By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D
JERUSALEM — It’s time to wish you all a Happy New Year, with the best of health, cheer, and contentment.
While we’re wondering about Bibi’s efforts to create a government.
Currently he has a few days to finish the task and is saddled with disputes within the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox party about the goodies available to its factions, as well as problems in Likud. Who’ll get what?
He did the easy part first, and caved in to Ben Gvir and Smotrich, giving both expanded major ministries (Public Security and Finance), whose outer borders will invite participation of the Supreme Court to decide on the legality. Major concessions include control over police, and settlement of Jews in the West Bank, plus the demands of a tiny faction to limit the privileges of women, gays, and transgenders.
Knesset Members are saying that physicians should be allowed to decide who they will treat and public places should decide who they will allow to enter. Intentions are to discriminate against individuals because they are gay, or because they are not Jews.
Alongside these comments are assertions by the physicians’ organizations that they will continue to treat all who ask for care, and public forums saying that they will admit and provide service to one and all.
Bibi has come out with statements on behalf of the status quo, against members of his coalition. He asserts that care, access, and other services will be available to all, without reference to age, ethnic or religious status, or sexual preference.
Yet the published agreement indicates that individual physicians and other service providers with religious commitments can refuse service to those who fall outside of their beliefs.
And are the quarrels among the ultra-Orthodox and in Likud nothing more than efforts to increase shares toward the end of bargaining? Or are they serious disputes likely to impede agreement?
So far, we are hearing loud complaints about the end of Israeli democracy from within and outside of Israel. Not much about the end of Bibi’s career. But a four-seat majority in the Knesset isn’t all that big and is likely to sag even if the big man can reach agreement in the next few days.
The details are many and confusing. Locals can’t keep track of them from one newscast to the next amid the emotional commentaries.
Best to end with a “We’ll see,” and a wish for a great year.
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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D, is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via irasharkansky@sdjewishworld.com