Barack and Barak

When news happen, I can't help but ask - why now? In doing counseling, it is one of those questions that therapists will often ask their patients - why have you decided to seek help now? Although stressors build and build over time, there is usually one incident or underlying prompt that causes a person to take action. Why now is one of those questions that I asked myself when hearing the news that Israel had begun an air assault on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

It should be pointed out that the major reason that Israel chose this time to strike, is that on December 19, 2008, Hamas stated that it would not renew the cease-fire agreement and initiated rocket attacks into Israel. But, there may some more issues related to timing that may have helped spur Israel's move to action. I wondered whether Israel saw this time in the United States as the "changing of the guards." You know, George W. Bush is on his way out and Barack Obama (photo on the above left) is not yet in. Perhaps Israel realized that the United States would be "slow on the draw" to make any comments regarding their actions.

Secondly, there may be another Barak-timing issue. This refers not to Barack Obama, but to Israel's - Ehud Barak (photo on the above right). Israel is in the middle of an election campaign. Ehud Barak is the most decorated soldier in Israel history. He was Prime Minister of Israel from1999 to 2001, and is currently Defense Minister. Barak is now running for his old position, that of Prime Minister. His performance was not seen as great, to say the least, during his first go-around. To turn Barak's image around, his PR people decided to launch a reverse psychology campaign, with billboards stating, "He's not nice, but he's a leader," and other variations on this idea. The Los Angeles Times had this to say:

Reporting from Jerusalem -- A week ago Ehud Barak was trailing so badly in Israel's election campaign that he appeared, awkwardly, on a satirical television show to tout his leadership skills.The next day, a massive Israeli air assault on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip thrust him center stage in a deadly serious role. It was Barak -- defense minister, decorated war hero, military strategist par excellence -- who planned the operation. And politically it is Barak, a former prime minister running for his old job, who has the most to gain or lose in the ongoing military offensive in the Palestinian enclave (Richard Bourdeaux).

Something about the description of a decorated war hero appearing awkwardly on a satirical television show sounds so familiar to me.....well - anyway - here is the skit below:

I know what you are thinking - this is in Hebrew - I can't understand what he is saying. Well yes, you are right. The Jerusalem Post provided a brief synopsis of the performance: Barak's skit showed him searching for a new home to replace his luxury apartment in Tel Aviv's Akirov Towers.
The Labor leader has come under heavy flak for purchasing the $2.5 million flat in 2006, which he is now trying to sell for some $11m. In the skit, Barak tries, with no success, to get accepted to a regular apartment building, where the residents justify their refusal by telling him that someone had just published ads saying he wasn't nice, trendy or a buddy (from Labor's own election campaign).

I am a supporter of Israel, and hope that the innocent lives lost on either side of the fighting are few. Today's news talks about ground troops perhaps going in. It seems that Barak - Ehud Barak - has a lot riding on whether the military actions are viewed as a success or a failure. It also appears that Hillary Clinton will have a full plate once taking her position as Secretary of State.