Dr. Aaron Lerner is co-founder of IMRA, 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. imra@netvision.net.il
The Landau Candidacy
By Dr. Aaron Lerner
August 26, 2005
MK Uzi Landau's candidacy for the chairmanship of the Likud and its candidate for prime minister may be the only remaining bright spot in the Israeli political scene. Landau's universally recognized integrity and demonstrated willingness to put national over personal interest sets him apart from the rest of the field.
MIT Ph.D. Landau is hardly an ivory tower ideologue.
Though many may recall how Landau, as Minister of Internal Security in the first Sharon Administration, closed down Orient House and carefully worked to restore Israeli access to the Temple Mount, perhaps the best illustration of Uzi Landau's performance in office was the dramatic change in the handling of Israeli Arab rioters during his tenure.
The deaths of Israeli Arab rioters in Wadi Ara during the Barak administration poisoned the atmosphere creating a situation that law enforcement officials seemed to have to choose between enforcing the law and avoiding potentially dangerous confrontation. Under Landau's leadership the police achieved both. Rioters were photographed in the act but only detained
on the scene as a last resort in the case of a truly life threatening situation. Instead the rioters were arrested in the middle of the night as their neighbors slept. As a finishing touch, the police came equipped with the incriminating photographs to silence families protesting the innocence of the rioters being detained.
The incidents of rioting plummeted.
But is Landau's candidacy relevant?
It depends in part on the situation in the country when the primaries are held.
If there is relative calm and only minor diplomatic pressure on Israel at the time of the vote then we may be in for a horse race between Netanyahu and Sharon with Landau far behind.
On the other hand, if the seeds of retreat already begin bearing their poisoned fruit along with heavy diplomatic pressure on Israel for more concessions an angry Likud membership may opt to punish the politicians responsible for the disaster and reward Landau for his steadfast opposition to retreat.
In the meantime Landau's challenge is to rebuff efforts by the media, and his competition, to marginalize him. Only time will tell if he has the resources to contend with the well financed Sharon and Netanyahu campaigns.
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