T. Belman. I agree with the attempt to form another government but Bibi is not offering nearly enough. With Yamina on board, his block is 58 seats. Bibi should offer Sa’ar the PM position for at least the first year, in exchange for getting New Hope on board. He should be Min of Foreign Affairs and Shaked should be Justice Minister. Bennett could be Defense Minister. Bibi must relinquish power to bring this together.
Opposition leader willing to give up Justice Ministry, right of veto on legal matters, in order to form alternative government, avoid elections.
Opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) has said in closed conversations that he is willing to compromise on both the Justice Ministry and the right of veto in legal matters if it means Israel will avoid new elections, Israel Hayom reported.
Elections can be avoided if, prior to the Knesset’s dissolution, a new coalition is formed.
“This is not the time for elections,” Netanyahu said. “The current government has abandoned the Iranian issue, and that is the most urgent thing to deal with. Everything else can wait a moment.”
Earlier this week, leaders of the Knesset’s opposition parties urged Netanyahu to prevent the Knesset from dissolving.
On Wednesday, Likud MK Miki Zohar clarified that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is the only Yamina MK who wants the Knesset to dissolve; the rest would prefer that an alternative government be formed within the current Knesset.
@Reader
More silly. So was Obama trying to fool the Israeli’s by sending his political advisers to Bibi’s opposition, showing Bibi his shoe, throwing him out the back of the White House, sending Biden to berate him over the towns in Judea and the building there, etc? Like I said to begin with, Silly.
@peloni
Sure does – and then he goes and does whatever they want.
It is common knowledge that he talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk.
Netanyahu is expert at saying great things at the right time to charm the voters and build his image of a great statesman but in reality he is an expert politician who knows how to stay in power at all costs and manipulate his voters and his party members.
Neither Jews nor Israel have friends – the American people tolerate them as long as their lives are decent (just like every other people), the pandemic caused antisemitism in the US to surge, and it will only increase with the economy tanking, and with the people counting all those Jewish officials in high places “whose fault it really is” – nothing new here.
@Reader
Because when Obama’s third term brings daylight into the relationship with Israel, Bibi challenges them openly, providing a window into their achilles heel, by reaching out to Israel’s true ally, not the American govt which is fickle and false, but to the American people who have been a great friend to Israel and continues to be so. By doing so, Bibi places a political cost on any assault which might be considered by Obama’s third term. He knows it. They know it. He knows they know it. And everyone knows there isn’t a single thing they can do about it without damaging themselves by doing so. This is why your conclusion that they would prefer Bibi over the Bennett or others is silly.
@peloni
Why is it silly?
Netanyahu freezes the Jewish settlement for years, he is firmly for the two-state (final) solution, he pretends not to notice the Arabs taking over Area C, he has his party firmly in hand, etc., etc., while maintaining the “right-wing” reputation, he offered the whole of Israel to Pfizer as a sacrifice for the Covid “vaccine” research, and last but not least – he lived for years in the US and his English is excellent – that’s exactly what the Americans want – can’t make it any better.
@Reader
Soooo silllly
Can someone summarize in a few words the numerous “legal cases” against Bibi?
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
etc, etc, …
Where does he stand in each?
@dreuveni
Netanyahu boasted recently that he is on the phone with the Americans either constantly or very often, I don’t remember exactly, so Biden has absolutely no need to meddle in the elections – Netanyahu is the one they want.
@dreuveni
My personal belief is that Bibi will likely never receive that pardon while he breathes, as it would present the potential for him to return to power without any means of destabilizing or minimizing his abilities, nevermind the pardon would be for crimes he did not commit, crimes based on legal interpretations that were only to be employed against those people whose names begin with Bibi and end with Netanyahu.
Indeed, the lawfare moves against Bibi were too similar in fashion and form to the lawfare moves taken against Trump, complete with imaginative charges and unsupported means of prosecution, to believe they were unrelated . They were legal devices to overrule the public’s choice of govt by an alliance of elected and non-elected officials and of Left and Right players. The intended result of these assaults on each of these two men was to see them each removed from office, while also limiting their effectiveness til this end was reached.
The potential use of these fraudulent charges against Bibi, even such as they are, have been far too useful to this intended purpose in the ongoing trials leveraged against Bibi. Hence, it would be counterintuitive that they would be removed, particularly since it would require the consent and support of the very man who wielded them most efficiently while he and his very small faction kept Bibi and the Right in check over the critical period of this past year.
Additionally, the PM can wield a great deal of influence, and no one is likely more aware of the great potential such influences might be used to undermine and eliminate rivals in this way than Bibi. With this in mind, I find it remotely likely that Bibi would agree to a man such as Sa’ar to be granted that authority when it is still recognized that Sa’ar means to make an end of Bibi, nevermind that Sa’ar was the architect and facilitator of the Bennett Frankenstein govt – where the only thing keeping the Brotherhood arm of this political monster in line was to have its fist filled tight with every delight fathomable to them, while it was still seen to be an insufficient enticement for them to embrace the country in whose govt they served and from which they were to receive a princely bribe for their treacherous non-performance, all to the point of keeping Bibi displaced from power.
Placing politics aside, knowing that no politician has that luxury, I believe Bibi might be tempted to step aside and focus on what he is best capable of seeing completed with a free hand. As I see things, however, in full light of the political implications to either side, this bargain will not be offered to him, and if it were to be offered, Bibi would not be so foolish as to accept it while placing such authority in the hands of Sa’ar. Or at least this is what seems reasonable to me.
@peloni how about a pardon for Bibi so that the knesset can finally deal with the Iran issue while avoiding Biden meddling in the Israeli elections once again. My guess, based on today’s content, is that Bibi would agree not to be PM for a while if he can take care of business.
PELONI- He means Minister of Foreign Affairs whilst “Sa’ar” is PM..in my opinion a non starter. Sa’ar’s hatred overwhelms any bribes. And if he took the bait, he’s use his position of power to injure Netanyahu as much as possible. The man is mad.
According t the article I just posted, they are looking to pick off seats from NH and Blue and White, rather than the whole party.
Before Sa’ar retired for a few years he had a good reputation in Likud. I am not worried about him.. He will support electoral reform. I am worried about Gantz as Def Min..
TedI think you’re wrong. Sa’ar is the very LAST person who should have the power of the PM. Remember he HATES Netanyahu with a maniacal hatred, and trying to placate him will Not work. It would almost be like offering the position to Abbas,..
Bennett is determined to leave politics and even if enticed his heart would not be in it; he lot a lot of respect and he got his tucchas in a trap too many time for him to hold any senior position with no oversight.,. Those positions must be given to major LIKUD figures or coalition Party leaders who desire them and will take no other. The bargaining and wheeling are still to come. A horrible prospect where we see Israel politicians at heir very worst, exposed to daylight, unashamedly too………
Of course I can be completely wrong as I know nothing about Israeli politics and you do, a heck of a lot. Perhaps I sound the neophyte that I am..
@Ted
As I understand the situation, Bibi can’t hold a ministry position besides PM due to being charged with a crime. Do I have that wrong?