Daniel Ben Simon-12/06/2007

Daniel Ben Simon, (Haaretz)

"A bruised and divided Labor Party is limping to the finishing line.

As surprising as it may sound, the Israeli public will not hold its breath to find out who Labor's new (and temporary) leader is. Nor will the public be there to applaud him.

He will find journalists, politicians and a few party functionaries who have been busy for over a decade exhausting the party with a serial election plague that could destroy any normal party. Ehud Olmert, whose future as a prime minister is precarious, will also be there to lean on Labor's new leader.

Before Labor shriveled from a party of substance to a sectoral bazaar, the country used to hold its breath every time a leadership struggle was in the offing. Then indeed there were battles of giants. Not only was the fate of the nation at stake, but the future of the entire Middle East. It is not so long ago that thousands of members thronged to Labor conventions to hear impassioned debates on values and standards on ideas and programs.

Everything was personal even then, but the candidates knew how to wrap their political libido with an ideological cloak. Dozens of world leaders used to arrive at these conventions to follow the debates with earphones providing simultaneous translation."

"The great peace with Egypt was signed by Menachem Begin under Labor's nose and the daring pullout from Gaza was carried out by Ariel Sharon, without consulting it. Still, the public remembers it fondly for its glorious past, which brought about the establishment of Israel. Perhaps this is why, despite abusing itself - eight leaders in as many years - the public is still hoping for Labor to stop its whims and regain its senses.

This is the mission of the man who is elected tonight. He will have to rise above the factions and sectors blighting Labor and turn it into a functioning party. There is no reason in the world why after this heated, murky showdown, Ehud Barak and Ami Ayalon should not be able to create an alternative to the existing political leadership."

Back to top