Of Yeshiva Stipends and Angry Voters |
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By Yossi Verter, Ha'aretz 29.10.2010
via Ha'aretz
A recent report in Ha'aretz discusses the fruit of the Geneva Initiative's ongoing collaboration with the Labor Party in Israel. The report specifically points to the continued political influence of Geneva Initiative co-founder Yossi Beilin.
The relevant section is below. To read the full article, click here.
Beilin's Hidden Hand
The contest for the Labor Party leadership now appears to be the main time bomb threatening the government. Isaac Herzog and Braverman know they could oust Barak only if all three are rank-and-file MKs, not ministers. Therefore they will be forced to leave the cabinet, and to pull Barak out with them. Only a dramatic diplomatic move on Netanyahu's part could put paid to this theory.
Both signed a letter that was sent at the end of the week to Barak, in which they call on him to convene the party executive committee for a political discussion. The letter is signed by 61 members of that committee. The idea originated with the Geneva Initiative staff. In the letter, the signatories suggest that Labor adopt "a clear diplomatic platform" that includes both the Geneva Initiative and the Arab peace initiative. Clearly the Netanyahu government cannot live with either.
It's somewhat absurd that two ministers, one of them a member of the inner cabinet (Herzog ), are partners to a letter signed as well by 57 total unknowns (two members of the Labor Knesset faction, Einat Wilf and Raleb Majadele, are also signatories ). After all, Herzog can bring the idea up in the cabinet. And both are potentially future prime ministers. Each is important enough to initiate a diplomatic plan of his own. They can always cause an uproar by claiming Barak refused to accept their proposal.
Thus, the author of the Geneva Initiative, Dr. Yossi Beilin, continues to influence the Labor Party long after he resigned from it. To be more precise, he's influencing what isn't happening.
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