The public wants to know

As Kadima primaries draw near and the atmosphere heats up, public statements made by the candidates, referring more to their personal qualities, qualifications or lack thereof - seem more suitable for a popularity contest than for a substantial choice.

The real question is not which candidate will pick up the phone faster at three am, but rather what kind of decision that phone call will entail and how it will be reached. The question is one of substance.

Have Kadima's candidates digested and adopted some of the recommendations put forward by the Winograd report? What soundly-based alternatives will stand before them when they are called upon to answer the "red line"? Will the National Security Council, established by law, now be given enough tools and authority to be able to provide relevant, up-to-date and serious alternatives allowing the next prime-minister and the cabinet to reach the right decisions?

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Help olim join the Jewish people

Some 300-350 thousand non-Jewish immigrants live in Israel today, mostly people who emigrated from the former Soviet Union under the Law of Return. They are all Israeli citizens; most of them well integrated in Israeli society. Many serve in combat units in the IDF. Under Israeli law and the famous Status Quo arrangement, the Orthodox establishment monopolizes the conversion process in Israel. Non-Jewish immigrants can die for the country, but cannot marry a Jewish citizen in Israel.

Two months ago an urgent meeting took place in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset. Its chairman, MK Menachem Ben-Sasson, convened the meeting following a preposterous case that took place in the Rabbinical Court of Ashdod. At the end of a simple divorce case, the court retroactively revoked the wife's conversion - which took place 15 years earlier - declaring her marriage null and void and her children gentiles. The decision not only canceled the woman's conversion, but also discredited some 15,000 conversions preformed by Rabbi Haim Druckman, former head of the State Conversion Authority.

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Give Obama a break

Throughout much of the campaign, Obama was subjected to excessive nitpicking, rumors and accusations, many of which were baseless and unfair.

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Preempt domestic violence

In recent weeks it seems that a new and noxious wave of domestic violence has come to light. This deplorable phenomenon has existed, no doubt, before the recent media coverage. However, the new cases which were recently revealed have mostly occurred in the Ultra-Orthodox community. In one case, a so-called "Rabbi" encouraged brutal abuse of young children in order to "purify" them and "clear their bodies of demons".  The newfound public interest along with the shocking testimonies of the abused children has sparked a public debate on the issue, prompting us to ask ourselves: how can we deal with this?

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Freedom of expression?

In the midst of the tough public debate on what Israel's reaction to the attacks from Gaza should be, Oded Tira (who previously served as Head of Israel's industrialists' Association) published in Ha'aretz (14.2.08) a paid, quarter page length ad attacking one of Israel's most prominent writers and intellectuals - Amos Oz.

The reason for Tira's fury: Amoz Oz dared to express his opinion (obviously opposed to Tira's point of view) about the course of action to be taken in Gaza.

Since when, writes our good industrialist, can Oz make any such pronouncements - who "gave him the authority, him and his writer friends, to advise the people of Israel on strategic matters"?

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Is the Jewish Agency for sale?

Since its inception in 1929, the Jewish Agency has played a crucial role in the creation of the State of Israel. It spearheaded the ingathering of Jewish immigrants, the physical building of the country and the galvanizing of its identity. The contribution of the Jewish Agency to the strengthening of Israel, to Jewish education and to our ties with Diaspora Jews is priceless.

Over the years, many Israelis thought that the historical role of the Jewish Agency had been completed. Hence, many called to end its mission; some even attempted, unsuccessfully, to do so. Over the past few years the Agency succeeded in proving to the Israeli public as well as to Jews the world over that it still has a vital role to play. Its performance in times of crisis made it the object of admiration. Among its successes: the invaluable help in bringing over to Israel some 3 million Jews; the educational and emotional experience it provided to thousands of youngsters who came here the opportunity to participate in its programs; and its contribution to found some 900 rural settlements around the country, Kibbutzim and Moshavim alike. It created Community Centers and Cultural Centers, kindergartens and sports facilities and contributed to the development of higher education. For all of the above, I am grateful to the leadership of both Israelis and Diaspora Jews.

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Get the ball rolling

Those of us who favor the renewal of the political process in our area welcome president Bush's short visit to our area.

Any visit of an American President to Israel can only be a source of joy and pride for us, but in this particular case the visit goes beyond bilateral relations.

The bonds between the US, a superpower, and the small, young State of Israel are without precedent in the history of international relations.

It is said that the then Secretary of State William Rogers told the late Lea Rabin that the special relations between the US and Israel only fall behind the very deep ties that bind America with Great Britain.

While this may have been true then, it seems that over the past decade US-Israel relations have surpassed them in closeness and intensity. Yet, as mentioned, the purpose of President Bush's visit this time is not the deepening of bilateral ties.

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