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| Naftali Bennett and Benjamin Netanyahu (TOI) |
Even though Israel’s multi party parliamentary system is a truly democratic one is its nevertheless a very inefficient one.
One of the reasons for that is with so many parties, it is highly unlikely that any single party would win a majority of the Keneset seats. That requires the party with a plurality of votes to seek coalitions with other parties. And that often causes a clash of ideologies or personalities. Coalitions end up dissolving and new elections are held. That used to work. But it has not really worked in the last three attempts. That is why Israel is about to embark on a fourth attempt. Which is about as likely to succeed as the last one.
This is unfortunate. Israel needs to have a stable government and a stable leader. While Netanyahu had been that stable leader for many years, former allies now can’t stand him and will not serve with him.
I had always ben a supporter of Netanyahu. I still am. I realize that a lot of people loathe him – and want to see change. But like him or not, in my view Israel success story in so many areas is due – at least in part - to Netanyahu’s policies. I therefore see no real problem with Netanyahu serving as Prime Minister should he be able to put together a governing coalition.
What about the corruption charges? I think we need to wait until the Israeli justice system decides whether he is guilty of them - and perhaps more importantly to allow the Israeli electorate to decide if that even matters to them. There is a reason his party gets so many votes every election.
That said, the reality is that it seems increasingly unlikely that Netanyahu will be able to form a coalition with other like minded political parties. Which is why I have been having this ‘ho hum’ reaction.
OK. But what about the issues? The most prominent of which to the world outside of Israel is the conflict with Palestinians. While that is a matter of concern to Israelis too, I do not believe it is really on the front burner for most Israeli voters. With good reason. As things stand now peace with Palestinians is about as likely as colonizing Mars. The elements needed to make peace are just not there.
That doesn’t mean that attempts at peace should be abandoned. They should not be. But the likelihood of success is remote and the average Israeli citizen has issues of more immediate concern. Which are mostly domestic issues.
For the record, I have always favored making peace with the Palestinians – even if it meant giving up land for peace. But that would require them to abandon their dreams of getting back of all Israel using any and all means to achieve that goal. Including mass murdering Jews. That they consider that a legitimate tactic (despite a public face that denies it) is evidenced by treating terrorist killed trying to do that as martyrs and heroes - and providing a financial reward to their families. And that's the PA who are the so-called moderates. Hamas who wrested control of Gaza from the PA has been sending rockets indiscriminately into Israel ever since. They have no pretense about their goals of wiping Israel off the map. Which is in sync with their sponsors, Iran.
Be that as it may, the issue most Israeli vote for are those that affect their pocketbooks. The health of the country is directly related to its prosperity. A related issue is the pubic perception that Charedi world’s refusal to be drafted while the rest of Israel is. And perhaps more importantly the Charedi world’s relatively low participation in the workforce. Thereby not contributing to the economy - instead being supported by a shrinking tax base and an increasing Charedi population..
That last point is significant. A larger Charedi population means more political power. Which gives them outsized clout when governing coalitions are formed.
Netanyahu is not reticent to seek their support by giving them what they want. That basically perpetuates a way of life seen by the public as not contributing to the general welfare..
This brings me to Naftali Bennett. With a projected win of 11 or 12 seats in the Keneset by his party, Yemina, Bennett might be in a position to assure the winner a governing coalition. He is therefore seen as a kingmaker. That he has not ruled out joining a collation government with Netanyahu should put his party in a very good stead.
His plans for the Charedi community would solve a lot of the concerns of Israeli voters. It would create a situation whereby a lot more Charedim will be enticed into the workforce by effectively eliminating military service as an obstacle. His conservative economic polices would in my view add a tremendous boost to the economy as well.
I like this candidate. Even though his policies with respect to Palestinians are much further to the right than Netanyahu - as things stand now it doesn't really matter.
The only problem is how will the Biden administration would react to this. I can’t answer the question. But I believe (or at least hope) that aside from expressing concern, Biden will not abandon Israel even in the unlikely event that Bennet would become Prime Minister. The relationship between Israel and the US is too valuable to abandon.