Weekly Commentary: PM Netanyahu must not prepare policy address in isolation
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 24 March 2011

In the era of giants, then-minister of education Zalman Aran swore that he
would follow David Ben-Gurion with his eyes closed. "But I peek every once
in a while to make sure Ben-Gurion has his eyes open," he sagely added.
Yoel Marcus Haaretz 13 March 2007

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is preparing now what may possibly turn
out to be not only the most important policy address in his life but also
the most critical policy presentation since the founding of the Jewish
State.

It is therefore most critical that this important policy address not be
prepared in isolation.

It is certainly possible that, due to the sensitive nature of the policy
address, that it cannot be shared with the entire cabinet before
presentation (someone stepping out to the bathroom in the middle of the
meeting would probably leak the details to a reporter so that the
information would be out in the media before the meeting even ended).

But Mr. Netanyahu has the advantage of having already developed his special
team of seven ministers for discussing strategic matters.

Unfortunately, some Septet members, including Min. Begin, have indicated to
the press that they are not privy to what Prime Minister Netanyahu is
preparing.

Sure, in the absence of the Septet Mr. Netanyahu has some people working
with him who might be let in on the secrets, but there is a fundamental
difference between employees and ministers.

National Security Advisor, Yaakov Amidror, is hardly a yes man. But if he
is involved in the preparation of the policy address and objects to what is
being developed there is nothing he can do, as an employee rather than
independent national leader, if his views are ignored.

In sharp contrast, pulling the same stunt on Begin or others in the Septet
could have serious and immediate political ramifications.

The sooner that the Septet or other top flight forum of ministers becomes
actively involved in the preparation of this important policy address, the
greater the possibility that potentially serious mistakes are avoided.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il