Friday, July 3, 2009

Ramon in note to Netanyahu 18 years ago:"You are the only real man in this building".

(from article in Haaretz).On Wednesday the PM cleared his busy agenda to bid farewell to departing Kadima MK Haim Ramon at the Knesset. He sat alone at the government table for a long time, listening to the political eulogies delivered by Rivlin, Kadima MK Dalia Itzik and Labor MK Amir Peretz. Then he got up from his chair and gave Ramon a warm hug. Eleven years ago Ramon almost single-handedly toppled the first Bibi government. Now the former topplee, in a position of power, is tipping his hat to the erstwhile toppler.

In 1991, when Netanyahu voted in favor of the law for direct election of the prime minister - which passed thanks to his vote - Ramon sent him a note: "You are the only real man in this building." On Wednesday, as they canoodled on the Knesset floor, Netanyahu told Ramon that he still has that note. A real, real man.