Op-ed: Prime minister would be wise to stay away from Ehud Barak, stop Likud’s slide leftward
By Yoel Meltzer, YNET
Following the recent announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he will run for president of the Likud Convention, the future of the current Likud has suddenly been thrown in the air. For in spite of its somewhat colorful history, this is the first time that a current Likud PM has attempted to grab control of this key decision-making institution, a move that in effect further neutralizes the influence of Likud Central Committee members.
The motive given by Netanyahu for this unprecedented move is to thwart the alleged intention of the newly elected Central Committee to cancel Likud primaries and in doing so restore the task of selecting Knesset members to the Central Committee itself.
However, this assumption is tenuous. Central Committee members clearly understand that any move aimed at allowing internal party hacks to once again have the power to choose MKs is akin to political suicide: Rival parties will portray the Likud as going back to its corrupt old ways; Likud rank and file members will feel bitter for being pushed aside and losing their recently acquired power to decide; the Israeli media will have a field day ripping apart the Likud.
Thus it’s far more likely that the real reason for the unorthodox move by the PM has nothing to do with the Likud primaries and everything to do with the highly unpopular Ehud Barak. More specifically, it appears that Netanyahu wants to use the convention to pass a resolution that will allow him to have a few reserved slots for the people of his choice in the next party list.
This way, should Likud win the next national election, Netanyahu can bring these people – assumed by nearly everyone to be either Ehud Barak and his small Independence Party or Ehud Barak and some anticipated Kadima defectors – unimpeded into the Likud.
Will Bibi ostracize voters?
Such a plan, however, is certain to backfire as outside of the PM himself, most members in the current right-wing nationalist coalition, including the majority of Netanyahu’s own Likud party, are not exactly fans of Ehud Barak. His Oslo ideology and harsh stance against Jews living in Judea and Samaria perpetually irks nearly every Likud MK and, by extension, most Likud voters.
Hence, for many people it is both perplexing and irritating that Netanyahu not only continues to support Barak but even gives him free reign to do as he pleases, rather than simply ousting him as defense minister and giving the position to someone like former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon.
In a similar vein, albeit in the opposite direction, three years ago many potential Likud voters were turned off by Netanyahu’s incessant attacks on Moshe Feiglin and the apparent monkey business in having Feiglin knocked down from the 20th to 36th slot following the 2009 primaries. This in turn was one of the reasons that led to the Likud plummeting in the polls prior to the last elections, as the average Likud voter prefers a party that is full of genuine right-wing candidates to one that is constantly trying to improve its image by moving leftward.
Will Netanyahu make the same mistake again, in this case by doing everything possible to magically transform Ehud Barak into a Likudnik and in the process ostracize many potential voters? If so, it’s doubtful that this time around he will be rewarded with a second chance in the same manner as he was in 2009 when he was asked to form a coalition only after Tzipi Livni and the victorious Kadima party failed in their own attempt.
In the final analysis, it’s only Bibi, and not Tzipi or Yair or anyone else, who can stop the Likud and the Right from winning the next election and forming another right-wing nationalist coalition. Which way will he go?
Stanley, I am not betraying my own religion. The Vatican is not infallible in this matter. Why is it necessary they have control.
The religious sites are in safe hands with Israel in control.
The Vatican has no business siding with the PLO.
The Vatican should use it’s energy in removing the pedophile priest who give the church a black eye. I realize they are attracted to the church, hiding behind the celibacy shield however, the screening process is broken down and when they were discovered instead of removing them they were shuttled around to other parishes. They already have cost the church billions. The good pries suffer and vocations are down.
The Vatican needs to get their priorities straight and not worry about the Holy sites, they are in good hands with the Israelis.
Lets remove the pedophile priest and the anti-Semites from the church, that would make G-d happy.
Russian Compound
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Israel gave up all of Sinai for a Flag on a Building in Cairo. What country wins 5 wars, returns territorial gains, and pleads for Peace?
Russia still occupies The Japanese Kuril Islands and refuses to return them to Japan.
Voltaire a wise Jew Hater, commented that: “Were the Jews ever to regain their national sovereignty, they would sell it”
Yamit. Correct me if I am wrong, but hasn’t Bibi also handed over to the Russians recently a very important building in Jerusalem – for absolutely nothing in return!
That one took my breath away. The superpower that has armed Israel’s enemies in most of its wars. And who some (including me) thinks leads the Gog and Magog invasion gets prize real estate for nothing. Sorry. But I can’t think of any other country that would do something like that.
I don’t know what your faith is Stanley? But two of the most respected figures in mine are Martin Luther and Jean Calvin. Part of the reason they are held in such high esteem is because they betrayed their own faith.
Ron is a great bloke. He is an Evangelical in denial.
There you go again betraying your own religion. How do you expect to be respected with such an attitude?
Yamit, you are right on. The Vatican is all wet. The Vatican should not even recognize the PLO.
Jerusalem should not be a divided city or an international zone. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel a sovereign Jewish Nation.
The Holy sites are in good hands and there should be only one flag over the city, the Star of David. Christians and Catholics alike have complete access to the sites and there is no reason for the Vatican to take that position.
BB is a Jewish traitor!
Several days ago, Israel/BB, gave up to the Vatican some sovereignty over the “Hall of the Last Supper” on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the complex of buildings where David, Solomon, and Jewish kings of Judea, are said to be buried, although that is contested. Read More
The Real Netanyahu
Is he defending Israel?
Historical and Investigative Research – 18 July, 2010
by Francisco Gil-White
http://www.hirhome.com/israel/netanyahu_eng.htm
__________________________________
Ed
This is something you yourself can do.
When you want to make the font larger in a page you are looking at,hold down the “ctrl” key and click on the + key a few times until the desired size is achieved.
Bibi
We are in a period of time where there are not any leaders (in all the democratic world)capable to lead without too many compromises, in such a way as to swim against the same current which, brought the would be leader to power.
When the main interest is to stay in power and the ideology for which he owes his election is neglected, you get a CEO whose principal interest is to be good to his fellow colleagues and to rest in power like “Divide et impera” (divide and rule). The real problem is that there are not in view any postulants better than him (potential leaders).
The times when the interest of the people (the whole) and its country, was the most elevated value are gone, at least for this generation.
There is only one way to see Netanyahu change. It is to change him out and elect someone trustworthy in his place.
As a former Central Committee member who resigned a few months back, I can assure one and all that the fellow in a chamaleon without any true Jewish interests orientation at all. After a while many come to realize that his pompous ass attitude is only that. Not a word emanating from him can be believed.
He did vote for “disengagement” solidly. That is the key marker. (Forget the choreagraphed one vote after the fact against it).
Netanyahu WILL do his best to destroy or abandon Jewish Icons. He will continue to activate the psychopaths that Sharon and Ezra set up and attack and destroy only Jewish homes and families. He just added Ma’arat Hamachpela and Kever Rachel to his “disengaging”. The fellow is bad news all around.
IRAN! He has done nothing of relevance in all his years as PM, six or so. What does that tell you? James Bondish BS is not it my friends. No true acts have been effected to neutralize Iran in 25 years of which six are his. The longest of all active PM’s.
After he returns for Washington the ultimate betrayal will show up
He is coming to Canada on March 2nd. Hopefully he gets an eye opener and realizes that his decisions not only affect Israelis but all Jews worldwide. In some ways its safer to be in Israel. But, the big question. Are ALL Jews being called to move back to the homeland at this time OR is there a reason why half the Jews are still living outside of Israel?
Ed,
I have no trouble reading Israpundit. The problem might be with your settings.
1. Which browser are you using (such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc)
2. What size are the fonts you see? For a comparison,
(a) Open Start> All Programs> Accessories> Notepad,
(b) and click the “Format” tab.
(c) Select a font size that looks like what you see on the Israpundit page, and
(d) tell us what it is.
If we know these things, someone here should be able to help you.
PLEASE, PLEASE, MAKE THE TYPE LARGER SO THAT ISRAPUNDIT CAN BE READ. sPACE ON THE SCREEN DOES NOT COST MORE.
Yea of course he’ll “err” again. Although its obvious what Bibi is doing. He is surrounding himself with people that are so politically weak like Barak, so that they will be grateful and loyal to him only in order to keep himself in power. Bibi has always been a leftist, but one could argue, that the old guard in Likud are just as bad. Bibi shook Arafat’s hand, gave away Hevron, froze construction of yishuvim, endorsed an Arab State on Jewish land, attacks Feiglin at every opportunity, gave in to the socialist demands of the protesters this summer, gives into the unions, and appoints Barak as his DM. If it looks like a leftist, sounds like leftist, and acts like a leftist, its a leftist. But I think Bibi has overreached with the Central Committee in his bid to be the dictator of Likud. I think Danny Danon will become the president of the central committee, which poses a big problem for Bibi, as he won’t be able to get his old army buddy Barak in the door.