By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM — Obviously, Israelis will have a special interest in the outcome of the upcoming elections, and I’m sure they know more about the issues than I do. For people outside Israel, the election campaign seems complex and confusing. Yet I’m certain that the outcome is extremely relevant also for Jews in the Diaspora. That’s why I keep writing about it.
Inescapably, whatever the shape of the next government of Israel may be, much will remain the same. For example, it seems that no prime minister will be able to make peace with the Palestinians because it may very well be that, despite the tensions and the hardships, neither side is prepared to pay the price for peace. Donald Trump’s largely Jewish team is telling us that its proposals will be made public after the elections. It also tells us that each side will have to make concessions which, I fear, neither will want to make.
But a different government may be different at least in one essential respect: Binyamin Netanyahu may no longer be prime minister. Isi Leibler, writing in English in the Jerusalem Post and in Hebrew translation in the freebee owned by the American casino mogul Sheldon Adelson Yisael Hayom, has something to say about that. Though I rarely agree with Leibler’s politics or style, today I’m happy to quote from his February 14 column.
Arguing that much will remain the same, even if the government is different, Leibler concedes that a prime minister who is not Binyamin Netanyahu would shape a very different government because: Netanyahu (1) “is expected to be indicted on corruption charges but has made it clear that until found guilty he will not resign.” (2) “Despite his gifted tongue and impressive talents, he has failed to groom a successor and derides potential leaders.” (3) “He has undermined the importance of cabinet responsibility by personally holding onto an unprecedented number of ministerial positions rather than fill them with appointees.” (4) “He has already served four terms as prime minister, and many say it is time for him to be replaced, especially in view of the probable indictment which would further divert him from concentrating on the challenges facing the country.”
Judging by the opinion polls, Netanyahu’s Likud party is likely to get more seats in the next Knesset than the new kid on the block and potential challenger, the Israel Resilience party led by former chief of staff Benny Gantz. The question is (a) whether Netanyahu can be persuaded to step aside in favour of say Gideon Saar, who is high on the Likud party list and considered to be popular in many Likud circles, or (b) if Benny Gantz can persuade other centrist parties, like Lapid’s Yesh Atid (and perhaps even the by now very depleted Labor party) to join him to form an alternative government.
What seems clear is that the country will be in better shape when Netanyahu finally retires, whether it’s to jail or just to his home. Unfortunately, by all accounts he believes that he and only he can keep the country together as its undisputed savior. That’s why he’s currently (i) blackening every possible opponent, friend or foe, (ii) putting army personnel at risk by bragging about Israel’s exploits in Syria against Iran and (iii) bringing to Israel anti-Semitic politicians and statesmen from abroad who want to tell the world that some of their best friends are Jews which is why they love Netanyahu.
Power corrupts and absolute power etc.
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Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, Canada. He may be contacted via dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com
Netanyahu isn’t going anywhere.