A Crisis of Leadership: Olmert Refuses to Budge
May 3, 2007
"When a man fails in a business, he goes home." That's how one Israeli summed up how people in other countries respond to failure. But now he - along with a majority of Israelis - are dismayed that Ehud Olmert says he won't resign after a devastating report on his handling of last summer's war with Hezbollah. Quite the contrary, Olmert appears to be digging into his political foxhole.
This comes despite a huge public barrage against his leadership. This evening , it's expected perhaps as many as 200,000 Israelis may gather in Tel Aviv calling for Olmert's resignation.
The public calls for resignation follow a crushing report by the Winograd Commission. Olmert himself appointed the commission after last summer's war. They carried a mandate to analyze how Olmert and his government handled last summer's war with Hezbollah and submit their findings.
The report concluded that Olmert's actions added "...up to a serious failure in exercising judgment, responsibility and prudence." At the time, Olmert appointed the commission, many called for his resignation then. Now, the calls for him to step down are deafening.
But many believe Olmert is either politically tone deaf or the ultimate political animal who will try and survive against overwhelming odds. Herb Keinon of the Jerusalem Post thinks it's the latter. He wrote that "... he is completely in his element now, waging a battle for his political survival. There is nobody in this country - nobody - who is a better politician in the trenches than Olmert. Despite the polls, despite the headlines, despite the editorials and the much-discussed "public atmosphere" Olmert is not through - far from it."
Yet, many in this country believe what's at stake here is much more than Ehud Olmert's political future. It's Israel's future. For months, Israeli intelligence has warned of an upcoming conflict with either Syria or Hamas or both. With Israel on the precipice of another war, many here in Israel believe the country needs leaders fit to take the nation to war.
A leading military analyst in HaAretz, one of Israel's most liberal newspapers asked the question, 'Is the Olmert government capable of properly managing the war that could be imposed on Israel?" He answered the way many Israelis feel now: no, it is not. Furthermore, the depth of the anti-Olmert sentiment can be seen by some comments by his usual political allies.
Again, a commentator in HaAretz made the following analysis: "If Ehud Olmert had integrity, he would have resigned last night. For many years, Israelis sought a government without the religious. In Olmert's government, they got a government without God. It is now clear that a government without God is also a government without talent. Without a moral compass, without a political agenda and without a grip on reality."
This deep leadership crisis in Israel now combined with the growing menace from its neighbors leads some to look to the Bible and especially how Paul encouraged Timothy: "I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." I Timothy 2:1, 2
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