the
electoral system and reduce the number of parties. It must also devise a
new method of selecting MKs and eradicate the current system of
primaries which is being abused and riddled with corrupt practices.
Despite the fact that Lapid has
introduced some talented new personnel into the Knesset, a system must
be devised in which Knesset candidates are not simply recruited
according to the predilections of individual party leaders . There is no
perfect democratic solution but a structure could be devised by which
elected party committees will subsequently preselect candidates and
avoid the abuse and corruption associated with the primaries.
There should also be an
arrangement whereby at least the majority of Knesset members are
directly accountable to those who elected them rather than to party
leaders.
Netanyahu must now set aside
party politics and act as a national leader, solely focused on governing
the country. He should not concern himself with the next election.
He has four critical years in
which basic decisions affecting the future of Israel may well be
determined. If he convinces his coalition partners to set aside the past
and cooperate to devise long term strategies, both in terms of the
peace process as well as implementing the long overdue domestic social,
economic and electoral reforms, he will establish a legacy that could
enable him to be regarded as one of the greatest leaders of the nation.
But to achieve this he must resolve to set aside the sleazy political
infighting and concentrate exclusively on serving the national interest.
If he fails to do so, the government’s life span will be extremely
limited.
The writer’s website can be viewed at www.wordfromjerusalem.com.He may be contacted at ileibler@leibler.com
This column was originally published in the Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom
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