By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM — In his book, Hansichim (The Princes), Gil Samsonov, who has worked for Binyamin Netanyahu as a PR person, describes in detail how Israel’s current prime minister is able to turn adversity to his advantage. For example, after the murder of Prime Minister Rabin, when Netanyahu was the leader of Likud and he and his party were accused by many Israelis, indeed the outside world, of creating the ideological conditions – perhaps even worse – for the assassination, Netanyahu stood his ground.
Almost twenty years later he won another election and is now prime minister for the fourth time, but the pressure on his government, indeed on Israel as a whole, is perhaps greater than it has been for a long time.
The world wants Netanyahu to negotiate with the Palestinians but they seem to have found a more effective way of advancing their cause by seeking to further isolate Israel in the United Nations, threatening to take its leaders to the International Criminal Court, trying to damage Israel’s economic and cultural standing through the BDS movement, and even attempting to punish its soccer players by urging FIFA, that corrupt and dysfunctional organization, to expel Israel.
The world also wants Israel to ease the pressure on Gaza, but a splinter group there has started firing rockets into Israel again which has forced the IDF to respond with air attacks that no doubt will cause more damage in the already ravaged strip and give reason for more international condemnation of the Jewish state.
And if that weren’t enough, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon threatens to displace hundreds of thousand of Israelis when his rockets rain down on this country. While some observers tell us that Hezbollah will soon fall together with its sponsor, Assad of Syria, others believe that the threats should be taken seriously.
Instead of softening his stance in the light of such pressure, perhaps seeking to make up with Obama and yield here and there to the Europeans, maybe even look favorably at the UN resolution that France is currently drafting, Netanyahu seems to be doing the opposite. At the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday he said something to the effect what he had often said in the past – that only a strong and resolute Israel can withstand the pressures and emerge successful.
This was also his answer to Isaac Herzog, the leader of the opposition in the Knesset, who seems to be suggesting that a softer stance on the part of Israel might make things easier. Netanyahu would regard such an approach as colluding with hostile forces and rewarding the hypocrisy of much of the world in its dealing with Israel.
Whether or not we deem this to be the right response, it’s reasonable to assume that it’ll keep his coalition together and enable him to continue to run roughshod over the ministries that are under his direct control, notably foreign affairs and communications. The appointments he has made there in recent days are indicative of his intransigence.
It’s also likely that this will resonate well with ordinary Israelis who seem to be more reassured by the prime minister’s strong voice than by the milder tones of the leader of the opposition.
All we can pray for is no rockets and only words. The prospect of another war is too terrible to contemplate.
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Rabbi Marmur, spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, now resides in Jerusalem. You may comment to him directly at dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com, or post your comment on this website, provided that the rules below are observed.
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