It's 1,2, 3 strikes... [1]

For the last week or so Esterina Tartman, a MK from the Israel Beitanu party and a close confidant of its leader Avigdor Lieberman, has been the subject of a number of exposes.

1. When an Arab member of the Knesset [MK] from Labor was about to be appointed to the cabinet, she expressed her opinion that Arabs have no place in the government, since Israel is a Jewish state -- "I am in favor of a Jewish and democratic state," and suggesting that the appointment of Ghaleb Majadele was tantamount to "swinging a gigantic axe at the tree trunk called Zionism and the Jewish state." Her racist comment didn't garner her any positive feedback/support from the general public.
2. It was disclosed that several years ago, she applied for (and was granted) disabled status from the results of a traffic accident by the NII. She claimed that she was only able to work four hours per day. She also received a settlement from the insurance company.
3. This week it was disclosed that she lied about her academic credentials. She doesn't hold a BA (in economics from Bar Ilan U) or an MBA (from Hebrew U).

With a shuffle of the cabinet, Israel Beitanu received an additional cabinet post (Min of Tourism) and the chairship of the Knesset Finance Committee (whose current chair has refused to set down despite his party refusal to join the government coalition -- but that's another story). Tartman was designated as the party's choice for the Tourism post.

With the revelation of her falsified resume, her "star" had fallen. Late yesterday, after it had become clear that her candidacy had garnered opposition within the Knesset and she might not get elected, she announced that she was withdrawing her name from consideration. Another party member replaced her.

What was most interesting here is not that it was another sign of how corrupt the government or the political system is but, how Tartman and Lieberman expressed shock and outrage how "the media" treated them. Instead of expressing contrition at their misdeeds, they accused the media (and I assume also the public) for their "witch hunt". For Lieberman, her misrepresentations on her resume were no big deal and an innocent mistake.

Who's Lieberman fooling? It was calculated act. Her "problem" is that she and the party got caught. It would do the party, the government and the country good if its leaders were actually above ethical (never mind legal) reproach and when they 'fail', they acknowledge their error in judgement, preferably before it becomes media fodder. However, even after it's reported accepting responsibility for their behavior would also be appreciated.

Lastly, it's another reason for reforming the electoral system. See David Horwitz, Editor's Notes in last Friday's (23 Feb) Jerusalem Post.