Israel's Current Political Ferment

"As Israeli Elections Are Called, Livni Is Assessed"
A8, Monday 10/27/08
By Isabel Kershner

This is an accurate and informative article about Israel’s early elections and possible political fallout. After failing to form a governing coalition, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was forced to ask President Shimon Peres to declare early elections. This was broadcast live from Peres’ residence. Kershner relays that Livni “assured him she would win at the polls – an outcome that is by no means certain,” as Likud head Benjamin Netanyahu is predicted by many to win.

Kershner continues her solid reporting on the Israeli political process – which can get complex. The title, for a change, is direct and without cliche. With little space, Kershner explains why Olmert will stay in power several more months, why Livni didn’t accede to the demands of the party Shas, why Shas may have negotiated in bad faith and why Kadima needs a coalition to govern.

Kershner also touches on how Livni’s supporters and detractors view not only her inability to form a coalition, but her move for early elections “more than a week before her deadline for forming a coalition was officially up," as Kershner describes, either “ a sign of strength and leadership or an admission of defeat”. Kershner interestingly notes that "the last five general elections in Israel have been held before their due dates, with none of the governments completing a full four-year term." The one pertinent bit of information Kershner failed to report was that Peres, as President, has the latitude to pick another faction head to form a coalition.

Kershner inevitably falls into the ‘peace process’ trap as she writes of Livni’s failure to form a government dealing “a heavy blow to the peace process.” A common response may be “what peace process”? Yet the issue here is more about the language. “A heavy blow to the current round of talks” would sound less dire, and trite.

The peace process, contrary to analyses foreboding the perpetual Palestinian shift to radical Hamas, is not disappearing. Israel will for decades be willing to cede land for peace or to sign a peace accord with a peace-minded Palestinian polity. These two peoples are going nowhere, land can always be returned and societies can always reform, yet the advocacy of cutting a deal quickly is constant at the New York Times and other media.

Kershner ends the article focusing on Israeli settlers, beginning by relaying Olmert’s recent “no tolerance” pronouncement toward settlers “who physically and verbally attacked Israeli forces in the West Bank on Sunday”. She refers to Israeli soldiers who tore down an outpost near Hebron and soon after “a few of the settlers” who vowed to the Israeli media that “they would take revenge against the Israeli military for the evacuation”.

Interestingly, Monday’s Jerusalem Post reports that the settler (not settlers) who made the comments in the interview issued a written apology to Israel’s Attorney General. Will the New York Times deem this newsworthy? Stay tuned.