Moron Of The Week

This week's "Israelism's Moron Of The Week Award" goes to Silvan Shalom. You may ask (as do many people in Israel, as well), who the heck is Silvan Shalom? There's really no reason you should know who he is. He's only....ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER. He's the only foreign minister I've ever seen who doesn't really like to leave the country. People have heard of Benjamin Netanyahu (a previous foreign minister), and Shimon Peres (a previous foreign minister), but Silvan Shalom can claim the rights to being the worst foreign minister in the history of our fair land. He's now very busy tearing apart Prime Minister Sharon's foreign policy and appearing at podiums everywhere denouncing the prime minister. Not exactly in the job description, I would say.

The above, in and of itself, would make Minister Shalom eligible for the Moron of the Week Award. But the knuckleheaded move he made when he just fired Consul General Alon Pinkas, makes him by far, in a moron class of his own.

Alon Pinkas, based in New York, appears on American television as the Israeli spokesman. I have watched him on Fox News Channel many times while sitting in my living room in Jerusalem. He is the most articulate, well versed, and interesting proponent of Israel that I have ever seen. He is our most effective weapon against the very well oiled Palestinian propoganda machine. He has a sense of humor and is able to relate Israel's stances without being beligerent or confrontational. He is the definition of a diplomat.

And Silvan Shalom fired him. Why? Because Silvan is scared of losing his job when there is a unity government. He likes his Volvo that he gets with the job. He likes getting the best seats in restaurants. He likes Silvan Shalom. First, last, and everything in between. So, what better way to throw your weight around than to fire somebody? And you don't even have to leave the country. Because nobody likes a foreign minister who leaves the country.

So, to Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, this week's coveted Moron Of The Week Award goes to you.

Mazal Tov.