Lessons From the Front Lines

Politics takes a lot of time. If you want to be a good father or a good mother, you don't want nurses bringing up your children. I don't know any mother in the world who doesn't feel guilty. You suffer so much from guilt. Sometimes you're exhausted just from the guilt. Now my children are grown up and big enough to judge for themselves. What you fear is they'll say, "Mommy, you weren't there." Sometimes I come to them and say I want to stop. But they say, "No, stay."

With [Kadima head] Tzipi [Livni], some people still say, "Can you rely on her—can you sleep well?" I'm not sure we'd ask the same question if there were a man running the country. No, I don't think Israelis feel secure yet with women making security decisions. Men all serve in the Army; they make the major security decisions. I didn't serve in the Army. We have to convince people that it's not just a matter of serving in the Army. It's also judgment and a good staff. I insisted on being in the security cabinet. The message was: we're not just good for women's issues.

I'm proud [that all three branches of Israel's government could soon be led by women]. I don't understand why I'm the first. But it gives us more responsibility. If it's not a success, they'll say, "Look, we gave you the opportunity." I'm not going to say it's easy. It puts more responsibility on our shoulders. God forbid if we fail. We have to watch our steps.

© 2008