Off the Record

As we took our seats around the big table in the Israeli cabinet office, I marveled that I would never in my lifetime sit at a similar table in the U.S. We had the rare privilege of a briefing by Oren Magnezy, Prime Minister’s Advisor and Liaison to the Knesset; Mr. David Baker, Senior Press Coordinator, PMO; and MK Ronny Brison, Hetz Party.

We experienced Israeli security at its finest in getting into the Prime Minister’s Office. Belt buckles, barrettes, and metal bra underwires set off the sensitive detection device. After an hour we had all been cleared to enter. Only David and one other person were permitted to bring cameras.

We covered a variety of topics:

• the process of defining permanent borders,
• the challenge of building a coalition government,
• a growing disillusionment with the whole peace process, and
• promoting religious pluralism – from secular to ultra-orthodox.

We left our two-hour discussion thinking, “If only the walls could talk”…