Of Unity and Stupidity in Israel

But circumstances are not normal. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this news hardly registered a blip on the mainstream media radar. I congratulate both men for coming together in a time of crisis. It’s just too bad this couldn’t have been done from the start – before 2 additional elections were held with the same inconclusive results and a possible  4^th in the offing. 

But it’s a done deal now. It is interesting to note that Gantz has dissolved his ‘Blue and White Party’. Not exactly sure why. But will hazard a guess that it was formed in the first place entirely for purposes of defeating Netanyahu. They are not that far apart ideologically. (At least in terms of Israel’s dealings with the Palestinian issue.)  Now, after once declaring he would never serve in a coalition with Netanyahu, he will be doing exactly that - followed later by becoming Prime Minister.

I’m glad to see this issue resolved. I know that about half of all Israelis will be overjoyed at the prospect saying goodbye to Israel’s longest serving leader - and don’t think it could come soon enough. But I will be sorry to see him go. He has proven his worth to the Israeli people. Which is why he is the longest serving Prime Minister in Israel’s history!

The latest thing Netanyahu has done is take immediate and effective action to protect the Israeli people from the coronavirus. From YWN: 

The measure of a leader is how he reacts to national crisis. Israel surely has plenty of those - this one being only the latest. Under Netanyahu’s watch, major terrorist attacks have declined to zero. Some of the things he’s done to protect his people - like building a wall between the West Bank and Israel proper - have been harshly criticized by the mainstream media. But the fact is that wall has saved Israeli lives. There is not a doubt in my mind that Palestinian terrorists from the West Bank can no longer so easily cross over the line and blow up a bus or restaurant.

Is Netanyahu perfect? Of course not. He is human and subject to human foibles. He has made mistakes for which he will no doubt pay a hefty price once out of office. He is also a consummate politician that knows how to pander.  He is an egotist who thinks he is right about everything. And he doesn’t mind telling everyone that. He even lectured the President of the United States in a condescending manner!

But in spite of all that, he has led his country well during his tenure right up to the present moment.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has self quarantined again after his Health Minister, Yaakov Litzman tested positive for the virus. I hope he’s OK and I wish a Refuah Shelama to his Health Minister.

Meanwhile there are still pockets of violators that scorn all the warning  and continue to congregate. Fortunately the police are doing heir job and breaking them up. But not without some truly ugly behavior on the part of their young residents. A child there started screaming ‘Nazi’s’ at them and coughing at them as though trying to infect them with the virus.

I wish I could say I am surprised at this behavior. But I am not. Nor is it any excuse to say that it was just a child doing it. That child got his attitude from somewhere. He didn’t just think it up. He got it from his parents, or teachers, or friends... or all of the above.  There is no denying that this ugly attitude exists among many adults in communities like this. 

Whenever there is a police action – even it is done to protect those very people, this kind of reaction is almost guaranteed. These young people have been indoctrinated to believe that every single action carried out by the police is in service to destroying Judaism. Shutting down a Shul is surely seen by them as such an act. They just do not buy into the fact that it is all about Pikuach Nefesh. They actually believe police are using the virus as an excuse to harass them!

To be fair, many - perhaps most - people in that community that are as disgusted by this kind of behavior as I am. And understand quite well what is at stake here.

I only hope those that don’t understand that - do not find out the hard way that harassment was not the reason for breaking up their Minyan. Unfortunately the likelihood is that more people in those kinds of communities will test positive for the virus – as has been the case in other Charedi neighborhoods where safety measures were ignored too late in the game. God save us all.