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Dr. Aaron Lerner is co-founder of , Independent Media Review and Analysis, an Israel-based news organization which provides an extensive digest of media, polls and significant interviews and events relating to the Israeli-Arab conflict.
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By Dr. Aaron Lerner
February 7, 2008
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Can Israel accept a "hudna" today that would possibly provide a temporary respite for the residents of Sderot and the other communities near the Gaza Strip at the cost of an ever stronger and effective Palestinian military threat?
Are there concrete measures Israel should be demanding Egypt carry out in order to prevent the ongoing smuggling taking place from Sinai to the Gaza Strip?
Should Israel take over the Gaza Strip to clear out the growing threat developing there and if so does Israel need an "exit strategy" for a complete retreat from the Gaza Strip after the operation or instead a "control strategy" that makes it possible to maintain the presence required so that the security gained from the operation is not seriously eroded upon its completion?
What role, if any, can third party observers -- or security forces -- play in either the Gaza Strip or West Bank?
These are just a few of the many important policy issues Israel faces today.
Issues that could be decided on well before any regime chance takes place in Israel.
These issues are much too important to be left to the current incompetent Olmert team to decide. But they are, unfortunately, in the driver's seat.
That doesn't, however, relieve the loyal opposition in Israel of the obligation to take a stand on these and other issues and argue and lobby for them via every available venue.
The leaders of the opposition certainly don't want to appear like a Don Quixote tilting at windmills as they attempt to micro-manage policy while out of power.
But this isn't micro-management.
This is taking stands on major concrete policy issues at a time that the Olmert team is pretty much clueless as to what to really do.
It is a winning move.
Should the Olmert team adopt the policy recommendations, the nation gains and the public will respect the positive input of the loyal opposition.
And should the Olmert team reject them, this will just help to drive home to Israeli voters that there is an alternative team that does know what should be done.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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