The Teflon Prime Minister

Riding high in the polls and thus seeking a 4^th term in office Netanyahu recently called for new elections. Which will take place in April. Most polls show his party, Likud, coasting to yet another easy victory. That will keep him prime minister. Which is quite remarkable considering all the negative media attention given to the accusations of corruption. The way some media outlets are reporting it, you would think that Netanyahu is the most corrupt politician since New York Democrat, William Boss’ Tweed  who was convicted in 1873 of corruption to the tune of least $1 billion in today’s money. 

I know that corruption is corruption. It’s like being a little bit pregnant. You either are or you aren’t. Taking a Cuban cigar as a gift while in office is a corrupt act if there is a law against it. But that seems to hardly raise the hackles of most Israeli voters. Which is why I believe the polls show what they do. More about that later.

According to media reports the police have recommended 3 separate indictments be filed against Netanyahu.  Some of which might be a little more serious than taking a cigar as a gift. But even though he might have broken the law, it was not to enrich himself but as in one case - it was rather a means of doing what every politician in office tries to do - get positive media coverage. 

The electorate knows that too. And they don’t seem to care about that either. It should be noted that the crimes he is accused of do not bar him from retaining his office.  Only a conviction involving a crime of moral turpitude would require Netanyahu to resign. They do not come to anywhere near that.

I’m not excusing it. Just explaining why accusations of corruption do not seem to stick - bouncing off of him as though he was made of Teflon. Remember which American President was called ‘The Teflon President’? (Hint: Ronald Reagan.) But I digress. The attorney General will decide whether or not to indict him.

I believe that any indictment (should it come and legitimate though it may be) is the result of attempts by his political opponents to get rid of him for political purposes. They can’t stand him and can’t they stand his right wing policies. They couldn’t do it at the polls. So they found another way. They got the police to investigate his every move and dig deep until they came up with something. 

Much the same way that Trump’s political opponents have by appointing a special prosecutor to investigate him.  I am not making judgments about the guilt or innocence of either man. Just pointing out the political motives in both. I don’t think there can be any doubt about that.

Why is Netanyahu so popular? First a disclaimer. I am a fan. I know that this is heresy to my friends on the Left who cannot stand him and think he is the reincarnation of the devil. But I see him the same way much of the Israeli electorate does. As a flawed but very strong, articulate and effective leader who has done a superb job of keeping the country safe through some very perilous times. 

Neatnyahu has led Israel through strength which has resulted in relative peace and prosperity. All while Iran and their surrogates in Gaza and Lebanon work furiously 24/7 to destroy Israel. He has significantly improved Israel’s relationship with China, India, Russia, Japan, Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe.

And then there is Neatnayhu’s hard line with respect to Iran. That has resulted in improved relationships with Arab states that were once thought unthinkable. States that include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and United Arab Emirates. 

Ever fearless about the consequences of Israel’s relationship with then President Barack Obama, Netanyahu flew to the United States to protest the deal Obama was about to make with Iran. Democrats were furious with him for ‘dishonoring’ their President. But Netanyahu (correctly in my view) believed the deal was terrible and would do more harm than good – urging the administration not to go ahead with it. But they did anyway.

Thankfully the new administration has voided the deal and reinstated sanctions that are now crippling that terrorist regime. And yet they have not restarted their nuclear weapons program as was predicted by the Left. Instead Iran is being brought to its knees financially. I don’t know how much more the good people of Iran can take before they do something drastic. Like revolt against their government. Thank you Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. President.  

Even the settlements issue is no longer on the front burner of world opinion. Haven’t heard too much about that these days even from Palestinians. 

Israel’s economy is in pretty good shape too compared to the rest of the world (with the obvious exception of the US). I guess 10 years of Netanyahu’s economic policies didn’t hurt it.

How will the religious parties do after the election?  That is a good question. My guess is that they will lose power. Recent polls show Shas retaining as few as 4 seats from their current number of 7. UTJ stands to actually gain a seat to their current 6. Naftali Bennett’s right wing Jewish Home Party will gain as many as 4 additional sheets over its current 8. And Yair Lapid’s centrist Yesh Atid Party will gain about 5 additional seats to its current 11. Meanwhile Netanyahu’s Likud Party looks secure in taking the most seats at about 30, its current level.

All this adds up to a coalition government without any participation by the religious parties.  A coalition that will no doubt push hard to draft Charedim into the army or some form of national service. The very thing the Charedi parties are fighting so hard to prevent having threatened to bolt the current coalition government if they didn’t get their way. That is now moot.

True, these are only projections based on polls. Which have been proven wrong in the past. But if I were a betting man, I would not be betting on the Charedim right now. I am not making any judgments about the rectitude of their position on the draft - although I have my own somewhat complex views about it. Just stating what I believe to be the most likely reality come April - as things stand now.