Naive or manipulative

Regarding “PM: Pass haredi conscription law compromise, or election will end war” (March 1), Netanyahu is not wrong. Holding national elections during a period in which war is being waged, while not unprecedented, makes little sense. The focus, here, must remain on destroying Hamas’s terror infrastructure and rescuing the some 130 hostages still withering away in captivity.

A three-month period of electioneering followed by 60 days of coalition negotiations would be giving our enemies a brightly wrapped gift. And while haredi conscription is, admittedly, a serious issue that must, at some point, be faced and dealt with, there are other domestic and international items that influence which slip of paper is dropped into the ballot box.

Right now, I’m less concerned with Iran’s nuclear capability, the South African and Brazilian heinous charges of genocide, global warming, and Israel’s credit rating than I am with bringing this war to a successful and gratifying end.

The prime minister’s call for compromise, though, is somewhat naive, or manipulative. He, more than anyone else, is aware that compromise in Israeli politics is viewed as failure. The structure of our government – a single legislative body, lack of representation through constituencies, ceremonial rather than executive presidential powers – provides an effective firewall against the kind of compromise that provides the basis of true democracies.

Can there be a Center-Right government without the inclusion of the haredi parties? Maybe, but now is not the time to find out.

BARRY NEWMAN Ginot Shomron