All of us, every single man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth were born with the same unalienable rights; to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And, if the governments of the world can't get that through their thick skulls, then, regime change will be necessary.
Kadima leader Tzipi Livni finally formed a "government" on Monday, seven months after failing to build a real coalition when she had the opportunity to do so in October. This time what she formed was a "shadow government," modeled after its namesake in the United Kingdom. The shadow ministers will head task forces of Kadima MKs that will set the party's agenda in their areas of expertise and respond to the government's actions on related issues.
Most of Kadima's former ministers will return to the roles that they held in the last government in a shadow capacity. For instance, Ronnie Bar-On will be Kadima's shadow finance minister, former interior minister Meir Sheetrit will be in charge of matters related to local authorities and Avi Dichter will head the party's task force on internal security.
The one former minister who will not hold the same "post" is former transportation minister Shaul Mofaz, who will be Kadima's shadow defense minister.
Marina Solodkin, who was betrayed by Ehud Olmert when portfolios were distributed in the last government, came close to receiving the job Ariel Sharon promised her when Livni appointed her shadow absorption minister.
MKs who have never been ministers will be in charge of matters they dealt with in a professional capacity. For instance, MK Ronit Tirosh, a former Education Ministry director-general, will be shadow education minister, and MK Orit Adato, who is a former hospital deputy director-general received the Health "portfolio."
Livni, a former foreign affairs and justice minister, kept for herself all matters related to foreign affairs, the Middle East conflict and the need to draft a constitution.
The only Kadima MKs not appointed to shadow ministries were faction head Dalia Itzik and MKs Tzahi Hanegbi and Yoel Hasson, who head Knesset committees.
"We will watch over the ministers in the current government and provide an active alternative to everything they do," a Kadima spokesman said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may endorse the creation of a Palestinian state during his upcoming meeting with President Obama in Washington,Israel's defense minister said Saturday.
But sources close to the Israeli government told FOX News that Netanyahu will first seek assurances from Obama that neighboring Arab nations will back the weak Palestinian government of Mahmoud Abbas in concessions for peace.
Netanyahu's government was encouraged by Vice President Joe Biden's speech to the American Israel Political Affairs Committee in which he said one of the clear responsibilities the Arab states have is to support the Palestinian Authority's effort to govern on the West Bank, "develop and reform its institutions, help the people of Gaza work toward returning to Gaza."
The endorsement would be a significant shift for the Israeli leader, who has made clear in the past that he does not think the Palestinians are ready to rule themselves. But that position has put him at odds with long-standing U.S. policy that supports Palestinian statehood as the cornerstone of Mideast peace efforts.
"I think and believe that Netanyahu will tell Obama this government is prepared to go for a political process that will result in two nations living side by side in peace and mutual respect," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Channel 2 TV on Saturday.
In a revealing passage of this article, the Likud government is apparently willing to cede the following to the Palestinian Authority:
Netanyahu has said the old formula of trading land for peace has been unsuccessful. He has suggested focusing instead on building up the Palestinian economy and security services loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
But Netanyahu has acknowledged neither track is a substitute for political negotiations. And on trips to Egypt and Jordan last week, he said he wanted to quickly renew talks with Palestinians that stalled last year without any breakthrough.
Aides say he favors giving Palestinians the powers to govern themselves but minus the powers that could threaten Israel -- establishing an army, making treaties with states including Iran, importing heavy weapons, or controlling air space close to Israel's international airport.
For the record, this sounds very similar to the concept which former Foreign Minister and Kadima Party Chief Tzipi Livniwas proposing, although her model would have had slightly enhanced rights, & in line with Pope Benedict XVI's call for a "homeland" as opposed to an outright state.
This is Likud's Tzipi and she is none too happy with PM Netanyahu these days.
Kadima forms "shadow government" a la the UK:
Photo courtesy of YNet-GPO
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