Israel: The majority' is waking up

The "majority" that gathered, still doesn't count, but clearly it is waking up. If there was any significance in this mass rally, it was the boost of energy injected into the frail body of the Israeli left. The Likud referendum results that killed hopes for an end to the occupation of Gaza Strip, followed by the deaths of 13 soldiers, brought the masses to the square. The question is, what will keep them there - or more precisely, what will bring them back, again and again, in growing numbers and bearing a united message.

The politicians who addressed the crowd, Peres, Beilin and Peretz, do not represent even a quarter of the Knesset. Peres was well received, with the respect due and elder statesman. Beilin's speech was high in promise, but the absence of a single leader who might pull the cart, was blatantly obvious throughout the evening.

"I feel like the child of divorced parents who finally manages to get her parents to go out for an one evening," said MK Yuli Tamir.

To judge from the little political infighting among those representing the various factions, be they of the Geneva Initiative or the Labor party, on issues of procedure and substance of speeches, there will not be another such gathering. We can count on this bunch to foil, undermine, and trip up every successful move that manages to come out from under them.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was described in the days preceding the demonstration as an interested but cool observer. This is an optimal illusion. The agenda may appear to be the same, "pull out of Gaza," but the clear message of last night's demonstration, broadcast to the world was this - Ariel Sharon is a weak prime minister, the prisoner of a handful of extremists in his own party.

Even Peres, the supporter of unity, was forced to add to his speech one sentence rejecting a national unity government - which did not appear to deter the Geneva Initiative people from describing Beilin as one who is interested in precisely such a government.

After last night the pressure on Sharon to shake off the Likud extremists will intensify. If we add the change in Shinui's leader, Justice Minister Yosef Lapid, who is now pushing the prime minister to open talks with Palestinian leader Ahmed Qureia, then the demonstration may prove to be no less important than the one 21 years ago that forced Sharon to leave the Defense Ministry.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/427747.html