Spoiled brats, we've had enough !!!!

[Ophra]

Spoiled brats, we've had enough
By Ari Shavit

When you ask Labor Party chair Shimon Peres about the problem of the second generation of Israeli politics, he makes a face and says "They're spoiled." They are simply spoiled brats, says the 81-year-old young man about the 50-year-old old men who are unable to succeed him. Peres is right. The political generation that grew up with the state is a spoiled generation. It doesn't have Peres' (and Prime Minister Sharon's) vitality. It doesn't have Peres' (and Sharon's) capacity for work. It doesn't have the powerful commitment of Peres (and Sharon). It doesn't have the most important quality of Peres and Sharon: the willingness to roll up their sleeves and to plunge their hands into the garbage dump. And to keep on burrowing there until they finally come up with some diamond.

At the end of summer 2004, the diamond is the disengagement plan. Disengagement is not the end of the conflict. It isn't even the end of the occupation. Disengagement is not a messianic proposal. It's not a vision for the End of Days either. But disengagement is a genuine, practical and detailed plan to save Israel.

Disengagement is a dry, practical and sober course of chemotherapy, which is designed to deal with the cancer of the occupation. That is why disengagement doesn't have a halo of peace. It does not contain a promise of a final status agreement. It is not wrapped in the sweetish cellophane of the imminent Redemption. However, it does contain the first commitment of its kind to deal seriously with the moral and demographic tumor that is endangering our lives.

For this reason, disengagement is first and foremost a test of maturity. After 30 years during which nobody here has taken responsibility for anything (with the exception of Ehud Barak on the issue of the withdrawal from Lebanon), disengagement is an act of assuming responsibility. After 20 years of inane virtual politics, disengagement is a genuine attempt to carry out a real political act here. An act that is not spin. Not an optical illusion. An act that is actually attempting to change the outline of the reality on the ground.

However, the spoiled generation of Israeli politics is not built for such deeds. This is a generation that is interested only in tomorrow's headline. This is a generation whose only field of expertise is the deal to be made at the next meeting of the party's central committee. This is a generation of the giants of television's political talk shows, "Popolitika" and "Hot Mishal." A generation of distributors of political patronage, who have never planted a tree or built a house. And for that reason, there is no chance that these idlers will be capable of uprooting a tree or destroying a house. There is no chance that they will be able to rescue Israel from the trap of history in which it has imprisoned itself.

During the past two weeks, things have come into sharper focus: There is no difference between the spoiled brats of the Likud, the spoiled brats of Labor and the spoiled brats of Shinui. They are all surrounded by their image consultants. They all butter up their vote contractors. They are all slaves to irrelevant considerations connected to their party's primaries. Although there are talented people among them here and there, they are totally incapable of functioning as a national leadership. They are too cynical, they are lightweight, they are unworthy.

However, being spoiled is not characteristic only of the politicians of the second generation. It seems that at the end of this summer, the entire Israeli public has devoted itself to an atmosphere of spoiled complacency. There is no genuine political activity here to carry out the will of the majority. There is no serious national preparation for the cruel clash with the minority. There is no overall understanding of the fact that within a few months, Israel will be facing a supreme existential test. And again, as in 1995, the old admirals of a critical move are facing the waves alone. They are trying to do their best with their broken steering wheels.

The spoiled brats of the left will never accept Ariel Sharon. The spoiled brats of the right will never forgive Shimon Peres. But both groups must understand that at this juncture, one cannot stand outside the garbage dump and roll one's eyes. The pure-minded left will never be able to evacuate even one flowerpot here. The fanatic right will not be able to withstand even one serious battle here. So that if the Sharon-Peres disengagement isn't carried out in the coming year, Israel's chances of survival will decrease sharply. For that reason, the spoiled brats have to stop being spoiled. Despite all their shortcomings, Sharon-Peres appear to be the only chance. They're the last hope.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/470032.html

[Binyamin]

Ophra, are you prepared to defend your ideas and positions, or will you just post low-quality articles and avoid defending them?

Are you prepared to consider and debate ideas which differ from your own? Would you learn a little about what others have to say about life and the country? Are you open to discussion?

[insight]

Unfortunately.....after WW II ....the proposal of the Israeli state was a trap....calculated by the british........Ben GOURION ....and other companions where in the "country" before the authorized....immigration arrived.....I went with my mother in a yiddish kibboutz....my mother ask to stay ....the kibboutz manager said : your mother can stay if you stay.....(I was 19 yrs old ) .....I refused to stay ....and even in that period I new that "given " counry was a last cause......too much ennemy.....they are saying they accept Israel but they don't.......and demography as you mentionned will make disapear....Jewish people ......and is not a discovery.....many Israeli want to be really friendly..... is good ...but it will doen't change the finallity.......

Insight

[Ophra]

low-quality articles

!!!!! ?????? ...... says who ?
Which daily newspaper do you limit yourself to Binyamin ?
I read them all and pick the articles I like the best.
Is there a rule on the forum against posting ones chosen thought for the day ??????

Would you learn a little about what others have to say about life and the country?

..... are you going to teach me about the land of my birth??...how old are you ?? ... ever heard the saying don't teach a grandmother how to suck eggs ??

[redcake]

There are a few sayings about egg on your face too, Ophra. There's a difference between being a nudge and being open to debate the issues you're put out there by posting a stream of articles. If your answer always comes back to "don't teach me about the Country I was born in" then maybe you'll be less hostile if you found a forum that wasn't dominated by international members with strong opinions.

The ironic thing is that while Peres is a Sabra, his opinions by and large represent the supposedly progressive next generation of Israelis. When you meet a Sabra (and when I say Sabra, I mean the real Sabras, with families that go back hundreds of years residing in Israel) you can safely assume their political stance isn't that of Peres supporter with few exceptions..... when he talks about these "brats", by and large he's describing the characteristics that make up the majority of his own support base.

[Ophra]

if you found a forum that wasn't dominated by international members with strong opinions.

Nice try redcake..... failed at driving andak01 off so you thought you would have another go at me

Mention of " international members " noted.... .... "hundreds of years residing in Israel" .....with emphasis on the " residing in " ..eh redcake ??

Howz the weather in good old US of A today ???????????

[redcake]

Please stop with the personal attacks.

I was responding to your comments you made towards another member, while ALSO addressing the content of the article you posted. You could have argued against my demographic claims instead of attempting to attack me.

I'm unclear on this one though. It almost seems as though you're just attacking Americans altogether.

[Ophra]

Please stop with the personal attacks.

What personal attack ??????????????

[Semsem]

[QUOTE=insight]Unfortunately.....after WW II ....the proposal of the Israeli state was a trap....calculated by the british....>>

Now we have another French guy. You bimbo the British were against a Jewish State. In fact the UK never recognised Israel in 1948.

<<I new that "given " counry was a last cause......too much ennemy.....they are saying they accept Israel but they don't.....<<

Well France is a lost cause. In 50 years it will be an Islamic Republic.

<<..and demography as you mentionned >>

Demography you say? Look at France's demography. 50% will be Muslim French within about 50 years. France will disappear before Israel ever does. Israel will survive. Israel is a miracle.

[old-reb]

Demography you say? Look at France's demography. 50% will be Muslim French within about 50 years. France will disappear before Israel ever does. Israel will survive. Israel is a miracle.

Without the EU and US, Israel would be crushed. We need to all stand together against terrorist.

An Islamic EU and Russia is not impossible. The EU and Russia suffers from declining birthrate and Muslim have plenty of youth to fill the void in the EU.

old reb

[Binyamin]

Ophra, are you prepared to defend your ideas and positions, or will you just post low-quality articles and avoid defending them?

Are you prepared to consider and debate ideas which differ from your own? Would you learn a little about what others have to say about life and the country? Are you open to discussion?

..... are you going to teach me about the land of my birth??...how old are you ?? ... ever heard the saying don't teach a grandmother how to suck eggs ??

I'll take that as a "no."

[Ophra]

I'll take that as a "no."

Take it anywhich way you please Binyamin.
I couldn't care less.

There are two sides to every story .... and it's about time the other side had it's day on here .
If you don't like it don't read it.

[mikuldj]

A true articel indeed. Very good. As a neo-conservative and zionist I must agree..

[Mira~]

Binyamin,

I would suggest placing Ophra on ignore and debating mikuldj.

[Binyamin]

I have asked a few other posters, whose views I did not agree with, if they were open to debate. Ophra is the first who did not make any pretense of being open.The flood of virulently leftist articles she is posting, without being perpared to dicuss them, should be considered spamming.

Ophra, no one minds that you are a lefty. We are all interested in debating ith you, but only if you are prepared to defend your ideas. Until then, there is no reason to respond to anything you post.