New government: Flowery speech
I have three hibiscus bushes in my garden, one with a white flower surrounded on either side with red flowering bushes. The white bush was planted slightly after the others and has not been as fruitful as the red ones. This year, the white one has outgrown and completely dominated the other two, to the extent that there are very few red flowers and many white ones.
When I look at the struggle the white flowers have endured, and the result, it brings to my mind Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Their determination and persistence have paid off. Whether the result will be a success, only time will tell.
MINA STERN Ramat Bet Shemesh
Should Amotz Asa-El’s remarks (“Beyond the photo op,” June 18) regarding the new government be regarded as elation or optimism? Although he did express a feeling of hope for the future, he stressed the positive, social characteristics of the eight cobbled-together parties rather than the political advantages of this government over the previous ones. The former (elation), therefore would be my guess and quite understandably.
Soon we’ll be able to measure just how effective this “rainbow coalition” proves to be. There are more than enough challenges – both domestic and international – that will, within a short period of time, test the ability of the divergent philosophies and priorities of our representatives to work together for the common good. The picture presented by Asa-El may be one of cohesive anticipation and social progress, but those qualities do not automatically translate into efficient administration… or provide protection against the former prime minister’s promise to sabotage the new government’s proposals and vision. The fragility and uncertainty of a caretaker government that was in charge up to now may have been replaced by what seems to be a more solid and complete composite of the Israeli population, but it would be foolhardy to think that it will operate free of any turbulence or difficulties. And a photograph of 61 forced smiles does not inspire too much confidence.
I’m sure, by the way, that others will point out that Karin Elharrar is not the only member of the coalition with a physical disability. Shirley Pinto of Yamina has the distinction of being the first deaf member of the Israeli parliament, and it’s more than a little gratifying that the Israeli public sees no problem entrusting their well-being into the hands of legislators such as Elharrar and Pinto; their examples will provide significant motivation to improve the conditions of those with physical and mental challenges. A far cry, indeed, from the boorish insensitivity of the former Likud MK Oren Hazan who, from the Knesset podium, referred to wheelchair-bound MK Ilan Gilon of Meretz as “half a human.”
So, yes, there is reason to be upbeat and satisfied with the current make-up of the coalition. Whether that feeling can be complemented with optimism remains to be seen. Frankly, I have my doubts.
BARRY NEWMAN
Ginot Shomron
Netanyahu told his Likud faction (“Netanyahu determined to shame new government,” June 18) that the party’s policy will be to repeatedly vote against its own ideology in an effort to bring down the new government.
Even before the desperately needed electoral reform, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that if there were a fixed term for the government, say four years, the opposition might be more inclined to help make our country stronger and better rather than focusing solely on bringing down the government.
RIVKA ZAHAVY Jerusalem