Israel After Ariel Sharon

By Aaron Goldstein

(01/06/06) In a matter of 48 hours a generation has passed in Israel. Two sunsets ago Ariel Sharon appeared on his way to winning his third consecutive election as Prime Minister. But his body has done what no Israeli politician, Arab dictator nor Palestinian terrorist could do. Even if Sharon should survive the ordeal of surgery the severity of his stroke has, barring a miracle, effectively removed him from public life forever. So where does Israel go from here?

Elections are set for March 28th. Sharon had just christened a new political party – Kadima – after bolting from the Likud Party in November 2005. Kadima consists of moderate Likudniks as well as former Prime Minister Shimon Peres. There are those who view this coalition as an alliance that would have never seen the light of day without Sharon. Now that Sharon is out of the picture will Kadima go forward or will it be frozen?That question will be answered by Ehud Olmert who has been named Acting Prime Minister.

Olmert has been a fixture in Israeli politics since being amongst the original members of the Likud Party to be elected to the Knesset in 1973 at the tender age of 28. Olmert is best known as the man who ended Teddy Kollek’s 28 year run as Mayor of Jerusalem in 1993. Olmert held this post until 2003 when he joined Sharon’s cabinet. He was amongst the first Likud Party stalwarts to join Kadima after its formation.In his youth, Olmert was known for his opposition to the 1978 Camp David Peace Accords; a position he now regrets.

Olmert was arguably Sharon’s most stalwart supporter of the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. When Benjamin Netanyahu resigned as Finance Minister in protest, Olmert was named to succeed Netanyahu. Olmert will now most likely square off against Netanyahu in March unless the election is postponed.
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