Between the dock and the fifth elections … 48 hours may decide Netanyahu’s fate

The concessions that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made – to rotate as prime minister – reflected the depth of the crisis he faces before the “Change Camp” parties, which have reached near-final understandings to form an alternative government, alternating between Naftali Bennett, head of the “Yamina” party, and Yair Lapid, head of the party. There is a future. “

And in an attempt to thwart the formation of an alternative government and reduce the chances of overthrowing him, and with 48 hours remaining for the expiry of the deadline for assigning Lapid to announce the formation of a new government; Netanyahu chose to come out with a public speech he addressed to “Bennett” and “Gideon Sa’ar”, the leader of “New Hope” who defected from the Likud, seeking to pressure them to join his camp, or split the ranks of their parties, to prevent the formation of an alternative government.

Netanyahu

is maneuvering to form an interim government in order to avoid overthrowing him and transferring the decision to the fifth elections. Perhaps it would be salvation and his savior by enabling him to obtain the confidence of 61 members of the Knesset, and in order to avoid keeping him in the dock, and the maneuver would require the formation of a right-wing government that the three would take turns to preside, with Sa’ar being first.

This proposal – which Israeli analysts described as “generous” – comes against Netanyahu’s convictions since taking office, to cancel the idea of ​​rotating prime minister.

Pressure and threats

And in the event that the atmosphere in the Israeli political arena and the incitement of the right, led by Netanyahu before the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin in November 1995, to reject the Oslo Accords, Pictures of “Bennett” wearing a Palestinian scarf, and inciting slogans accusing him of lying and calling for a fifth election, spread on social media.

Under pressure and threats, Bennett held an emergency session for members of his party, in which Knesset member Amichai Shikli, who opposed Bennett’s intention to form a new government in cooperation with Lapid, was absent.

According to the political correspondent of the newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” (Yedioth Ahronoth), Moran Azoulay, Bennett – who will join the government with Lapid – opposes heading to the fifth elections; Because this would lead to a decline in the strength of the party (7 seats), and therefore it tried hard to establish a broad national unity government that would be stable and effective, but it ran into reservations within the right-wing camp about Netanyahu because of his trial on corruption charges.

The political correspondent clarified that the mandate to form the government that Lapid will assume will expire after 48 hours, and if a government is formed without Netanyahu and headed by Bennett, then Lapid will in the first two years be a foreign minister and then a second prime minister, alternately.

Triple rotation

To validate the scenario of forming an alternative government that relies on parties from the Zionist right, center and left camp, and external support for Arab representatives of the United List or the Joint List; Bennett held additional consultations, with his party partner Ayelet Shaked.

Azoulay estimates that Shaked – who was opposed to joining the “change government” – would agree to this in the absence of another option and Netanyahu’s fourth inability to form a stable right-wing government.

The leaders of the anti-Netanyahu right-wing camp questioned the other option to form a tripartite right-wing government by alternating between Saar, Netanyahu and Bennett, when Sa’ar settled the head of “New Hope” and quickly responded to Netanyahu by rejecting the triple rotation proposal.

The head of “New Hope” described Netanyahu’s offer as a “media balloon and political spin,” suggesting that “this political spin will not last for long and will hardly last a few days,” stressing – in a statement to the media – that “his party’s position was – and still is – changing Netanyahu’s rule. ‘, referring to the problem of the right-wing camp with Netanyahu and not with the Likud party, from which he defected.

Conflicts and suggestions

The Likud party faces hidden internal conflicts, conflicts that would contribute to undermining Netanyahu’s power and dominance over the right-wing camp, and enhance the possibilities of the opposing camp that seeks to overthrow Netanyahu while retaining the right in power, even if the country is dragged into a fifth election.

Netanyahu rejected proposals to replace him in the leadership of the party, even if temporarily. He also refused to retire from political life and be elected president of the Hebrew state for a term of 7 years, during which corruption files are closed and he is not prosecuted.

The proposal stipulated that the Likud party center would choose an interim candidate for prime minister to avoid rotating with Bennett and Saar, and to avoid the possibility of forming an alternative government.

It is estimated that Lapid – in light of the consultations he is conducting with the heads of the parties in the camp and the Zionist left and the understandings with the leaders of the right-wing camp opposing Netanyahu – will inform the Israeli President Reuven Rivlin – before the termination of the mandate expires next Wednesday – that he will be able to form a new government, provided that Days later, he was presented to the Knesset to vote and gain confidence.

recklessness and salvation

For his part, Yossi Verter, an analyst for party affairs at Haaretz newspaper, believes that the scenario of forming an alternative government by alternating between “Bennett” and “Lapid” is not yet realistic, but Netanyahu has already lost his nerve and is acting recklessly, indicating that the government Bennett Lapid will not reach safety until the inauguration and when she has a vote in the Knesset.

And the question remains – according to the editor of the party affairs – will the members of the “right-wing” party – with the exception of Bennett – stand up to the pressure exerted on them? Will they all come to the Knesset session to vote on the side of the new government? Government of change.

The analyst explained that Netanyahu did not draw lessons after he burned bridges with everyone, and that he did not look in the mirror last year, as he alone dismantled the unity government that was formed during the Corona pandemic with Blue and White headed by Benny Gantz, as he treated others rudely and cynically.

The party affairs editor concluded by saying, “Netanyahu is the only one who bears full responsibility for his loss of power and the seat of prime minister. Last year he passed the approval of the state budget, dismantled the government and headed for a fourth election, only so that he would not be forced to abide by the rotation agreement with Gantz. He planned to impose elections.” Fifthly, we may bring him salvation and enable him to form a narrow government in the form of 61 deputies. “