What does everyone think of Peretz?

See article here: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/644918.html

What a conundrum! Screw up the Israeli economy in the short-term but garuntee long-term prosperity, or buoy the current economy but doom Israel to another decade of violence?

Personally, I think in the long-term, and so long as Peretz doesn't do too many radical socialist plans, and creates peace, I'm all for him. (Heck, I think it's great to have a leader who wants the markets to work for the people, rather than the other way around.)

Eyl, Pelsar, what do you guys think of Peretz? Is it possible he could win back some Sephardic votes for Labor? What's your take on his economic policies? Is he as serious about peace as he's made out to be?

on one hand he reminds me of the "old stalinistic/communist" kind of leader.....lots of talk about workers rights etc...while he shut down the economy and helped "close factories" who couldnt get supplies and lost markets. (i'm independant so i'm a bit sensitive when i cant work...)

Also, he has no experience with the other side of the economy, bankers, capital, etc.

of course this also may be good, as hes not part of the "old boys club"..and he will shake things up, god knows the present govt made up of half idiotes and half imbicles and a "third half" of old men hanging on to their seats, needs a good shaking.

the israeli economy was on some loose ground right now?

is this true? if so is it something israelis are talking about?

but the division between poor and rich has grown...as has the corruption. So though the ecomony perhaps is improving the social aspects is putting it more into a 3rd world country type of divisions.

during the 50s,-70's there was never anybody hungry for food, or that didnt have a roof over their head...not so today

He's a left wing, North African, and grew up in the trade union movement. What could be wrong?

Our local Democratic/Progressive Club is heavily SEIU and United Food and Commercial Workers - and Caesar Chavez Street is proudly a main street in "The City."

I don't know yet.

I'm rather leery of Peretz's economic stance; though possibly, actually having to deal with implementation may moderate him. In addition, I feel he's been highly irresponsible with the use of his power in the past, calling strikes which caused massive damage to Israel's economy, often on what were insufficient reasons, sometimes blocking needed reforms.

An additional problem is that he's focused, at least for quite some time, solely on labor-economic issues. I don't really know yet where he stands on other issues, including the peace process.

Lithos
I/P Forum Moderator

Pukes like Netanyahu, a man that acquired his worst traits while growing up in America, wants to do to Israel what Reagan did to US and what Thatcher did to Britain.