"Either Bibi or Tibi," writes the veteran columnist, Nachum Barnea. In an extremely inciting and provoking article, he presents the two options facing Eisencott and his cohorts in an attempt to form a government.
The Shinui bloc gave three election promises: to oust Netanyahu, not to sit together with the chareidim and not to rely on the Arab vote. Even then, it was clear that they were transitory and illusory because realizing all three together would mean going to repeat elections. The question now is which promise to cast out.
To depose Bibi is the uppermost goal, writes Barnea. It is a promise which must be kept at all cost and under all circumstances, he writes glibly.
To join up with the chareidim is simply impossible. "The draft was the central issue in the election campaign, even more than the deficiency of the war, the police insurgence or the inflation. There was a joint identification: a pact between those who serve and those who dodge.
So what does that leave him? To join up with the Arabs? Is that not an indivisible part of "those who serve" — ironically since the Arabs do not serve in the army? It is known that they are sworn patriots and chauvinists (said ironically) to the point of erasing Israel from the very map together with their brethren in Gaza and Ramallah. So there is "no" reason to reject them as possible partners in the next government or at least, to rely on their support from the outside. And who else, like they, desire to see Netanyahu and his Rightists, who understandably would have never relied on the voice of the vote of the Arab murderers in the Knesset.
Chairman of the Joint List, Professor Yussef Jabaarin, was interviewed after the success of the List and categorically and deliberately refused to refer to Hamas as "a terrorist organization." In his sight, together with his cohorts, Hamas as nothing more than a 'humanitarian body' which cannot, under any circumstances, be called a terrorist association.
So this is the choice facing Eisencott and his partners of the List, with the chareidim certainly remaining in the cold, leaving only: "Either Bibi or Tibi."
Barnea has no doubts as to the choice: "In the end, that is what will remain. There is no perfect solution, but as the case appears, Tibi will be preferable." Isn't that obvious?
Suffering Yeshiva Students
The fresh chosson upon whom the military police posse swooped down in the very midst of his sheva brochos celebration, was finally released and sent home. But this devastating story must not be allowed to rest and be forgotten.
The State of Israel prides itself as being 'a country of law and order,' but those who are expected to enforce it, do everything in their power to trample this underfoot.
According to reports, the military police who arrested the chosson in the very midst of his sheva brochos celebration, did not identify themselves as policemen. The law requires them to do so. They were masked, as if they were undercover, come to seize a terrorist in Gaza. The law requires every policeman to bear an identifying card attesting to his name and rank.
In addition, the police requisitioned the new kalla's cell phone without anyone ordering this, even though she was not the object of their arrest. The military police also utilized the chosson's phone tracer to certify his location, which is equally an act requiring a prior authorization.
And so it is, revealing how investigative and law enforcing bodies find themselves above or below the law. They do whatever possesses them, fully aware that no one will call them to task.
Whoever seeks full details can turn to the testimony of Avichai Mandelblit, who appeared recently for many days on end on the witness stand, divulging to one and all how the police and the advocacy acted like any criminal of the underworld. "All for the glory of the State," to be sure.
