Talking like Meretz, behaving like the Likud

[Violet_Crumble]

By Akiva Eldar

Judging by his declarations, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert could have run tomorrow for the Meretz party's leadership. Judging by the behavior of his government in the territories, he could return to Likud. Even Zehava Gal-On, the most left-wing candidate contending for the Meretz leadership, did not say that if we don't achieve a two-state solution soon, the country is "finished." Haim Oron would gladly sign the prime minister's statement that the failure to evacuate the outposts is a "disgrace." Ran Cohen would unhesitatingly stand behind the decision of the Israeli government to evacuate several hundred internal roadblocks that are embittering the lives of the subjects of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).

But for Olmert, saying is one thing and doing is another. Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu could learn from him how simultaneously to hold on to all the territories, bomb civilians, expand the settlements and greet all the world leaders in turn on the red carpet at Ben-Gurion International Airport.

Diplomatic correspondents customarily call senior politicians the "shapers of policy" or the "decision makers." In the case of Olmert's government, the shapers of policy are competing with the pundits and the decision makers have become columnists.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is doing a wonderful job of explaining why it is superfluous to unfreeze construction in the settlement of Givat Ze'ev now of all times. Cabinet member Benjamin Ben-Eliezer knows how to explain that only the release of Marwan Barghouti can strengthen Abu Mazen's standing. Vice Premier Haim Ramon excels in analyzing the geopolitical situation in Jerusalem, which requires getting rid of the "outer neighborhoods" as soon as possible. Cabinet member Ami Ayalon knows how to explain why it is important to pass, without delay, the evacuation-compensation law for settlers who want to immigrate to Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/964825.html

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. Business as usual: talk about peace while expropriating more land.

Hasn't this been the MO since 1967?