by:
Jared Matas, Mazkir T’nua
On May 17th, 1999, the
Israeli electorate will go to the polls to chose who will lead their government
into the next century. Israel is at a critical turning point in its fifty-one
year history, making the outcome of this election hugely significant. With the
Israeli-Palestinian peace process at a stand-still, the secular-religious rift
as deep as ever, and tensions between ethnic groups also running high, the
country is clearly in need of new leadership. The Likud government of Benyamin
“Bibi” Netanyahu has been a disaster from start to finish. The fragile
Peace Process that Bibi inherited from the Rabin/Peres government has fallen
apart due to Bibi’s narrow-minded and distrustful attitude towards our
Palestinian partners. His cynical, self-serving political maneuvering as Prime
Minister have only encouraged other Israelis to seek the maximum benefit for
themselves or their specific religious or ethnic interests, to the detriment of
Israeli society as a whole. Bibi has also damaged relations with the U.S., our
greatest ally.
The emergence of prime ministerial
challengers Yitzhak Mordechai, a ‘centrist’ candidate, and right-winger Benny
Begin are further indicators that Netanyahu
has succeeded to not only aggravate his left-wing opponents, but also to
alienate his one-time supporters. Although Mordechai’s appeal to the
center of the political spectrum is appealing, the only idea that unifies
members of his Merkaz party is defeating Bibi. This is not enough of a vision
to lead a country. With the most recent polls suggesting One Israel candidate
Ehud Barak could win on the first round if Mordechai withdrew from the race and
endorsed him, Mordechai’s motivations suddenly seem a lot less pure.
This leaves us with only one alternative – Ehud
Barak is the best choice for prime minister in the up-coming Israeli elections.
The One Israel list, led by Barak, is a coalition of the Labour Party, David
Levy’s Gesher Party and Meimad, the moderate Orthodox Party. The Labour Party,
although not as progressive as we in Habonim Dror may wish, is clearly a more
genuine supporter of the rights of Palestinians than Likud. Barak is committed
to continuing the Rabin/Peres legacy of the Oslo Peace Process. He has stated
that the Palestinians need to be allowed to determine for themselves how they
want to define their sovereignty, allowing for the possibility of a Palestinian
state. He subscribes to the ideology that “high fences make good neighbours.”
We live in an age without heroes. It
is hard to proudly support any politician. However, it is clear to me that the
best choice in the up-coming Israeli election is Ehud Barak for Prime Minister.
I look forward to the next Israeli election,
when myself and other Garin 2000
members will be able to vote!