More fracturing of Israel's foreign policy

[NewsGuy]

I would guess that being an Israeli prime minister is one of the toughest jobs in the world. Not only is the electoral system set up so that even minor political parties can bring down a government at a moment's notice, but the in-fighting is intense, even within a ruling coalition.

Such is the case with Ariel Sharon's government, where Foreign Minister Shimon Peres is constantly trying to overstep policy agreements with Sharon and publicly criticizes many of Sharon's policies, but now there is yet another weak link in the system: Defense Minister Ben Eliezer.

Turns out that Ben Eliezer, who is certainly not a foreign policy maker, also has a strategic "peace" plan, which he will present ot the US.

It's a wonder that any foreign givernement can make heads or tails about Israel's policies, with so many Israeli government officials presenting differing policies.

This weakens Israel's international standing, shows weakness resulting from in-fighting and lack of a united front, at least so far as foreign policy is concerned.

In my opinion, Israel should pass parliamentary laws forbidding any Israeli official other than the prime minister and the Foreign minister from representing Israel's foreign policy to the world.

Here's an excerpt from the Haaretz report of ben Eliezer's initiative:

"Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, the newly-elected head of the Labor Party, is preparing a package of political ideas to present to the Bush administration during his upcoming official visit to Washington. This plan, he hopes, will differentiate him from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

In Washington, Ben-Eliezer wants to be able to make clear how he is different from both Sharon and the right wing's main contender for the Prime Minister's Office, Benjamin Netanyahu. The defense minister has lined up meetings with Vice President Richard Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and is is now trying to win a half-hour meeting with President George W. Bush."

Not good, Fuad...

[gregg]

In the end the only thing I think that can destroy Israel is fighting in between Jews for power.