Coalition talks

Sir, – I must add my two cents to the many articles and letters regarding Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid (“Bennett persuades Lapid to compromise on haredi draft,” February 24).

We made aliya five years ago and I could not speak or write a word of Hebrew. I learned early on that an ulpan does not prepare one for all aspects of Israeli life, but speaking all the time in Hebrew, regardless of proper tense or gender, certainly helped my language skills.

The same applies to these two new and inexperienced political leaders. They don’t speak fluent “government” and therefore need to get into a coalition and learn in real time. They need to stop their silly bickering over nonsensical issues and instead be within the framework of a strong government, even if they are not always “understood.”

They might make mistakes, as I did, but they will surely bring new strength to a government of more experienced speakers and learn along the way. They can make a difference – but only if they keep learning and listening instead of sitting and just talking.

DEBRA FORMAN Modi’in

Sir, – My granddaughters and I took part in an international family project that was held at the Diaspora Museum. Some 3,600 individual works were photographed and collated into three panels that are now on display. On my next trip to the museum I looked hard for the big picture, but it escaped me until I photographed the panels from a distance. Without that perspective I literally could not see the forest for the trees.

Is it too much to ask that our elected officials take a good look at the big picture when they negotiate to form a government? Can’t they stop acting like children, declaring that if they don’t get their way they’ll take their marbles and go home?

Here’s what I know of the big picture: We live in an incendiary neighborhood. Chaos reigns in bordering countries. Nuclear weaponry is in the making and we are the most likely target. While the world economy is in a downspin, anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli sentiments are on the upswing. And we cannot depend on a strong cadre of staunch allies to defend us.

The stakes are too high for party leaders to ignore the bigger picture. It is time for them to act like adults and begin serious negotiations.

LINDA WOLFF Sha’arei Tikva

Sir, – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s problem is his unwillingness to be open and truthful with the Israeli public – especially about the issue of sharing the burden of military service.

His original inclination was to renew the Tal Law unconditionally, which remains his preferred approach, so as to ingratiate himself with and retain the support of the haredi camp, his natural allies. But an insatiable passion to be prime minister drives his leadership style and explains his political cowardice – a characteristic even US President Barack Obama shrewdly identified.

RAYMOND CANNON Netanya