May 9 2007
Yesterday Israelis were glued to their TV screens as they watched the press conferences that carried the summary of Judge Winograd’s interim report on the Second Lebanese War and the responses of Prime Minister Olmert and Defense Minister Peretz. With a high level of discomfort, Israelis heard how the country had been mismanaged by its leadership with the word “failure” recurring time and again. This level of discomfort has continued to reach new heights as these leaders refuse to accept responsibility and resign their positions. Exactly a week ago on Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for her fallen soldiers Israelis were glued to the TV screen watching the testimonies of bravery during the Second Lebanese War. In this viewing many Israelis were struck with pride as they listened to the testimonies of bravery during this war, with the word “heroism” recurring time and again. This level of pride reached new heights at the accounts of the decisions of these young officers to take personal responsibility and literally give up their lives for their comrades in arms and their country.
These two media moments reflect the cross roads at which Israel is standing. We all realize that the Winograd Commission is not really about Olmert or Peretz; it is about us. It is we who have failed! In the Diaspora where Jews live as a minority, we have the prerogative to talk about “them” and “us” especially if we disagree with the incumbent Government. However in Israel we do not have this luxury. These are our leaders and we bear responsibilities for their failures.
In reality we all know that the Winograd Commission has unmasked what we have known for a long time. We in Israel have given a vote of confidence to mismanagement and corruption motivated by personal gain. Gone are the days of Begin who was highly principled and modest and gone are the days of Rabin who resigned merely because his wife held a foreign bank account. Sadly since Peres, every Israeli Prime Minister has faced a police investigation culminating in serious charges against Sharon and Olmert. Only recently we have learned that our President is to be charged with rape and our Finance Minister is to be charged for embezzling millions of dollars.
While looking at this situation in disbelief I recall the media moments of last week. In these graphic descriptions of the war, we told about a very different type of leadership. We learnt from friends and fellow soldiers how Major Roi Klein who was the last recipient of a Heroes medal following the first pullout from Lebanon, lived his life as an exemplarily leader The stories of Roi culminated in the description of his leading an assault under fire to save the life of his fellow officer and neighbor and his finding himself in front of a hand grenade in a closed area. His instantaneous decision to fall on the grenade and save his friends with the dying cry of “Shma Yisrael”, has become engraved on our national memory. We also learned of Col. Moreno who fell on the last day of the war. Col Moreno is a known legend in the army yet his parents know little about his duty. He always maintained a high level of secrecy and humility. His dedication to the country was total.
The two radically contrasting paradigms of culture and leadership are both ours and were both reflected in the recent war. The question we face is which will prevail. Will it be that of mismanagement and corruption reflected by the older generation of politicians or that of selfless dedication reflected by the young army officers?
Personally I have no doubt which will prevail. Our younger generation of leaders in Israel holds the promise of our future; we are ready to give them keys!
