Bennett is right to prefer to be in the opposition

11 Comments / 11 Comments

1. Bennett might improve his long term chances by separating from BB and going into opposition. Also BB’s coalition is looking like crabs in a barrel or pigs at a trough. I wonder what this gov can achieve of value to anyone other than the individuals and their parties. it seems to be a coalition of interests rather than of platforms or principles. Bennett increased his votes when he went against BB in PE and lost them when people thought there was little difference between him and BB. BB has never made any statements showing any belief in or desire for YS for Jews. Bennett is clear in his platform on that. I dont understand how anyone thought BB was in the same right wing as Benett, or any right wing at all, according to facts. BB still wants and needs right wing votes so he likely wants bennett but wants him powerless.

2. BB was granted a two week extension on forming a government. He could have formed a government by now – just not an ideal one. Hopefully he and Bennett can work things out. Bennett is a definite asset but he is probably a little intimidating to BB.

3. Apparently according to Debka, hizzboola are digging tunnels into Northern Israel and again, Ya’alon is denying the obvious and taking little if any concrete steps to protect Israelis. Where is the outrage? Israel has allowed this incremental build up on it’s borders, ALL of it’s governments post Shamir are to blame.

4. I really like Bennett but I think he should direct his anger and frustration at the israeli religious public who stupidly wasted their votes on Ely Yshai,et al, and even more stupidly, scared the shit out of the rest of Israel when they went bezerk when Bennett brought in Eli Ohana, on the grounds that he wasn’t religious, and had been at one time for the Gaza withdrawal.That stupidity sealed Bennett’s fate.
   Now, with 8 seats, he’s in no position to demand much.
   Bibi is playing his cards well. As much as I can’t stand him.
   As long as the religious public is beholden to their rabbis for political guidance they will end up with the short end of the stick!

5. I care little about who gets which cabinet post in this latest of so many Israeli governments, the construction of each of which reminds one of the sad and all but pathetic history of the French Third Republic that ended with the conquest of France by the German Army after only five weeks of combat in the spring of 1940. that forever shall be the story of the systemic failure of most attempts at parliamentary rule by contending political factions.

   The vital interests of the State of Israel at this singular moment of time unity of purpose and stability of administration. In the face of that need, who really should give a damn what roles are assigned to this collection of miniature factions which, other than HaLikud, had been expected to make up the new government. Bennett as defense minister? What exactly are his qualifications, in comparison to those of Yaalon, who apparently has the complete trust of Prime Minister Netanyayu. Education minister? In the face of the all-but permanent national security crises now faced by the State of Israel and the Jewish nation which sustain one another, what exactly can be the importance of that purely secondary function?

   If this government breaks up because of inability of its squabbling would-be ministers, do not imagine that the Israeli voters will give either HaLikud any more than its present peak of 30 Knesset seats. As for Bennett’s and Liberman’s parties, and the two religious Jewish parties, it can clearly be seen that they are little more than mutually-squabbling factions. Moreover, I think that is all they ever shall amount to.

   So if you really want to punish Netanyahu and HaLikud on the grounds that he made conflicting promises to these various political factions, then prepare yourselves for the certainty that government in Israel will fall back into the hands of the leftists and their running-dogs of the various liberal factions. And all this will be cheered on both by Obama and Kerry.

   Arnold Harris
   Mount Horeb WI

6. Whose getting the Education ministry? I see that as the most vital of ministries as most Israel kids are under the misapprehension that Jewish existence began in 1948 A.D. and I believe this is as much of an existential threat to the future of the Jewish state as is the mullah bomb!

7. Now the question is this more coalition negotiation bluff during the negotiations. Clearly it is very hard to make too many parties happy. Will Bennett really prefer Herzog/Livni in the government in lieu of him sitting in the security/diplomacy cabinet where most important decisions are really made. Herzog would then be sitting in this cabinet. What a disaster!

   One idea Lieberman has had correct is Israel should shift to a Presidential system where the cabinet positions are chosen by the Prime Minister or President and are professionals. Leave the politicians in the Knesset. The Cabinet positions are perks and privilege right now. My guess they will expand to more ministries and deputy ministers from 18 up to who knows what. So the Israeli taxpayer can shell out for political bribes.

   The Religious ministry determines who gets many jobs for rabbis. So this is a big deal in the bank accounts of many.

   The Zionist Rabbis are preferred by most in Israel.

8. Even though I strongly prefer the religious Zionists to control the religious affairs portfolio. Is this bluff by Bennett or would he really risk Herzog/Livni in the government in lieu of him?

   The high stakes poker game of trying to way too many parties to agree on a platform and the musical chairs who sits where in the ministries.

   So in the end more chairs (or bribes basically) will be available to buy the politicians to sit in the government. Already having Shas and UTJ in the government will cost a lot more for their school systems. Yes these pious Ultra-Orthodox want to be bribed. They want the religious ministry so they can make sure their Rabbis get the perk positions and make more money. Orthodoxy at its finest.

9. I also prefer the religious zionist to control the religious ministry. They are far preferred! If the state did not control religion only for Jews and their was religious freedom for Jews this would not matter.

10. Let’s be clear: without Bennett’s 8 MK’s, Bibi CANNOT make a coalition, has 53 endorsements so far, with Liberman’s 5 would make 58. So, he NEEDS Bennett desperately. He should stop treating him as an undesirable that can simply be ignored.

    Bennett should really push for the Defense Ministry, he really has veto power at this moment on the coalition, since Herzog is shouting that he won’t join Bibi. So, it’s simply a math problem.

11. It is really UN-democratic to allow a single segment of the observant community to control the religious affairs. It makes ISRAEL appear corrupt no less since Airy Dairy has in the past been brought up on charges of corruption. The fact that Netanyahu would pay blackmail to Shas is repugnant. The Israeli public stood by him and even changed their votes from their preferred political affiliations in order to guarantee Likud/Netanyahu a solid majority in establishing a government. Bibi is acting like a has been. How can anyone take his assurances on action to stop Iran when Bennet, the only one in the previous gov’t who had the cheek to get to the bottom of the reports of Hamas tunnels and no only that demanded that an operation be undertaken to demolish such a threat, were opposed by Ya’alon. Ya’alon has the post of Defense Minister in his pocket now while Bennet is waiting now for the reasonable offer which never came. Netanyahu is no good. You know exactly what to expect from Ya’alon, the minimal milk toast response. I withdraw my support of Likud and that includes President Peres, the one wearing the rivlin mask.
    The religious affairs ministry should be controlled by a representative from all factions, in proportion to their membership.All else is a farce and pathological.