Ariel Sharon is a most curious politician. The only one I can think of who consistently runs from almost certain victory.
Two years ago he was elected prime minister in one of the great landslides in the history of democracy. But his ascendancy was also a product of Barak?s cynical parliamentary maneuver which left the Knesset intact, replete with the remnants of the disastrous Oslo era. Rather than ride the wave and dissolve the Knesset at the moment of his election, Sharon thanked Barak for his gift and promptly made the malfeasant Oslo architects senior ministers, part and parcel of his own government, under the rubric of ?unity.?
Now, more deaths and casualties later than anyone cares to count, Sharon?s ?unity? has been finally shattered over a budget item that represents only a miniscule fraction of the total, but represents the totality of Israel?s ideological divide ? the presence of Jews on Jewish land. If I read the mood of Israel correctly the Left would seem to have just shot themselves in the foot and handed Sharon a politician?s dream: new elections that would almost certainly see him leading a government of kindred spirits free of leftwing illusions and the weighty baggage of the Oslo failure. But with Ariel Sharon things are never so simple.
Instead of rushing into the arms of an electorate waiting to strengthen his hand, Sharon is again leaning toward his weakest option, a fragile government patched together with the fractious smaller parties to his right. Let?s be blunt. This is suspicious behavior, and considering the stakes ? the future of the Jewish State ? we need to be clear about that.
In the first instance, it?s reasonable to assume that this is the way Sharon wants it. The general knows it?s much easier to manipulate frail, disparate groups and play one against the other than it is to deal with the demands of large, powerful blocs. Divide and conquer is a fundamental tenet of military strategy. But it?s a tactic to be used against an enemy, not your own people.
The bottom line is, up to this point Sharon has given us nothing but cheap politics. That?s a dime a dozen. Israel is at war and what she needs badly is leadership. And time is of the essence. Coming developments in the Mideast could upset everyone's calculations. Bush's Iraq expedition (Sharon?s current excuse for inaction) might be stalled in the UN for many months. After it's over, America might show a very different face to Israel. Meanwhile, every day passes with Israelis, Jews, being murdered by Arabs in their own beds and buses. Wait and drift any longer and a really strange thing could happen: leftwing delusions might start looking good again.
Perhaps Sharon still has it in him, but it remains to be seen. One thing is certain, though. He won?t jump, he?ll have to be pushed. The so-called Nationalists, the single-digit parties, must live up to their billing as Jewish patriots. They must refuse to participate in the latest ?unity? charade, bite the bullet and give up their Volvos. They have to force Sharon?s hand and keep him honest. It?s time the leaders of Israel acted like menschen. It?s time to go to the polls.
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Dovid Ben Chaim is a writer living in New York. He can be reached at dovidbenchaim@myway.com.
Two years ago he was elected prime minister in one of the great landslides in the history of democracy. But his ascendancy was also a product of Barak?s cynical parliamentary maneuver which left the Knesset intact, replete with the remnants of the disastrous Oslo era. Rather than ride the wave and dissolve the Knesset at the moment of his election, Sharon thanked Barak for his gift and promptly made the malfeasant Oslo architects senior ministers, part and parcel of his own government, under the rubric of ?unity.?
Now, more deaths and casualties later than anyone cares to count, Sharon?s ?unity? has been finally shattered over a budget item that represents only a miniscule fraction of the total, but represents the totality of Israel?s ideological divide ? the presence of Jews on Jewish land. If I read the mood of Israel correctly the Left would seem to have just shot themselves in the foot and handed Sharon a politician?s dream: new elections that would almost certainly see him leading a government of kindred spirits free of leftwing illusions and the weighty baggage of the Oslo failure. But with Ariel Sharon things are never so simple.
Instead of rushing into the arms of an electorate waiting to strengthen his hand, Sharon is again leaning toward his weakest option, a fragile government patched together with the fractious smaller parties to his right. Let?s be blunt. This is suspicious behavior, and considering the stakes ? the future of the Jewish State ? we need to be clear about that.
In the first instance, it?s reasonable to assume that this is the way Sharon wants it. The general knows it?s much easier to manipulate frail, disparate groups and play one against the other than it is to deal with the demands of large, powerful blocs. Divide and conquer is a fundamental tenet of military strategy. But it?s a tactic to be used against an enemy, not your own people.
The bottom line is, up to this point Sharon has given us nothing but cheap politics. That?s a dime a dozen. Israel is at war and what she needs badly is leadership. And time is of the essence. Coming developments in the Mideast could upset everyone's calculations. Bush's Iraq expedition (Sharon?s current excuse for inaction) might be stalled in the UN for many months. After it's over, America might show a very different face to Israel. Meanwhile, every day passes with Israelis, Jews, being murdered by Arabs in their own beds and buses. Wait and drift any longer and a really strange thing could happen: leftwing delusions might start looking good again.
Perhaps Sharon still has it in him, but it remains to be seen. One thing is certain, though. He won?t jump, he?ll have to be pushed. The so-called Nationalists, the single-digit parties, must live up to their billing as Jewish patriots. They must refuse to participate in the latest ?unity? charade, bite the bullet and give up their Volvos. They have to force Sharon?s hand and keep him honest. It?s time the leaders of Israel acted like menschen. It?s time to go to the polls.
--------------------------------------------
Dovid Ben Chaim is a writer living in New York. He can be reached at dovidbenchaim@myway.com.