If Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu tells the truth and surrounds himself with good people, rather than frightened populist lackeys, he might find that the pathological hatred of him starts to wane.
It looks like this is not only Benjamin Netanyahu’s last chance to be elected prime minister. It’s also his last opportunity to prove he is capable of being a mensch. The dictionary definition of a “mensch” is a “fair, honest person, whose word can be trusted.” But somehow, the popular Yiddish usage explains the meaning better.
A man who allowed himself to throw around endless promises he couldn’t keep, and routinely broke them, both on the personal level in dealing with colleagues and opponents, and in dealing with the public, can finally prove he’s able to do otherwise if he’s only menschy about it.
A man who was accustomed to surrounding himself with a group of sycophants who tiptoed around him and fell in line with his talking points, could show us something different this time.
The list of people who have been hurt by and cast off by Bibi throughout the years is long and disturbing. It goes back to the days of Dan Meridor and goes on to include Moshe Kahlon, Naftali Bennett, Ayelet Shaked, Gideon Sa’ar, Zeev Elkin, and dozens more good and valued individuals. For years, Netanyahu has been engulfed in a sense of threat. This intensifies when popular figures emerge at his side who bring their own added value.
The upcoming election will give Netanyahu a chance to prove he can invest in and accept great people alongside himself, and not only small, frightened lackeys – that he can share credit and achievements as well as failures. Who knows – he might even bring back a few politicians who left and founded their own parties, thereby leading to Netanyahu’s downfall last year. He should try a different approach with them, too. He might be surprised.
Netanyahu is an extraordinary politician, who has never publicly admitted to his mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, even Netanyahu. Anyone who acts can err – and Bibi knows that better than anyone. But Netanyahu has never publicly acknowledged his mistakes, weaknesses, or failings. Not only is that inhuman, it also guarantees that the problems will continue. He should try to be a mensch, and might discover that it pays off.
Oh, and there’s something else, something quite elementary – to tell the public the truth, and not act according to polls about what the people supposedly want to hear. Polls cannot be the only, or even the main, tool used to create content and messaging.
The public wants to hear the truth, even when it’s unpleasant. It wants to be informed about the reasons that lead to unpopular decisions. The public hates being manipulated by lies and spins.
When all that happens, if it happens – we aren’t naïve, after all – Bibi could find that the pathological hatred of him rife in large sectors of the public begins to wane. He’ll never be modest, that’s too much for him. But he might be a little less arrogant, and perhaps a bit more of a mensch.
<
>
<
>
@Sebastien Zorn
I save my comments.
I’ve just reposted it as it was.
@Reader Yes, it’s not there. If you find in moderation, just select all, copy and paste it again. Don’t make any edits after you post it -especially when it includes links – or it will go back into moderation. Double check by selecting Home.
@Reader
I don’t see it there, and didn’t see it earlier either. Can you post it again if you have the link or explain what it said? I am curious exactly what you are referencing.
@Sebastien Zorn
I already posted it today at:
https://www.israpundit.org/israels-government-of-change-nears-end-along-with-bennets-political-career-and-possibly-shakeds/comment-page-1/#comment-63356000251092
@Reader
True in all aspects of politics, but fundamentally essential on in the realm of international affairs, I don’t want a referee, I want an advocate, just as I don’t want to be fair, I just want to win.
There is no substitute for victory and Israel will only be defeated once. When facts and people change, the consequences of bargains struck become realized.
Politics is not for the naive, and the cost of letting someone such as Gantz into the position of PM would be highly damaging, but it seems you find nothing so concerning about him as you never actually mention him. An oversight perhaps? Is this your next anti-Bibi solution? The last one, the name was Bennett as I recall, supported by, who was it…oh yes, Shaked was her name.
If Benny and Ailet had their feelings hurt when Bibi wouldn’t play fair, well, I guess they could always seek out someone more trustworthy, like their good friend Monsaur who runs his own Islamist club, you can’t miss it, it says Muslim Brotherhood on the outside. Oh, right, they did that already.
These people have created changes on the ground that will not be easily reversed, giving up Jewish lands. They empowered the Left who have placed their Leftist TSS allies into the bureaucratic state, positions that they will hold for years to come. Such naivete in politics as you seem to champion causes irreparable damage. No deal in politics is certain. Certainly not one that places the state in a position of being led by people of such natures as these. If it weren’t for Silman and Orback this tragedy formed as a govt would still be trying to bribe Abbas, just so they could all keep Bibi out of power.
@Reader How did Bibi sandbag Shaked? I never learned the details.
@peloni
I was right, you really meant it – you just LOVE it!
What about when he “sandbagged” Shaked who was a great Justice Minister and in no way a “lefty”, and a few other people?
Government should be about preserving the country and not about playing personal political games in order to win at any cost, i.e.,” the ends justify the means”.
@Reader
This is a silly distinction. The statement is my own whether you care to use a neutral pronoun or not – the reality remains the same. Leadership must first and foremost be based around a common viewpoint with yourself, myself, itself or oneself. Next they must be capable of implementing policies to achieve that viewpoint. If there are two people who meet the first two criteria, then you, I, someone else, or other people can then begin their mensch investigation.
It is the silliest bit of twaddle to suggest that politicians should be such paragons of virtue. If they were such virtuous beings, they would not be politicians.
One more detail to note. When Bibi sandbagged Gantz, it was among his greatest achievements of all time. Gantz is and always was a Lefty, disguised in other clothing. He helped support the Dems in Bibi’s JPOA campaign, and since entering the political fray has been held as a member of the Right without any support of the claim. He is an America First supporter and has most recently come out of the closet to hoist the TSS flag from his Left wing govt, even surprising the Left by his brash antics. Had Bibi made good on his bargain with Gantz to make him PM, it would have been a great tragedy. So much for mensch politics
@peloni
I understood it the way it was written, perhaps you should have said “one wants an advocate…one doesn’t want to be fair, one just wants to win” instead of “I”.
I also disagree that acting this way is
unless you speak of the Anglo politicians only, and even among them, I think, could be found some decent people.
Shmuel HaLevi. good to see Cabron
Reader: “Oh my! And I thought you were all for truth and justice.” as long as I win.
Sabastian, never underestimate the Jewish ability to shoot themselves in the foot.
@Reader
Peloni:
Reader:
I would ask that you be fair when you quote me, as you have quite changed the context of the subject discussed and the meaning of my words with selective editing. The article referenced leadership relating to morality, to which @stevenl wisely stated:
to which I responded to his comment with my own comment
The context of the article, @stevenl’s comments and my own comment were directly related to the subject of political leadership.
Yet you have chosen to clip my words, ignoring the context and then suggest my meaning was
I do not believe the ends justify the means as you suggest, and it would take a great deal of inventiveness to draw that conclusion from my statement, without your editing technique. I believe the law separates men from the beasts, despite the fact that far too many beasts walk on two feet. Furthermore, I see our people as a moral people, that we are a people of the law and that the law helps define who we are and what we believe. Hope that clears up your confusion on me, again you find it necessary to discuss me rather than the subject being discussed. With this in mind, let us return to the subject that was being discussed.
I mentioned before that politics is a damn dangerous business, and I meant those words in earnest. Political defeat can result in the loss of property, health or the lives of your loved ones or that of your own. Bearing this in mind, when I consider a political leader, I would want him to be dedicated to victory, not morality. He needn’t be an immoral man to be victorious, but I would better prefer him to be successful in the task at hand than to necessarily be a mensch. Politics is not a morality play, rather it is a plan for the future, with high stakes, brutal means and dastardly players. I would expect a political leader to place his everything to the purpose at hand and that purose is to see to it that my concerns are heard and that they are acted upon successfully.
We could discuss this at length, but I rather think this should clarify my words from the snippet you shared.
@peloni
The end justifies the means?
Oh my! And I thought you were all for truth and justice.
@Honeybee
Apparently, and on a clear day, you can see the Russian influence, last couple of election cycles.
Sebastian Sugar, as I read about Israeli politics how can yawl, in any faith, cast aubergines on the Great State of Texas? If Texas plays Poker. Israel plays Roulette.
@Stevenl @Peloni Trump told Ben Carson he was too nice to be president.
@stevenl
A very wise observation. True in all aspects of politics, but fundamentally essential on in the realm of international affairs, I don’t want a referee, I want an advocate, just as I don’t want to be fair, I just want to win.
A real mensch has NO place in politics, the most UN-ETHICAL arena!
Now that Bennett’s out, Bibi might be back. Time to switch horses again? Maybe, maybe not, but this article backtracks just enough to leave the door open. I’m reminded of how the Bush administration veered disastrously to the left when he was re-elected in 2004 – If I’d known, I’d never have voted for him; I would have abstained – and the pressure on him abated. I don’t think Miriam Adelson is is going to the left, but I sense similar manipulation prompted by opportunism. She will support him if he wins but wants to look consistently principled.
Remember this? And this was only 4 months ago!
Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/02/longtime-loyalist-newspaper-ditches-netanyahu#ixzz7X3NKxtSJ
Mr. Netanyahu is a highly considered expert as a governing official. Far more prepared to work at international level than any of the tumbleweeds in the wild combo headed by none other than Lapids son and maverick Bennett with five.