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30 July 2012 By Stephen Lendman Shotgun weddings often produce
quick and/or ugly divorces. This one was no exception.
When announced, public outrage greeted it. So-called unity sounded more like
surrender. Secret talks arranged it. Israel's faux
democracy sustained another blow. What Likud's
Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima's Shaul Mofaz agreed to
came asunder. More on why below. On May 9, Knesset members voted
71 - 23 for a new unity government. Mofaz became
deputy prime minister. Netanyahu stayed head of
government. Mofaz served previously as IDF
Chief of General Staff. He also held various
ministerial posts. As former IDF head and defense
minister, he's indictable for crimes of war and
against humanity. He murdered thousands of
Palestinians. He participated in two wars against
Lebanon. Netanyahu has his own cross to
bear. He's a world class thug. Like Mofaz, he's guilty
of high crimes against peace. He's an embarrassment to
democratic government. He's surrounded by equally
hardline types. He and Mofaz made an inglorious pact. Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
said: "I have seen everything, but
nothing like this." No wonder increasing numbers of
Israelis call its political system "trash." Likely September elections were
cancelled. Kadima agreed to support Likud's policies
through late 2013. Only 12 of its 28 MKs showed up to
vote. Accord to MK Robert Tibayev: "We are entering the coalition
with no discussion, with four clauses in the
agreement," he said." I don't think there has ever
been a coalition deal with four clauses and nothing of
essence." Meretz party MK Zehava Gal-On
said "the prime minister was spooked by the settlers
in the Likud Central Committee, and Mofaz panicked
because of the polls that showed that his party is
vaporizing." Her colleague Nitzan Horowitz
asked "(w)hat are Israeli citizens supposed to
understand from" what's going on? Many Israelis deplored it. Public
rallies opposed it. In Tel Aviv, protesters
demonstrated under the slogan "All the People are
Opposition." Social activist MKs attended. Mofaz drew most anger. One sign
read "Mofaz is in the coalition. The people are in the
opposition." Confrontations erupted. Police made
arrests. After defeating Tzipi Livni for
Kadma leadership in March, Mofaz said "We are the
opposition. I will oppose Netanyahu." He also called
him and Ehud Barak a "couple that is dangerous to
Israel." Fast forward two months and he embraced
them. Washington and EU states endorsed
coalition unity. Officially the State Department
called it an internal matter. Privately it expressed
support. EU foreign policy/security
representative Catherine Ashton said it advances the
ball for peace talks. Former EU foreign policy head
Javier Solana called Netanyahu too hardline to achieve
it. Ten weeks after it was formed,
unity dissolved. Netanyahu lost a partner but retains
a solid majority. Kadima voted 24 - 3 to leave over
Netanyahu's failure to support new draft law changes. "Netanyahu has chosen to side
with the draft-dodgers," said Mofaz. "I have reached
an understanding that the prime minister has not left
us a choice and so we have responded." "(T)here is an attempt here to
bypass principles and confuse the public. It doesn't
fool me and it doesn't fool the public." In early July, both leaders met.
Mofaz warned Netanyahu about about dissolving unity.
At issue is regulations for drafting ultra-Orthodox
men. They include punishments against
anyone refusing to serve. Another rule involves how
long implementing an ultra-Orthodox draft program
would take. Talks broke down. Neither side would yield
enough. Chief Haredi Rabbi Chaim
Kanievsky rejected any law to draft Haredim. "Be
careful for your lives," he said. "Know for a fact
that the only reason the Jewish people merit existence
is the merit of the holy Torah students who have
nothing in their lives but the four cubits of halakha." "It has been simple and clear to
every Jew, from the moment we became a people, that
interfering with the purity of those studying in the
holy yeshivas and introducing them to foreign ideas,
God forbid, presents a grave danger." Eida Haredit is an anti-Zionist
ultra-Orthodox umbrella group. It demonstrated against
drafting Haredim. Posters announced it in advance
declaring "At a time of religious persecution and
decrees, no person dare stay home." Moderate Haredim presented its
own proposal to replace the Tal Law. It exempts
yeshiva students subject to specific conditions. At
age 22, they could choose between one-year civil
service or a shortened 16-month military obligation
and future reserve duty. The existing law failed to boost
ultra-Orthodox enlistments. Only a few dozen joined
Israel's army. In February 2012, the High Court of
Justice ruled it unconstitutional. It expires in
August. Debate centers on replacing it. Moderate Haredim believe
"military service is critical to preserving the state,
and civilian service is crucial to sustaining
society." "Anyone who isn't studying Torah
must serve. Such service must be compensated and
non-service must carry a price." In early July, talks produced
political deadlock. On July 11, Mofaz convened Kadima
members. Policy going forward was discussed. Likud
Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Kadima MK
Yohanan Plesner disagreed strongly. Mofaz told party members "(w)e
are at a crucial moment, and if we do not introduce a
bill in the government meeting we will not be able to
maintain this partnership." On July 9, Ya'alon and Plesner
planned a new bill introduction. Disagreement remained
over ultra-Orthodox men draft regulations. Netanyahu
said he'll only support a new measure if it applies to
all Israeli citizens. It must include Haredim and Arab
citizens, he said. Before Mofaz scuttled unity,
Netanyahu submitted a new legislative proposal. It
aimed to equalize military service. His attorney,
David Shimron sent it to Alon Gellert. He represents
Kadima. Provisions exclude drafting
Haredim past age 23. At the same time, they'd get
incentives for enlisting at age 18. Those opting out
would perform operational civil service functions. It
includes firefighting, police and Prison Service
duty. Mofaz rejected the proposal,
saying: "Netanyahu's proposal contradicts
the ruling of the High Court of Justice, does not
conform to the principle of equality, is
disproportionate and does not meet the tests of
effectiveness that are set down in the High Court's
ruling, or the principles of the committee on
equalizing the burden of IDF service." "Let's make this clear: We are
referring to enlistment targets that do not include
all of those eligible for the draft, and we are
therefore countenancing a 'word- laundering' that in
effect leaves the situation as it was." Another senior Kadima official
called the proposal "rubbish." It's the same one sent
before, he said. Eleventh hour talks resolved nothing.
Breaking up was simple as saying goodbye. Likud/Kadima unity mocked
democratic values. Dissolution shamed them further.
Coalition governments are commonplace. This one
differed from others. Moments before the Knesset
planned to schedule September elections, Netanyahu and
Mofaz announced a "historic" agreement. Four goals were announced. They
included adopting a universal draft law, changing
Israel's system of government, restarting the peace
process, and passing an emergency budget. Ten weeks of
unity brought divorce. No objective was achieved. Both sides look bad. They're more
at odds than ever. Mofaz claimed good intentions. The
road to hell reached dead end. Days before
dissolution, signs showed it was coming. Likud
Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Mofaz was
planning to bolt. It's imminent, he said.
Disbanding the Plesner Equalizing the Burden committee
cinched it. Mofaz postponed his announcement until
after Hillary Clinton's visit. He didn't meet her. He
knew he was returning to opposition status. Friction with Netanyahu went
beyond draft law provisions. Senior Kadima members
said former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked party
officials to remain in coalition partnership until
fall. Perhaps his remaining legal
issues will be resolved by them. Some believe he hopes
to return to political life. If so, he'll challenge
Mofaz for Kadima leadership. Bolting coalition unity
had Olmert's ambitions in mind. Mofaz hopes it increases party
strength. Failure to accomplish anything in 10 weeks
suggests otherwise. Likud greeted his announcement
saying "goodbye and we will not meet again." Expect
new elections sometime between late 2012 and fall
2013. Political insiders say Mofaz is
finished. He partnered with Likud. He held on for 10
weeks, and accomplished nothing. He returns to
opposition status without influence. He'll claim he held firm to
principles. Others call him weak and ineffective.
Instead of distancing himself from hardline ideology,
he joined it. He succeeded only in delaying elections
until late this year or next. Kadima rivals got more
time to oppose him. What's next for Netanyahu remains
uncertain. Social justice protesters deplore him. They
demand he resign. If they marshal greater support,
perhaps they and other Israelis will force him out for
someone else. Likud, Kadima, Labor, or new
centrist party leadership hardly matters. Israel
remains hardline, belligerent, and repressive. Arab
citizens have no rights. They and most Jews chafe under
neoliberal harshness. Instead of improving conditions,
they're worsening. Malcolm X once said "I see
America through the eyes of the victim. I don't see
any American dream - I see an American nightmare." Israelis face similar harshness.
Remaining rights are eroding en route to being lost
altogether. Populist change demands sustained public
rage. Nothing else can work. Stephen Lendman lives in
Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is
titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War" http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished
guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the
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