It?s a stock sci-fi plot, one of the oldest in the book. The evil extraterrestrial takes over the body of a normal human and in that form carries out its nefarious mission on earth. But there?s always a catch. In the process, the ET consumes the very body it requires for sustenance and must continually move on to fresh flesh in order to stay alive. It?s during this period, when it is searching for a new host, that the beast is most vulnerable and the suspense is greatest. It?s all such fun because we know, eventually, the ugly creature will be exposed, outfoxed, cornered and destroyed. And besides, it?s imaginary, a far-fetched story.
Perhaps that?s why Israel?s directors and authors produce so little of the science fiction genre. In Israel, science fiction of that sort isn?t entertainment, it?s real life. The body politic is often inhabited by strange beings moving surreptitiously from one side to the other, and as a consequence, from day to day and election to election, it?s impossible to explain the behavior of any of Israel?s leaders. What?s more, in the hardscrabble political fields of the Holy Land, these peculiar animals have grown especially hardy and, even after 55 years, some are still on the loose. Truly scary stuff.
Right now, the iniquitous Left and its alien ideology, previously thought dead and buried in the year 2000, have found new life in the roomy frame of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. There certainly is no lack of space or that which to eat there, so it looks like the monster is settling in for a lengthy stay.
Thus, Mr. Sharon (and an unknown number of his inner circle) has become occupied territory himself, and has of late been making awkward, involuntary sounds and gestures that strike many observers as a bad impersonation of Yossi Beilin, who was last seen slithering out of the lifeless body of Ehud Barak and searching for a new home.
At the same time, the police are questioning Mr. Sharon and members of his family in connection with possible political bribes and other misdeeds. But the investigation is expected to go nowhere, because the authorities are not sure if they are talking to the same Sharon who came to power only a few years ago.
The average Israeli must be similarly confused. And who can blame him? Only recently he overwhelmingly voted into office "Sharon the Hardliner", only to wake up the next day and read odd news accounts like this:
Sharon: Israel Set for Palestinian Talks
Thu Oct 30, 5:56 PM ET
Associated Press
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday he is ready to negotiate with the new Palestinian prime minister at any time, but U.S. officials took a tougher stance, saying the Palestinians first must "confront terror and violence."
Weird doings indeed. When the American president takes a tougher line on Israel?s enemies than the "hawkish" Israeli prime minister, you can be certain one of them has been possessed.
But it gets stranger still. A right-wing government is starting to shut down right-wing media. As readers of these pages know all too well, Arutz Sheva, the only consistent nationalist voice in Israel ("the only democracy in the Mideast") has just been forced to end its live radio programming, and the Internet site that you are visiting now is the subject of a new, politically motivated attack, too. Ehud Olmert, usually labeled a "hardliner" and often mentioned as Sharon?s choice to succeed him, is the Minister of Communications and has yet to lift a finger in Arutz Sheva?s defense. This leads me to believe yet another prominent right-wing body has been snatched.
A while ago, shortly after Oslo blew up in Israel?s face, Zalman Shoval, the prominent Likudnik and formerly Israel's ambassador to the United States, wrote in the Jerusalem Post that the Israeli Left was the first fatality of the Oslo War. I wrote him and cautioned that his assessment might be premature and, while the National Camp might now have better things to do than upbraid Yael Dayan from the back bench, he should never take such people?s political demise for granted, or ever consider it final. He was kind enough to send back a very nice letter reassuring me that the starry-eyed politicians of Labor and Meretz had finally run out of steam.
Evidently, in our faith, resurrection is reserved only for the righteous.
I think it?s time I got in touch with my pal Zalman again. I haven?t heard from him lately and I?m quite concerned. This Thing is spreading like wildfire and I really want to know if he?s still feeling like his old self these days.
Perhaps that?s why Israel?s directors and authors produce so little of the science fiction genre. In Israel, science fiction of that sort isn?t entertainment, it?s real life. The body politic is often inhabited by strange beings moving surreptitiously from one side to the other, and as a consequence, from day to day and election to election, it?s impossible to explain the behavior of any of Israel?s leaders. What?s more, in the hardscrabble political fields of the Holy Land, these peculiar animals have grown especially hardy and, even after 55 years, some are still on the loose. Truly scary stuff.
Right now, the iniquitous Left and its alien ideology, previously thought dead and buried in the year 2000, have found new life in the roomy frame of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. There certainly is no lack of space or that which to eat there, so it looks like the monster is settling in for a lengthy stay.
Thus, Mr. Sharon (and an unknown number of his inner circle) has become occupied territory himself, and has of late been making awkward, involuntary sounds and gestures that strike many observers as a bad impersonation of Yossi Beilin, who was last seen slithering out of the lifeless body of Ehud Barak and searching for a new home.
At the same time, the police are questioning Mr. Sharon and members of his family in connection with possible political bribes and other misdeeds. But the investigation is expected to go nowhere, because the authorities are not sure if they are talking to the same Sharon who came to power only a few years ago.
The average Israeli must be similarly confused. And who can blame him? Only recently he overwhelmingly voted into office "Sharon the Hardliner", only to wake up the next day and read odd news accounts like this:
Sharon: Israel Set for Palestinian Talks
Thu Oct 30, 5:56 PM ET
Associated Press
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday he is ready to negotiate with the new Palestinian prime minister at any time, but U.S. officials took a tougher stance, saying the Palestinians first must "confront terror and violence."
Weird doings indeed. When the American president takes a tougher line on Israel?s enemies than the "hawkish" Israeli prime minister, you can be certain one of them has been possessed.
But it gets stranger still. A right-wing government is starting to shut down right-wing media. As readers of these pages know all too well, Arutz Sheva, the only consistent nationalist voice in Israel ("the only democracy in the Mideast") has just been forced to end its live radio programming, and the Internet site that you are visiting now is the subject of a new, politically motivated attack, too. Ehud Olmert, usually labeled a "hardliner" and often mentioned as Sharon?s choice to succeed him, is the Minister of Communications and has yet to lift a finger in Arutz Sheva?s defense. This leads me to believe yet another prominent right-wing body has been snatched.
A while ago, shortly after Oslo blew up in Israel?s face, Zalman Shoval, the prominent Likudnik and formerly Israel's ambassador to the United States, wrote in the Jerusalem Post that the Israeli Left was the first fatality of the Oslo War. I wrote him and cautioned that his assessment might be premature and, while the National Camp might now have better things to do than upbraid Yael Dayan from the back bench, he should never take such people?s political demise for granted, or ever consider it final. He was kind enough to send back a very nice letter reassuring me that the starry-eyed politicians of Labor and Meretz had finally run out of steam.
Evidently, in our faith, resurrection is reserved only for the righteous.
I think it?s time I got in touch with my pal Zalman again. I haven?t heard from him lately and I?m quite concerned. This Thing is spreading like wildfire and I really want to know if he?s still feeling like his old self these days.