(Hanoch Daum-Ynet).It appears to me that 100 days after the current government took office, we are seeing something important taking place here: The Right is starting to rule.
The culture minister is making an effort to balance the one-sided picture we are seeing today at the various public councils in the fields of culture and arts. The same is happening in the committee for the appointment of judges. There is something refreshing about the fact that new committee members are not embarrassed to say that the Supreme Court’s makeup needs to be balanced and diversified.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his Bar-Ilan speech, did not shy away from expressing himself in a Zionist way, while accepting the equation of a demilitarized Palestinian state.
This is a significant thing. Rightist governments did not do it in the past. They preferred not to get mixed up with the legal establishment, cultural junta, and the shapers of public opinion. Likud ministers always knew how to make political appointments, but not how to make ideological appointments. Yet it appears that all this is changing now.
Livni lost the elections on Kadima’s behalf, and in complete contradiction to her voters’ wishes stayed in the opposition. Her own party members disagree with this move. Yet she insisted, and is still insisting, to stay out.
I listen to the concerned Ms. Livni and I wonder: Why, if Israel is so important to her, didn’t she choose to exercise her influence from within the government? The Likud offered Kadima an equal share of the cabinet. Netanyahu accepted the two-state vision. We are facing an economic crisis and an Iranian threat. Why is she staying out of the coalition? What use is there to Kadima’s dozens of Knesset members, if all they do is wonder around aimlessly through the Knesset’s cafeteria?
I understand that Livni’s public relations advisors told her that in order to contend for the premiership she must remain out of the government. That’s a legitimate political consideration. But, Ms. Livni, isn’t the country more important?
