Yair Sheleg writes in Ha'aretz:
…This is the point at which our attitude toward corrupt individuals should progress from expressions of revulsion, such as "we're sick of you," to recognition of the fact that given Israel's unique situation, political corruption, alongside a culture of spin and personal interests, is no less than an existential danger, as it undermines the basis for trust in the government and in the motives behind its decisions.…
However, this [political] conformism stemmed from the combination of a first generation of immigrants with the fear that internal chaos would increase the danger stemming from the external threat. Admittedly, politicians of the previous generation exploited this conformism to a nauseating degree in order to "feather their own nests." But they would be well advised not to rely on it now, both because the current generation is more militant than that of its parents, and because the feeling today - just like after the Yom Kippur War, Israel's only experience to date with "taking to the barricades" - is that refraining from a major shake-up is what would exacerbate the danger stemming from the external threat.
The solution cannot consist merely of replacing this or that official. In practice, the only thing that is keeping Ehud Olmert in office right now is the feeling that none of the available candidates is any better. The conclusion is that it is not enough to replace the cow with a donkey; it is more important to examine the political structure that has led to this lack of better candidates, and to the fact that for years, good Israelis have been fleeing politics, dropping out…
In other words, geneiva – fraud, corruption, nepotism, theft – carries a very high price tag. A valuable lesson, hopefully learned in time.