tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.comments2009-02-12T18:47:16.057-05:00The Israel HobbySam Siegelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15010177828658496971noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.post-91647545857348864012009-02-12T18:47:00.000-05:002009-02-12T18:47:00.000-05:00When will there be Congressional hearings to deter...When will there be Congressional hearings to determine how the December 2007 NIE came to be written and presented? The key question must be if our intelligence officials had a political agenda.Keen Observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070747998326138006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.post-89598733565652607132009-02-10T22:09:00.000-05:002009-02-10T22:09:00.000-05:00On the other hand, our American system is often ne...On the other hand, our American system is often nearly divided between two parties as with Bush/Gore (2000) and Coleman/Franken (2008) -- and many others nearly as close in between these two examples. That kind of polarization often carries forward into the period of governance. In Israel, and in other parliamentary systems, the forming of a coalition requires that would-be rivals work together on some terms, even if not ideal ones. Further, even if one can prefer the decisiveness and "neatness" of two or three main parties, a plethora of parties speaks well to a thriving democracy wherein blocs of citizens need not compromise on their choice and can find someone closer to them ideologically or sociologically. Finally, although frequent elections are often portrayed as unstable political systems, the flexibility of a "No confidence" motion bringing down a government and requiring snap elections also speaks well of the responsiveness that the government offers to its citizens. <BR/><BR/>Israel's greatest electoral flaw, to my taste, is the lack of parliament members elected from specific districts. In this manner, elected officials are beholden to the party chiefs who put them on a "list" and not to the citizenry that ultimately votes for them. This both encourages toadying and also means that a gadfly can't comfortably remain within a party. An original thinker is incentivized to form a (small) party of his or her own....which brings us back to the problem of many small and smaller parties.ewehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488494306683609860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.post-1253446279657438352009-02-07T18:04:00.000-05:002009-02-07T18:04:00.000-05:00Thank you.Thank you.ewehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488494306683609860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.post-49517862712149660092009-02-05T22:37:00.000-05:002009-02-05T22:37:00.000-05:00I suspect that Bibi is too clever and too sensitiv...I suspect that Bibi is too clever and too sensitive to Western elite opinion to form a narrow coalition dependent on parties to his right like Lieberman and Shas. As much as Joe Klein may feel antipathy for Netanyahu, Bibi won't want to put himself into a confrontation with the Clinton State Department and to give President Obama problems with the pragmatic Arab leaders over a personnel matter -- especially as Preisdent Obama is likely already getting advice that the Palestinian matter isn't solvable in the near term due to a failure of leadership in the Palestinian world, even if the US could magically get Israeli concessions on roadblocks and settlements. Thus, look to Bibi to call for a National Unity government with a very broad coalition, including Kadima and Labor, in order to address the grave concern that underlies the entire rationale for Bibi's candidacy: Iran. Once they are on board, Bibi can pick up Lieberman without unduly disrupting the centrist feel of his government, and can keep Livni as Foreign Minister, and put Ehud Barak (or his real first choice, fellow Likud Party member and former Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon) at the Defense Ministry. Lieberman can be brought into the government, but with a less visible ministry, even if we are sure to hear about it from Joe Klein.Keen Observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070747998326138006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.post-43824622538459936752009-02-05T19:32:00.000-05:002009-02-05T19:32:00.000-05:00For a look at Israel outside the parameters of the...For a look at Israel outside the parameters of the military/political conflict and to go beyond Israel as a democracy "just like us" argument, there is also the "value added to the world" argument. I forget how many patents are filed per capita and in absolute terms in Israel each year, but it never ceases to amaze. A very good organization -- Israel 21C -- speaks to Israel's advances in technology, medical research and the like. It is a shame that that side of Israel, also, isn't better known.Keen Observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070747998326138006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.post-53581432554272559212009-02-05T10:55:00.000-05:002009-02-05T10:55:00.000-05:00This is so important. Time to roll this blog out,...This is so important. Time to roll this blog out, to let major news sources have access to this. <BR/><BR/> Also, the writing on this blog is both sensitive and strong.Keen Observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17070747998326138006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.post-48657418060251744262009-02-04T22:17:00.000-05:002009-02-04T22:17:00.000-05:00It is important to get intelligent commentary from...It is important to get intelligent commentary from the blogosphere. If this were a business, I'd send a plant. Given that this is a virtual space, consider the creator of this blog the recipient of a cactus heavy with sweet sabra fruit -- prickly on the outside and sweet on the inside.ewehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488494306683609860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803374450161125747.post-59345148037342379002009-02-04T20:42:00.000-05:002009-02-04T20:42:00.000-05:00Concise. Well-written. We need you.Concise. Well-written. We need you.ewehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488494306683609860noreply@blogger.com