(Yoel Marcus-Haaretz).There is a unique beverage on sale in France that goes by the name "B And B," a mixture of Benedictine liqueur and brandy. One's palate is not so enamored with this combination because one of them invariably overrides the other, and neither taste really does it. We, too, are beginning to realize that our leadership is comprised of another B and B, Bibi and Barak, a situation wherein it is unclear who controls whom.The fascinating political phenomenon is that while many are gossiping about the fact that Bibi Netanyahu has not managed to surround himself with good advisors and worthy spokespeople, and the disarray in his bureau is snowballing, the truth is that Bibi has turned Ehud Barak into his chief advisor and spokesman.
Just recently, a meeting between Bibi and U.S. envoy George Mitchell was canceled after it became clear that the government has no intention of acceding to the administration's demand to halt settlement construction. The prime minister quickly tapped Barak to travel early next week to meet with Mitchell and senior administration officials in Washington, in order to tie up loose ends,So, instead of the meeting with Mitchell that was canceled, Bibi is dispatching Barak to Washington as an envoy and political advisor, particularly as a bulletproof vest.
Uzi Baram says that Bibi has turned Barak into both his advisor and his errand boy. A senior political correspondent described Barak's new position as Bibi's consigliere, an advisor who is sent to carry out tasks not under his direct jurisdiction. When asked why he always defends Bibi, Barak responded: "He will surprise people yet. He needs me more than I need him."
Bibi made two statements that angered the U.S. administration. During his meeting with Berlusconi in Rome, he described Iran as the biggest threat, thus embarrassing the Obama administration, which is trying to dim the flames in Iran and begin a dialogue with the regime there. The other faulty comment made by Bibi was his statement that preoccupation with the settlements is a waste of time.
From the moment Bibi returned to Israel from the U.S., he cultivated his image as one worthy of greatness thanks to his service in the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit. Veterans of the outfit cringe every time he boasts of his time in the unit.
Since Netanyahu's return, he changed his American name, Benjamin Nitai, to Binyamin Netanyahu, and has met Barak head-to-head. Bibi attacked Labor, but he never attacked Barak personally. Even when Barak dealt a shocking blow in the 1999 elections, Bibi knew in his heart that Ehud is the senior of the two and left politics for a while.
After Sharon defeated Barak by half a million votes and Barak, too, abandoned his party to pursue business interests, he lost his self-confidence and searched for someone to lean on. It is very convenient for him that Bibi is prime minister and he is defense minister. In practice, both of them could be members of the same party. Barak was never addicted to the peace camp. In the vote on the Oslo 2 agreement, for example, he abstained, angering then prime minister Yitzhak Rabin who then said that he was finished with Barak.
Both Bibi and Barak belong to the species of those who were beaten and scathed, only to emerge and survive.