Facing indictment for bribery, fraud and security violations, 70-year-old four-term Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu no longer has the national consensus he once enjoyed in Israel. Unable to get a governing coalition, Netanyahu overplayed his hand, unwilling to join his rival 60-year-old former General Benny Gantz, insisting, to his detriment, he serve as prime minister first before Gantz got his turn. Gantz received 34 seats Sept. 19 for his moderate Blue and White Party to Netanyahu’s 33 seats, demanding, because of the one extra seat, that he becomes prime minister before Netanyahu in a powering sharing arrangement. Neither candidate was willing to budge, throwing Israeli politics into chaos. Former Israeli Foreign Minister 61-year-old Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteneinu Party received 15 seats in the Knesset, making him possible kingmaker.
Israel’s Joint List Party, a combined Arab party, won 10 seats in the Israeli Knesset, making it more difficult for Netanayhu or Gantz to win a government coalition. Only joining a governing coalition could Netanyahu preserve his fragile hold on Israeli politics. Hubris prevented Netanyhu from joining forces with Gantz which would have enabled the Netanyahu’s Likud and Gantz’s Blue and White to come together under one roof. Lieberman refused to kowtow to either Likud or Blue and White, expecting Netanyahu and Gantz to work out their differences. When that didn’t happen, Lieberman held onto his chips, letting both leaders fall-on-their-faces. Israeli watchdog Movement for Quality Government [MQG] filed suit in Israeli’s High Court to prevent Netanyahu from serving as prime minister while he faces a criminal indictment, despite Netanyahu’s forceful denials.
Movement for Quality Government wants the High Court to rule that that Netanyahu, while under indictment, is no longer eligible to serve as prime minister. “The crossing of a red line is a grave blow to the public trust in ruling institutions,” said MQG. Netanyahu denies the charges but Israeli Atty. Gen. Avichai Mandeblit filed the indictment against Netanyahu Nov. 21. Whether Netanyahu refutes the charges or not, he’s under a dark cloud, no longer able to command the Israeli public’s trust. Whether Mandeblit’s indictment helps Gantz is anyone’s guess. So far, Gantz hasn’t been able to convince Lieberman to throw his support behind his candidacy. MQG wants the High Court to rule that Netanyahu ineligible to serve as prime minister, handing the Sept. 19 election to Gantz. Gantz still needs either Likud’s 33 seats or Lieberman’s 10 Yisrael Beitenu seats.
Gantz lost his chance Nov. 22 to form a coalition government, forcing a new parliamentary election in the near future. Lieberman could back Gantz’s Blue and White Party, giving him a sufficient majority to govern. Israeli’s 80-year-old President Reuven Rivlin is now forced to have all parties come up with another choice for prime minister or hold another election in the near future. Opposed by Likud member Gideon Saar, Netanyahu no longer enjoys the backing of his own party. Rivlin hope to avoid another election but still holds out hope for someone new coming forward. Saar doesn’t think Netanyahu would win another Likud electioin. Saar wants to hold snap primaries in the next 21 days, offering himself up as Netanyahu’s challenger. Holding a Likud leadership ballot would be the best way to avoid another general election that could delay things by several months.
Under pressure from Saar and other members of the Likud Party, Netanyahu has agreed for a leadership vote, to see whether the indictment gives legitimate grounds to step aside. If Israel hold a third election to find someone capable of a governing coalition, it wont be Netanyahu or Benny Gantz unless Lieberman agrees to join the coalition. As it stands now, Lieberman would probably accept a governing coalition with Gantz but clearly wants no part of Netanyahu. “There is only one way in which we can save the country, extricate it from the crisis and ensure the Likud’s continued rule—and that is if we go to snap primaries today, with these 21 days,” Saar said, giving a way forward. Some membersof Likud see Saar’s actions a self-serving, wanting to offer himself as an alternative to Netanyahu, Gantz or even Lieberman. But clearly, Netanyahu is no longer a viable candidate.
Netanyahu has followed in 73-year-old President Donald Trump’s footsteps, blaming his enemies for an unfounded witch-hunt. But, unlike Trump, there are legitimate issues related to Bibi taking gifts over the years. If Mandeblit loses his corruption case, then Netanyahu would be free to continue his political career, something strange for someone 70-years-of-age, already the longest serving premier in Israeli history. Saar rejects Netanyahu’s witch-hunt defense, believing that Israeli justice must play itself out before clearing the prime minister. “Not only is it wrong to say that, it’s also irresponsible to say that. It’s completely out of touch,” Saar said. Saar faces a backlash from Nentanyahu loyalists in the Likud Party, ready to defend the prime minister no matter the charges. Whatever the reasons, Netanyahu can no longer cobble together a governing coalition.
