JERUSALEM — Binyamin Netanyahu is the most powerful politician in Israel. Yet he often describes himself as a victim – of the media, of the police, of the judiciary, now even of an alleged cabal within his own party led by his rival Gideon Sa’ar.
On one of those superfluous show-off visits with foreign dignitaries, this time a few days ago with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Lisbon, Mrs. Netanyahu – who seems to be at her husband’s side whenever he leave home – told an Israeli journalist when they were visiting the memorial for the Inquisition in the Portuguese capital that she too and her family are victims of an inquisition. Some comparison!
There seems to be enough Israelis who identify with the “plight” of the Netanyahu family (even more than his mother, their son Yair is an ardent and often embarrassingly strident advocate on behalf of his father) and are prepared to vote for “their” Bibi irrespective of the apparent evidence about the financial improprieties around him. They seem to believe their leader when he tells them that he’s innocent and that those who say otherwise are the guilty ones.
In an effort to continue to escape prosecution, Netanyahu is said to insist that in the rotation of prime ministers, which a unity government would demand, he must be the first (to continue) to serve as the head of the government to make sure, we’re told, either that he’ll have time to obtain immunity from persecution or strike a deal that will make sure that he doesn’t get to prison, perhaps on condition that he ceases to be prime minister.
Remarkably, the country still seems to function, even though we’re told that by the end of this month, there’ll be no state budget with dire consequences in many quarters.
Unless something like a miracle happens, there will be elections again in February or March next year. Opinion polls predict very similar results to the last election. Pessimistic pundits predict a fourth round and, who knows, perhaps more.
Start worrying. Details to follow.
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Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, Canada. Now a resident citizen of Israel, he may be contacted via dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com