Israelis expect their government to pass a state budget and find solutions for the severe crises in the energy, transportation, and economic sectors, yet Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is nowhere to be found.
One month after its inauguration, it seems the greatest advantage coalition members see in this government is its very existence.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is not very popular. He hasn’t been seen or heard much in public. He has not led efforts to tackle the most important issue this very government was formed to deal with – passing a budget and enacting economic policies. Nor is he leading efforts in other important fields like infrastructure, public transportation, and housing. We’re all familiar with the power vacuum in government ministries, but the premiership is another story.
At a press conference Tuesday, Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman presented the foundations for the Arrangements Law and State Budget Law, as well as expected structural changes to the market. It appears Bennett will be forced to agree to all these incoming proposals. It’s doubtful he’ll be looking into them or Lieberman’s explosive proposal to stop subsidizing daycare for Haredim.
Bennett also appears to have limited say over other financial offices. While the media has been talking nonstop about a “housing crisis,” more pressing issues include the crises in the transportation and energy sectors as well as obstacles to growth like a lack of employees. Closed borders have Israel’s roads reaching a boiling point. Roads are packed mainly in big cities, but not only. Congestion pricing won’t solve the problem when there are no immediate public transportation alternatives available. In this field, bold decisions are necessary, for example authorizing the use of a solution such as the Uber ride-hailing service. After all, during peak traffic, taxis and other modes of public transportation aren’t better options. Transportation Minister Meirav Michaeli has been focused on the correct temperature on trains, but trains won’t solve the serious crisis that is worsening by the day with no solution in sight.
Energy Minister Karine Elharrar joined Economy Minister Orna Barnivai and Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg in issuing statements on reining in greenhouse emissions and increasing solar energy production. In the meantime, however, energy consumption is on the rise, and solar energy will not be able to meet demands as long as there are no developments in the field of energy storage. Yuval Steinitz, Elharrar’s predecessor, was also fairly ambitious. The Electricians Association has clearly shown that absent the immediate establishment of natural gas power plants, Israel will experience power shortages in a few years. We all share a desire for clean energy, but not at the risk of there not being enough to go around.
At the same time, there is a serious shortage of workers in many fields, and this is likely to continue even after the government cuts payments to workers on unpaid leave. The government does not have any answers for issues such as the need for foreign and local workers, something that has led to the increased cost of labor and appears poised to be yet another obstacle to growth.
The government has avoided a confrontation with the Histadrut labor union despite its excessive demands to increase the minimum wage at a time when the country is still in a state of crisis from the coronavirus pandemic. The prime minister has not made himself heard in any of these crises that are already here. He is likely politically incapable of leading the effort toward a solution. By the end of the summer, the government will need to authorize a vote on the State Budget and Arrangements Laws. The way things look now, it will be forced to approve anything that comes its way.
I can’t help thinking that they are waiting to see whether Netanyahu will be back in the PM’s seat again.
From the July 13 issue of Arutz Sheva: I find this speech by Minister of Diaspora Affairs Nachman Shai very troubling. He seems to be saying that Israeli military operations against Terrorists lead to increased antisemitic and attacks on Jews in the Diaspora, and therefore Israel should not conduct military operations without the prior approval of diapora communities. Another troubling statement by Shai is that Jews should distinguish between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism. Unfortunately, both of these arguments are frequently used by antisemites.
Last but not least, I am concerned about his statement that restoring and improving Israel’s relations with the Consrvative and Reform movements is one of his major missions as Minister for Diaspora Affairs. Given the Reform movements increasing hostility to Israel, and the Conservative movement leaders not following far behind, this suggests he intends to lobby for the appeasement-oriented , critical-of-Israel positions advocated by the current leadership of these two movements.
@ TED…Thank you, I found it.
@Edgar
I approved of your post shortly after you asked me to.
RED_Remember my missing post please.. It has to be there somewhere.
“Bennett to seems to being doing just fine. We will wait to see how much much this fragile coalition will allow him to achieve”…
You are usually more cautious than this. Bennett wll go down with the ship or accept an almost completely Leftist agenda. Clearly the Leftist “Ministers” do not know how to efficiently run their ministries, and it all just looks like “Jobs for the boys”…
Those whom you refer to as “the fragile coalition” are only fragile in coalition context,. Otherwise they are fervent Anti-ZIonists, with a good leavening of haters of Jews and of the Jewish State.
The only part of your post I agree with is “how much the fragile coalition will ALLOW him to acheve. His precarious position will allow him to achieve minmally for the Right Wing. How could it be otherwise???
Israel Hayom having been created mainly as a booster for Netanyahu does not preclude it’s writers from beng excellent at their crafts, and writing truth.
Ha’Aretz is more in line with what you are implying.
I posted this article because it goes into detail on the budgetary challenges ahead.
Getting Haredim to work is needed for the long term financial health of Israel and the Haredim. So Lieberman’s proposal might not be favored by those who like part of the population to be parasite’s but that is okay.
Okay Bibi is not Prime Minister. Israel Hayom also know for being created to Support Bibi is throwing sand on Bennett, shocked or not really!!
Bennett to seems to being doing just fine. We will wait to see how much much this fragile coalition will allow him to achieve.