Dawn Of Reality

In stark contrast to the saber rattling politicians that we heard this week, Efi Eitam was a breath of fresh air. Eitam said that he opposed a military operation in Gaza. He reasoned that a corrupt prime minister does not have the ethical backbone and public support that he needs for such an undertaking. Eitam also explained that it is absurd to risk Israeli soldiers' lives in Gaza just to hand the area over to Abu Mazen when the fighting subsides.

Eitam's words are an important sign that the ability to criticize the government and to think independently is beginning to crack the thick orange shell of the Religious Zionist establishment. If Eitam is willing to make that type of statement, it is clear that there are a lot of people in the Orange Camp who are at least as ambivalent as he is about the Gaza operation.

It is important, though, to clarify our position. Olmert's corruption is not the reason that he should not lead the IDF into Gaza. The reason that he does not have the public legitimacy to do so is due to his direct involvement in expelling the Jews from Gush Katif. The legitimacy of a decision to go out to war is determined first and foremost by its goal. There are goals that are not legitimate, and Eitam mentioned one of them (capturing Gaza in order to give it to Abu Mazen). In addition, the legitimacy of a war is determined by the record of the nation's leader. A leader who took the IDF out of Gaza - despite all the warnings - does not have the moral standing to return our sons to there.

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