Source: The Jerusalem Post
Jan 28, 2007
Sunday saw leftist thinking in Israel take two steps ahead as the Kadima Party voted for Shimon Peres to be their presidential candidate, and the cabinet approved the appointment of the first Arab minister in Israeli history.
Peres is probably the country's most influential - and therefore most dangerous - liberal humanist, with a long track record in politics.
While the role of president is meant to be mostly ceremonial, with the first citizen expected to keep out of politics, Peres is unlikely to play by the rules.
Critics expect that, if he becomes president, he will use his position to push Israel further along the "Olso" or "Road Map" path to disaster.
Meanwhile Labor Party Knesset Member Ghaleb Majdale has become the first Arab approved as a minister. He will "for now" be a minister without portfolio.
Israel gives full voting rights to all minorities including the country's Arabs. Many of these Arabs are believed to be disloyal to the state, and a number of Arab Knesset members openly and not infrequently calling for the destruction of Israel.