By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D
JERUSALEM — It ain’t simple running the Israeli government.
Bibi has to cope with the Court. And with conflicts among his Ministers.
Most prominent is the case of Ariyeh Deri. He’s been ruled by the Supreme Court as unsuitable for serving as a Minister, and Bibi has been told by the Legal Advisor to the Government that Deri must be fired.
We’re hearing that Deri is a responsible and moderate minister, but he’s also been convicted of serious crimes. Included in his portfolio are tax fraud, bribery, and breach of trust. Bibi appointed him as both Minister of Health and Minister of Interior. Both are major appointments, seldom if ever held by one person simultaneously.
It’s taken several days for Bibi to act. We’re heard various creative solutions, how Deri can serve yet also honor the Court’s decision. They range from serving as Bibi’s replacement as Prime Minister in Waiting to be an informal advisor to the government. Deri seemed to be holding on with his fingertips, belying his reputation for moderation and wisdom.
And along with this squabble is one between Yoav Galant as Minister of Defense and Bezalel Smotrich as Minister of Defense for Civilian Issues. Galant ordered the clearing of an illegal settlement, which the IDF has done. So far.. Efforts to rebuild the settlement have been met with arrests. But Smotrich claims that it falls within his portfolio for matters of Defense concerned with Civilian Affairs.
Galant asserts that the IDF can’t have two bosses, and the settlement clearance is going forward.
In the air have been threats of SHAS to leave the government if Deri can’t somehow remain as a Minister, and the possibility that Smotrich’s party will leave the government on the basis of his control over the IDF for Civilian Affairs.
Sixty-three percent of one poll agreed with the Supreme Court decision, which was recorded as 10 judges against only 1 dissent. Among Netanyahu’s voting bloc, the poll showed 49% saying they disagreed with the ruling, as opposed to 38% who supported it.
And there was a massive turnout, more than 100,000 at a demonstration in Tel Aviv of public support for dismissing Deri, plus more thousands in Jerusalem, Beer Sheva, Herzliya, and Haifa.
SHAS still claims that they’ll find a way to return Deri to the government as a Minister.
So where are we?
Bibi’s support of Galant and standing up to Ben Gvir and Smotrich over control of the police and the army suggests a crafty Prime Minister, letting the boys shout, but seeing that they do little to challenge traditional lines of authority.
It’s a show to watch, with wonder how it’ll turn out with particular concern for Justice Minister Yair Levin’s effort to curb the Court with a vote by the Knesset. Something else for Bibi to support while opposing it in action?
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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com