In 1977, then-Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin resigned from his post upon Aharon Barak’s (Attorney General at the time) announcement that he intended to prosecute Rabin, along with his wife Leah. The charge was possession of an illegal bank account in the US (today such accounts are legal). That was then.
While in office, Ehud Olmert was investigated for at least five different criminal allegations, including various corruption charges. Despite far surpassing the appearance of impropriety, and widely considered a grossly incompetent prime minister, Olmert continued to deny any wrongdoing and insisted on remaining in office until late 2008. Olmert is not alone. Another former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, former Minister of Finance (Avraham Hirschson), and many others have “contributed to the breakdown of public morality.”
The delegitmization of Israel, terrorism, and the Iranian threat have a nearly permanent spot in the headlines. Jerusalem, and even Israel’s diminishing sovereignty are notable problems. One issue, however, that does not seem to be as well-known outside of Israel, is corruption and the disintegration of basic law and order.
Over the past few decades, elected officials have become more corrupt, and far more brazen in flouting the law. Michael Oren is right:
[Corruption] undermines Israel’s ability to cope with other threats; that saps the willingness of Israelis to fight, to govern themselves, and even to continue living within a sovereign Jewish state. It emboldens Israel’s enemies and sullies Israel’s international reputation.
Unlike in the U.S., children in Israel are not indoctrinated throughout elementary school with the old adage that “crime doesn’t pay.” One reason for that might be that, in today’s Israel, it is not true. More severe sentences need to be handed down, not only to violent criminals, but to those who steal from the public and run the country into the ground.
One possible reason for the absence of quality elected officials is that many, if not most, Israelis do not look up to Knesset Members, nor do they aspire to run for office. Until the recent economic downturn, Israel’s best and brightest turned to medicine, hi-tech, and life abroad. It is yet to be seen if this will change, and what the next “hot” field will be. It will not, most likely, be elected office. After all, that’s for frayerim.
