Dateline Jerusalem — Are politics the same all over the world? In Israel, the entire country gets involved. In the past, regardless of political affiliation, everyone pulled together for the good of the country. Not so anymore. This has been an election of right vs. left, religious vs. non-religious, inflated egos and sour grapes. This is just from politicians within Israel. Outside governments and organizations trying to control, influence, threaten, make outrageous demands, and essentially rule Israel make Israeli internal politics look like child’s play.
Many of my readers were under the impression that Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu’s Likud party won Israel’s election in March, despite U.S. interference. They were surprised to learn that it was not a guarantee of a Likud government. It has taken until now for Bibi to establish a coalition of parties. The bare minimum of 61 of 120 seats necessary to run the government leaves what many consider an unstable situation. With last minute manipulations, pullouts, lawsuits and security threats against appointed ministers, no wonder there is perceived instability.
Likud’s victory may seem only a win for the right wing and religious of Israe. Really it is a victory for the Israeli people and for the security of the State of Israel. Yet the safety and well-being of Israel have taken a back seat to the Left’s anathema, loathing, antipathy and hostility toward the Right. When a Knesset minister receives death threats requiring a personal security detail assigned to her, the Left has gone too far. Although the coalition has only 61 seats, Bibi has made overtures to others in the opposition to join the coalition so that a strong functioning government will prevail. The negative responses Bibi received show that the egos of the opposition take precedence over the safety, security, and welfare of the country.
It is a disgrace that the opposition is more interested in being disruptive than allowing the newly formed government of Israel an opportunity to try and function. Yesh Atid’s Lapid filed an injunction against Likud. Zionist Union/Labor’s Herzog called for costly new elections. He threatened members of the coalition, “We will not let you lead. You will not be able to function.” The opposition has filed a myriad of frivolous motions amounting to a filibuster to disrupt the new government. Herzog further claimed that there must be an alternative government to Bibi’s, stating, “I am talking about a government under my leadership because only I am capable of running this Knesset and this political system”. Sounds rather egomaniacal, doesn’t it?
Although media polls prior to the election in March predicted a win for Zionist Union’s Herzog/Livni, Bibi’s Likud seemed to have support from the common man in Israel, at least among taxi drivers and shop owners and people on the street where I live. Bibi even had the support of minorities such as Ethiopians, Druze and Bedouin Arabs. It is interesting to note, that with all the cries of “racism” against the right wing Likud, the left wing parties have no blacks (Ethiopians) as MKs (Members of the Knesset). Likud is the only party in this newly elected Knesset with an Ethiopian MK.
L’hitraot. Shachar
