Think big, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and leave the little people behind. A man like Stanley Fischer in the government would improve its quality and raise its image. You bet on him once before, and you were not wrong.
A very interesting diplomatic situation has emerged: the foreign affairs portfolio is open and Stanley Fischer is available. Combine these two facts, and what do you get? The ideal foreign minister for Israel. It is enough to look at the alternatives to realize just how great the idea is. Without mentioning names, none of the options even reach Fischer's ankle.
But will such a situation ever come about? The media is mentioning Fischer's name as a possible successor to Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben S. Bernanke. Many people are seeking that post, almost all of whom are people of stature, and even so, Fischer's names shines. In Israel, there is no surfeit of such candidates, and when one stands head and shoulders above the rest, we could expect them to jump at the chance. Netanyahu already made this jump once, he brought Fischer to be the governor of the Bank of Israel. The country profited greatly from it; Fischer saved Israel from the economic crisis that hit most of the world.
Netanyahu, and Israel, now face a crisis just as severe in foreign policy. The US and major European countries are putting the squeeze on us. They do not like the Netanyahu government's policies at all. There is even talk of sanctions, you understand. Israel and Iran. The idea has disappeared for the moment, but we assume that it will return stronger when a new government is formed in Israel.
There is no one like Fischer to dispel the evil spirits surrounding us. His wisdom and stance can not only calm the world, but also the angry, or just silly, voices amongst us. Not only does he have the personal skills, he has a vital asset: he is not a member of any political party, has no political affiliation, and has never been involved in the dirty horse trading of petty politics. In this regard, he is as unblemished as a newborn baby, with one difference: he is fully aware of what is going on, who is against whom, he knows what the problems are and he can help fix them.
Bottom line: it would not be merely a crime to pass over such a man; it would be stupid. He can do for Israel's foreign policy what he did for its economic and financial policy. You say he is an economist, not a diplomat? Israel's foreign ministers, most of them, did not come from the diplomatic service, and if they had any experience at all, it was negligible. All that is needed is honesty and integrity, and Fischer has these is plenty. His winning smile also helps.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 18, 2013
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