Mofaz's compassion

[Violet_Crumble]

By Gideon Levy

Even when it seems that all the records for cynicism and chutzpah have been broken, another politician emerges to set a new one: Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz talks about compassion.

It is a little difficult to believe, but after donning his new socially oriented minister attire, Mofaz attacked Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming, "The matter of compassion is far from his heart."

Mofaz is close to compassion? There is no quality he lacked more, as chief of staff and as defense minister, than this essential one. If only he had been endowed with a bit of compassion, our relations with the Palestinians would already look different.

But this is not only a question of his attitude toward the Palestinians, but also his attitude toward the indirect victims of the defense and settlement budgets, which could have been channeled in part to purposes that stir much more compassion than another tank or apartheid road.

In the occupied territories, Mofaz has won a reputation as a particularly cruel minister. The Palestinians have never been pampered by Israel, but no previous defense minister has aroused so much anger and enmity. Perhaps in his view this is something to be proud of, and perhaps the Likud Central Committee will consider it a success, but Mofaz symbolizes the inhumane Israeli for the Palestinians.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/650182.html

[Englander]

1. He's a real charmer, aint he?

There was a documentary on the BBC last month, 'Israel and the
Arabs: Elusive Peace'*, where they showed some of what went on behind
the scenes, & some interviews with the main players.
The programme showed a meeting with Israeli & Palestinian ministers at
the Aqaba summit, I think, & it was incredible, really, that cameras
were allowed in, I thought any meeting would have been completely
private. Anyway, Mohammed Dahlan** managed to buttonhole Mofaz, & gave
him a polite, & lengthy lecture in fluent Hebrew about the need for
serious negotiations, &tc. I don't know how much Mofaz took on board,
but it was a joy to watch, Mofaz couldn't get away, or get a word in.


*
Israel and the Arabs: Elusive Peace
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/elusive_peace/4268184.stm

**
Profile: Mohammed Dahlan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2068270.stm