The biggest loser in Israel’s elections this week was a man whose name was not even on the ballot — Yasser Arafat.
The voters don’t trust that Arafat — or anyone else in the Palestinian camp — is ready to talk peace. Until a peace partner emerges, Israelis see Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as offering the best hope for keeping the borders secure.
Some pundits may claim the elections show that the Israel public has moved right of center and has given up on peace. But that’s far from the case.
The Labor Party had its worse trouncing ever because its candidates campaigned on a peace platform when there is no one to talk to at the negotiating table.
Instead, Israelis re-elected a leader who speaks about fighting terrorism and keeping the country safe. Sharon campaigned on the same kind of platform our own president has adopted. It appears to be working in America, so why not in Israel?
For voters, the Labor Party represents failed efforts. Labor negotiated the Oslo accords. Labor tried to come to terms with Arafat on a final peace plan. Labor has continually talked peace. But all Israel got was more suicide bombings.
As American Jews, we should not be disappointed with Israeli voters. We should be disappointed with the Palestinians who could have initiated peace talks before this election and possibly changed the results.
Israeli voters needed hope. Arafat gave them fear.
But as we said last week, we shouldn’t write off Sharon as some kind of warmonger. At age 74, he knows this is his last chance to make his mark in history, perhaps as the prime minister who finally brings peace to Israel.
Polls show Israelis want another coalition government — and so does Sharon. Let’s hope Labor drops its resistance and accepts Sharon’s offer.
Otherwise Sharon could be forced to establish a more right-wing coalition that nobody really wants.