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Hirsh Goodman: Wake-Up Call

Finally, after 37 years in the country, I decided to join a political party. Until now I voted for the person who took my fancy at the time, though never to the right of Labor to the best of my memory. Now, I am a fully paid-up member of the Labor party, an act that cost me 70 shekels ($15). I did it for the sole purpose of voting for Amram Mitzna in the Labor primaries � in the hope that he can wrest the party away from Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, whose diplomatic vision goes as far as the nearest security fence. When Mitzna announced he was running, I thought: Here we go. Finally, there�s somebody who speaks to me, draws a map of the future I can agree with, one that strives for peace, but from a position of strength. Classic Rabin.That was about a month ago. Since then, Mitzna has all but disappeared. The one public rally he called shortly before Rosh Hashanah was an abysmal failure. A handful of people turned out, and there were more empty chairs than full ones. And when the candidate rose to speak, he did so without charisma or animation, causing yet more seats to be vacated. Others became temporary beds to bored listeners lucky enough to be able to fall asleep sitting up. A later rally was more successful, but the jury is still out. One can hope that Mitzna�s disappearance is but a temporary phenomenon; that his political advisers are telling him to keep a low profile, to save his strength for the real battle in the weeks before the primaries. Or

perhaps this is wishful thinking. Perhaps we have another case like that of Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, the former chief of staff who launched his political career with the late Center Party in order �to bring a smile back to peoples� faces.� Shahak is now doing business in darkest Africa, hopefully bringing smiles to the faces of people down there, having left a political ruin here.Mitzna undoubtedly has run Haifa efficiently for the 10 years he has been mayor. The 10 years of practical political experience theoretically set him apart from other

generals who have rushed into national politics. And, on the surface of things, his term can be considered an achievement, given the city�s character and its mixed Jewish-Arab population. But on the other hand, Mitzna inherited one of the best organized and disciplined cities in the country, a city which was solvent and had highly advanced infrastructure. He has done a good job of maintaining what others have built � but can be credited with having done very little original himself.Nevertheless, Mitzna, if he ever wakes up, could be an ideal candidate to run this country. He has good values, rooted deeply in a belief in democracy and the system of justice. He is trusted and trustworthy. He is solid and has both feet on the ground. He was an

excellent military officer who was admired for his leadership and his willingness to openly challenge decisions he thought questionable. He is also the first Israeli politician to lay out his platform in detail, advocating that talks with the Palestinians be with a leadership of their choosing, and that they start where Clinton, Barak and Arafat left off. If the talks go nowhere, then � and only then � would Israel resort to unilateral action to improve its own

situation according to its own priorities. He has also stood up to the settlers, making it clear that he intends to remove settlements and not be bullied, as has every other government, including Barak�s, to give in to their never-ending and ultimative demands.On paper it was all there. Mr. Clean, Mr. Vision, Mr. Alternative to the doomsday scenarios being offered by Ariel Sharon or Binyamin Netanyahu and the incomprehensible half-baked ideas of Ben-Eliezer.Unfortunately, it seems, Mitzna may also prove to be the disappearing man.

If the Labor Party is left to Ben-Eliezer, Haim Ramon, the perennial contender, and incumbent Knesset Speaker Avrum Burg, I would very much appreciate my 70 shekels back � and, more importantly, my political virginity. It now seems that in addition to placing my money on the wrong horse, worse, I may have broken a long-held principle for a glimmer of a promise. My rash action, I suspect, may be an indication of just how desperate I am for new political leadership.Mitzna may yet arise from the depths of boredom to grab us all. He just may have enough substance to make up for his lack of charisma and, perhaps, this nation may just be ready for a leader with character rather than one with a slick tongue or the caretaker prime minister we have now. Things are happening on the Palestinian side. Arafat is slipping. It will not be too long in the future when Israel is challenged diplomatically. And to face that challenge, either Sharon or Netanyahu will present the same picture from a slightly different angle. But you can�t do business with the Palestinians, keep the territories and never think about dividing Jerusalem. How refreshing it would be to have a responsible, sane and trustworthy voice offering a different vision. Unfortunately, he seems to be asleep.