Mere Rhetoric: Israeli Politics Roundup- 2007-05-09

At press time, the top article on YNet is titled "UN spreading Christianity". There's no article even marginally close to talking about Israeli politics - but there is another story titled "What's Britney [Spears] worth". So that's how today's going to go. Super.

Kadima - David Tal of Kadima said on Wednesday that he thinks Peres should be Prime Minister. While that would undoubtedly be traffic goldmine for us, we think this is a bad idea. We also think that it would behoove Tal to stop taking calls from reporters while he's stoned out of his gourd. Besides, 10 to 1 and pick em Peres is going to be the next President soon so the PMO is a no-go. If you've got a minute and want to be highly entertained we suggest you click through to that last article. Wrap your mind around the following enigma: how bad does your past have to be if an Israeli politician has to resort to understatement because she can't talk about it out loud.

Labor - When he was Prime Minister, one of the main complaints about Barak (other than the giving away land to the arch terrorist thing) was that he was arrogant. Nice to see that he's gotten over that:

Barak said that if Olmert will internalize the report's findings, the road to a new government "that [he] could participate in" could be paved. If Olmert did not draw conclusions by May 29 (the date of the Labor primaries), warned Barak, he would act to bring forward the elections for the eighteenth Knesset. Barak volunteered to "contribute" his experience to a transitional government that would serve before elections. Such a move, he added, would fulfill a "promise" he made to "serve as defense minister."

Now you might be thinking "wait - does that mean that he wants Olmert to resign, or just hand over significant power to Barak as Defense Minister?" Good question. If you figure out an answer, please let us know. Also feel free to let the other Labor MKs know, because they didn't understand what the hell he was talking about either. Awesome.

Likud - We've been trying to figure out why no one is writing about any internal Likud politics. Then remembered that Sharon cracked the party so badly that there are like 7 people left in the Likud HQ building. And we're counting the 2 janitors, both of whom voted for Labor in the last election. Which reminds us: we miss Sharon.

References:
* Kadima MK says Peres is suited to replace Olmert as prime minister [Ha'aretz]
* Now We're Getting Philosophical: Israellycool, Interpretation, and Insults To Former Israeli Finance Minister, Defense Minister, Foreign Minister, and Prime Minister Shimon Peres [MR]
* Seeking presidency, Rivlin meets Shas leaders, but party favors Peres [Ha'aretz]
* Barak calls for Olmert to resign [JPost]

Previously:
* Israeli Politics Roundup - 2007-05-08 - Yeah, So That Happened
* Israeli Politics Roundup - 2007-05-07 - It's Futile No Confidence Motion Day In the Knesset
* Israeli Politics Roundup - 2007-05-04 - Yawn