Stains that can’t be removed

GEOFF SIFRIN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to come to trial after being indicted last week. Politically, his opponents will dance for joy at the fact that his legacy will forever be “Israeli prime minister indicted for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust”. This is a tragedy, since he and his family contributed hugely to Israel at its founding and after. He personally contributed from his younger days, serving in an elite army unit, providing a sense of security to the country amidst its multiple enemies, and being its highly articulate spokesperson on the international stage. To this day, thousands of Israelis still believe in him totally, and call him the king of Israel.

History is a harsh judge. It casts an exacting light on powerful people who have become addicted to power, which leads them to believe they can do anything without accountability.

A student of history who logs on to Wikipedia 50 years from now for information on Netanyahu, will probably find him described as the longest serving Israeli prime minister. A sentence or two later, he will be deemed the first Israeli prime minister indicted for serious misdemeanours while in office. Whatever the outcome of the legal proceedings, which will dominate Israeli politics for years to come, he cannot remove this stain from his record.

Numerous powerful people and historical figures discovered to have done something abhorrent will be remembered by history only for that act, not their greater deeds. When the former president of Israel, Moshe Katsav’s, name is mentioned, it’s not his term as president that comes to mind, but his abuse of women, and the fact that he was sent to jail.

Sidney Frankel, a billionaire stockbroker in South Africa, supported homes for underprivileged orphans for many years, gave money to worthy causes, and was universally respected and admired. That was until he was found to have been sexually molesting these same orphans, among others.

Now, whenever this man’s name crops up, all you can think of is these sexual crimes against vulnerable children. Think of former South African Police Chief Jackie Selebi, who went down in history as the beneficiary of drug trafficking. Think of respected South African artist Zwelethu Mthethwa, who murdered a prostitute in 2013, and will be remembered for that alone. What do you remember about famous athlete Oscar Pistorius?

Legacies can move in the other direction too. The famed German, Oskar Schindler, who saved 1 200 Jews from certain death at the hands of the Nazis, was previously himself a card-carrying member of the Nazi party. Today, his legacy is one of a selfless, courageous man. There are still Jews today who can trace their family to the people he saved.

Sadly, Netanyahu seems to have travelled a well-trodden path from the heights of glory to an ignominious end without ever being willing to let go. His legacy will not be his courage in battle, or his diplomatic talents, but his wheeling, dealing, and corruption. Had he let go earlier, it might have been different.