Opinion & Comment
Politica: A Strong Leader -- to Dismantle the State of Israel

During the 1999 election campaign, Binyamin Netanyahu, now Finance Minister, ran for prime minister against Ehud Barak under the slogan, "A strong leader for Israel's future." Throughout his term in office Netanyahu presented an image of unmitigated power and aggressiveness. After losing to Barak he withdrew from politics for over two years and then returned with a new image of a more restrained, contemplative man, one who understands the need to hear the other side as well.

But the working-class and the underprivileged have yet to see Netanyahu's considerate side. Apparently a man cannot change his underlying nature, certainly not at the age of 50. He is and always will remain the same Netanyahu.

Netanyahu apparently found what he considers the right solution to the problem of employee strikes: legislation denying workers the right to strike or at least restricting their rights significantly by requiring a membership vote. Rather than negotiating with strikers and reaching an understanding through dialogue, they will simply be treated with force and coercion.

The reaction to Netanyahu's idea was a strike by City of Tel Aviv workers. Netanyahu is deluded in thinking he can impose his will on workers through legislation. They would not hesitate to disobey such a law, which would mean turning IDF camps into jails in order to contain tens of thousands of violators.

The bill Netanyahu plans to submit would only bring a drastic decline in worker-government relations, ruin to the economy, and endless strikes, transforming him into a strong leader for the dismantling of Israel and for the creation of total chaos in the economy.

While the unbridled strikes in the public sector definitely must be stopped--particularly by government workers who provide public services--legislation is not the answer. If Netanyahu were familiar with the notion of dialogue he would certainly choose this option, but unfortunately the word is not part of his lexicon.

New Likud MKs Refuse to Toe the Line

While Netanyahu may have to learn his lesson about the limits of force the hard way, Ariel Sharon, who has encountered strong resistance to his policy by members of his party, seems to already know this fact of life.

Sharon rarely paid much attention to Likud MKs, not incorporating their demands into the economic plans he and Netanyahu have been introducing in the Knesset. But now a group of Likud MKs, particularly Finance Committee members, are threatening to change the rules of the game.

At a recent Likud meeting new and young MKs made it clear to Sharon that they have come of age, not only in the economic sphere but on policy issues as well. MK Gilad Arden, who has yet to reach 30, explained to Sharon that with all due respect the prime minister was not the one who brought 40 mandates for the Likud. Rather the public voted for the Likud label in spite of its policies, and therefore Sharon does not have license to act as he pleases.

MK and deputy minister Miki Ratzon said clearly that if Sharon strays from the Likud path he will soon find himself out of the party.

Another new MK still under 30, Inbal Gavrieli, said she has no faith in Likud ministers and reminded party members that as MKs each of them has a vote in the Knesset plenum, meaning the Prime Minister can be compelled into doing the MKs' will rather his will alone.

At this point the reporters in the Likud meeting room were asked to leave. Sharon, realizing what was about to take place, preferred not to be humiliated before the whole country.

The Yesha Council (representing Jewish residents in Judea, Samaria and Gaza) also knows they won't get very far with Sharon. One of the council heads said if everything was up to Sharon he would have made major concessions to the Palestinians already under Abu Mazzen. According to the council head, luckily for them, Sharon must first contend with figures from Ichud HaLeumi and many Likud members, with whom he wants to avoid confrontation as much as possible.

It must also be kept in mind, he adds, that the Arabs help the cause by preventing Sharon from carrying out unilateral steps like removing the settlements.

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