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Информация о материале
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Автор: Amusia Miron Mark Perelman
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Категория: english
Elections of the new president of Israel come closed and closer, either
due to end of his cadence or even earlier, if under police charges of rape,
sexual harassment and some violations in pardon procedures President Katsav
will resign.
What with be the status of his successor and who therefore could be
the next Israeli president?
We are definitely against intensively discussed now overnight transformation
of Israel into a presidential republic. This system of state power works
currently effective enough only in the USA. Introduced in other countries,
it almost immediately demonstrated prominent shortcomings resulting mainly
from concentration of power in the hands of the president.
As to the parliamentary republic, its efficiency is determined by the
election system. Basically, more preferable are elections on the personal
districts scheme, instead of the parties’ lists. However, in a country
with a number of separated by tradition but not by the place of living
different minority groups, the district system is not good enough: it c?uld
leave these groups without proper representation in the parliament On the
other hand, elections under party lists scheme decreases the personal responsibility
of the elected people upon the voters.
In Israel the combined system would be probably an optimum. For example,
half of deputies should be elected from individual districts, and half
by party lists. This share – one half - could vary from time to time following
the changes of the society.
Today and, hopefully, in the foreseeable future, the president of Israel
will be not simply a representative of a party, community, or group. It
has to be an independent person, representing all people. A person not
connected to existing political elites, the moral symbol and authority
of the country, although fulfilling mainly representational and honorable
duties, something like the Queen of the Great Britain.
In absence of inherited nobility, the Israeli candidate for presidency
should have particularly prominent recognized achievements, excellent moral
reputation, high intellectual level and broad international popularity
that would allow him to serve the interests of the country abroad. We do
believe that for today such criteria can satisfy only a big scientist,
having prominent advantages not only before politicians and the military,
but also before artists, writers and journalists. It is because for a really
big scientist the common sense, ability to the critical and objective analysis
of a situation, professional honesty and firm ethical foundations are characteristic
demanded by all professional life.
Some names of suggested candidates already appear in the mass media.
Although the Knesset will elect the president, the people have to participate
in the discussion. Among mentioned candidates most arrogant for us looks
Shimon Peres, co-winner with Rabin and Arafat of the Nobel peace price.
The harm, done by him to Israel, is very big: very and many people currently
realize that. Other mentioned by mass media candidates are far not that
arrogant but present people without something outstanding.
There is a risk therefore, that Israel will receive, as a result of
inter-party fights, an ordinary faceless president. The result of the second
Lebanese war has shown, however, how dangerous is to have a government
headed by mediocre in every respect people. Undoubtedly, the president,
possessing high domestic and international respect, could play an important
role in defining the governmental policy, and in creation of a positive
image of the country abroad.
Human wisdom says: «It is better with a clever to lose, than
with a fool to win». So, let us search for a clever, and with him
to lose would not be necessary. In this connection it is useful to recollect
previous presidents of Israel: they were prominent personalities, known
to the world, with big merits before the country, and in some cases - before
the world. Among eight presidents of Israel there were two big scientists,
Haim Weizman and E.Katzir, all quite successful as presidents
The role played by the president entirely depends on his prestige.
Thus, we are confronted by the question: whether there are in Israel people
of supreme moral and intellectual standard that are able to influence positively
the situation within the country and its status in the world? Our answer
to this question is definitely positive.
The most worthy candidate for president, particularly in view of the
current position of the country, in our eyes is professor Israel Robert
Aumann (born in 1930), Nobel prize winner of 2005 in economics for the
development of the mathematical game theory, in particular, for the foundation
of that part of it that deals with resolution of conflicts and crisises,
the problems that are primarily important for states and politicians.
Professor Aumann, one of the most famous scientists in the world, an
absolutely independent person, would not be silent if he would consider
necessary to raise his voice. It seems that he is not connected to existing
political elites of Israel. All this is demonstrated by his numerous talks,
interview and speeches against «unilateral withdrawal», against
the policy «territories in exchange for the illusion of peace»,
against permanent retreat as the basic strategy of Israel in her struggle
for existence.
In spite of being today a high rank scientist, he knows the hardships
of real life. Being a child, he left Germany in 1938, lived and worked
in USA and Europe, lost his son in Peace to Galilee military operation,
has a big and devoted family. He is obviously able to estimate properly
the role of different events in Israel and abroad.
Of course, it would be difficult for prof. Aumann to terminate his
scientific activity, but we believe that the ability to serve effectively
the interest of Israel would prevail.
Having selected such person to the position of president, Israel would
lift considerably the intellectual, moral and ethical standard for presidents
in the entire civilized world.
Jerusalem
19.10.06
M. Ya. Amusia and M. E. Perelman,
Professors of physics
Russian version
