Hazardous Safety Net
In another two weeks the safety net period Shas granted
Barak will end. Barak and his cabinet expect Shas to extend
the safety net, of course, but Shas has yet to reach a
decision on the matter. A senior Shas official claimed this
week that the tendency is toward a decision not to extend
the safety net, but it depends entirely on security and
political developments. Shas leaders definitely have reason
to be satisfied with the funds being channeled to their
educational network following the safety net agreement, but
what is going on within their ranks since granting the
safety net is not so satisfactory.
Shas' rank and file does not accept the move made by party
leaders in agreeing to the safety net. They are angry and
resent the fact that Jewish blood continues to be spilled in
the streets while Shas is providing the government with a
majority and stability with a net that does not provide
safety. Shas' constituency would like to see their elected
officials vote to topple the government and have it
replaced.
Last week Barak visited Washington. Following a meeting with
Clinton, published reports stated that Barak had shown a
willingness to return to the negotiating table, based on the
Camp David Accords. Now, thanks to Shas, the Prime Minister
could approach Clinton confidently and advance the Camp
David Accords.
Shas chairman, Eli Yishai, saw the absurdity of the
situation and requested clarification from Barak. Barak's
office denied that the Prime Minister gave Clinton a mandate
to call a summit based on the Camp David Accords, but Yishai
did not accept the denial. The Likud is also applying
pressure on Shas to stop backing the safety net.
Shlomo Beniziri reminded us, and rightfully so, that Shas
allowed the safety net to be set up just moments before the
Likud did so by joining the emergency government. And what
the Likud is allowed to do, Shas should be allowed to do.
This is also likely to be Shas' primary consideration in the
future. If the Likud actually does follow a move to bring
down the government and call new elections, there is a
chance that Shas would join. But if the Likud promotes early
elections and simultaneously conducts negotiations with
Barak to join the government, Shas will feel free to
anticipate the Likud and support the government based on the
concessions Shas is granted.
Parliamentary Intifadah
With the convening of the Knesset's winter session, the
expectation was that this session would be marked by serious
disputes with Arab Knesset members, to the point of quarrels
that could come to blows. Since the beginning of the
session, there have been hardly any meetings which did not
include serious verbal conflicts with Arab Knesset members.
The following is a list of selected quotes from these
disputes, gathered from the Knesset protocol since last
Monday: Azami Bashara (B.L.D.) said to Benny Alon (National
Union): "You are not a disgrace to the country, you are a
disgrace to humanity. I'd like to see you take away my
citizenship and put me in prison. Let's see you try." Gidon
Ezra (Likud) to Bashara: "You've torched the country."
Bashara in reply: "I would not be surprised if people like
you were to pick up a pistol and shoot me or other Arabs.
What are you threatening to do? I would not be surprised if
you carry out your threats." Zeev Boim (Likud): "This is a
parliamentary Intifadah." Ezra: "They burned fields. Who
taught you how to burn fields?" Bashara: "If you could, you
would put me in prison, and I would just like to say to you:
Put me in prison. Do it. Let's see you do it." Reuven Rivlin
(Likud): "You're collaborators."
Model to be Imitated
Arab Knesset members represent a small minority of the
Knesset, but they are an extremely industrious bunch, who
put in overtime to represent the voting public that elected
them with pride and honor. Their activity in the plenum and
committee meetings is so considerable and forceful that they
simply dominate the plenum debates and appear as if they are
a majority of the Knesset. A look at the figures revealed
astonishing findings. For example: last Monday 94 speeches
by Knesset members were heard in the Knesset plenum on a
variety of issues that came up that day. Of these 94
speeches, 35(!) were delivered by Knesset members from Arab
parties or Arab MK's from other parties, such as Hussaniya
Joubera from Meretz. In other words, nearly 40% of the
speeches delivered that day from the podium were by Arabs,
although only 10% of all MK's are Arabs. The Arab MKs, in
everything associated with dedication to their job for the
sake of their constituents can definitely serve as a model
to be imitated by all Knesset members.
Beyond a doubt the Orthodox and chareidi sector could say in
this context: If only we could learn from you. The Orthodox
and chareidi parties have a total of 27 Knesset members,
with a few other kippah-wearing MK's within the secular
factions. All told they comprise more than one-fourth of
Knesset members. On that same Monday, out of the 94
speeches, only 22 were delivered by religious Knesset
members, and even these came about through stepped-up
activity by a small handful of MK's. For instance, Rabbi
Porush gave six speeches, and Benny Alon (National Union)
gave five.
Arab Knesset members can add several achievements to their
list in recent days. The establishment of a governmental
investigatory committee to investigate incidents in the Arab
sector in which 13 citizens were killed can serve as one
good example. Beyond a doubt, if Orthodox and chareidi
Knesset members were to work with the same intensity as the
Arab MK's, the achievements they would post and provide
their voters would be several times more than those which
have been achieved so far.
