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Информация о материале: Автор: Amusia Miron Mark Perelman; Опубликовано: 30 ноября -0001

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

An introduction to MAOF
Haim Goldman

Dear Friends,

Would you believe that the undersigned has anything in common with

-- Professor Victor Davis Hanson (Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University),
-- Dr Charles Krauthammer, (Washington Post, Time, The Weekly Standard),
-- Caroline Glick (Deputy Managing Editor of the Jerusalem Post),
-- Jonathan Tobin (Executive Editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent).

Amazingly, the editors of the MAOF website decided that the missives of the undersigned are worthy of translation and posting along the articles written by these distinguished authors.

The first letter was published without the consent of the undersigned.
However, after thorough examination of the laudable attitude of MAOF and of the excellent contents of the website, the undersigned had most graciously granted his permission for publication of his missives in both English and Russian.

“Analytical Group MAOF” [1] is an organisation founded about ten years ago by Russian-speaking Jewish intellectuals. The attitude of MAOF is definitely pro-Zionist -- unambiguously and unapologetically.

One of MAOF’s primary purposes is providing information and analysis about Middle-Eastern and world affairs as well as about Israel’s history, values and dilemmas. In addition to extensive publication activity in various media, MAOF also organises excursions and seminars. While the vast majority of the contents of the MAOF website is in Russian, texts originally written in English are provided in the original [2] as well as in Russian.

There are arguably about 250 millions of Russian-speakers worldwide and many of them do not read English. The indisputable motivation for the author’s permission was to grant those millions of disadvantaged people the grand benefit of reading the author’s ruminations. If the author is ever maliciously accused that his tacit motivation for authorising the publication was his craving to be listed along with the above-mentioned distinguished writers, his plea will definitely be “nolo contendere”.

The editors of MAOF expressed their gratitude by granting the undersigned a privilege that no other author got – the opportunity to review and correct the Russian translation before publication. The original letters of the undersigned are at [3] and their Russian version is at [4]. At of today, only two letters are posted but several other letters are pending translation.

You are kindly ENCOURAGED TO RECOMMEND the MAOF website to your friends and colleagues worldwide, particularly those who speak Russian. Those who do not enjoy the benefit of proficiency in the exquisite Russian language can find many thought-provoking and inspiring articles about Middle-Eastern and world affairs in the English section [2].

Sincerely,

Haim Goldman
28.10.2006

REFERENCES:

[1] http://maof.rjews.net
[2] section.php3? sid=37&num=25
[3] authorg.php3? id=2107&type=a
[4] authorg.php3? id=2166&type=a

Maof

Whom we would like to see President of Israel