Page 32 - Jewish News_February-2021

32A February 2021 COMMENTARY

Another election – a referendum on Netanyahu Some thoughts regarding Israel’s election next month

with an unpredictable outcome

By Harold M. Halpern
I a government to cope with Covid-19 recent signing of normalization agree- possible that Netanyahu could pull
started writing about Israel about a
Gantz said that the need to have
year-and-a-half ago. I had visited
ments with the United Arab Emirates,
off another unexpected coalition with
there with a half dozen colleagues
campaign promise.
compatible platforms. Offers of signif-
a common front against Iran, promot-
from the American Association of Ju- trumped his obligation to keep his Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, forging Yamina and/or New Hope, which have
rists and Lawyers on a mission to learn Few people expected that the ing trade and ending the Arab-League icant positions in government may be
about legal and political issues con- government would endure long and agreement not to recognize or negoti- sufficiently enticing to overcome their
fronting the country. In a week, we it didn’t. Netanyahu and Gantz failed ate with Israel. animus for Netanyahu.
met with a host of decision and opin- to reach an agreement for a budget Netanyahu’s opponents acknowl- The next government may be dom-
ion makers including Gideon Saar, a by December 23, 2020, triggering an edge his accomplishments. They will inated by parties of the right wing. Its
former member automatic dissolution of the Knesset attack him for arrogance, corruption, agenda includes expanded settlement
of Likud and an with new elections in March 2021, the refusing to step aside while facing a and annexation in the West Bank as
acolyte of Prime fourth in two years. trial on charges of bribery and breach well as legislation giving the Knesset
Minister Benja- The political landscape has of trust, condemning the legal system the power to override constitutional
min Netanyahu, changed. Covid-19 has wreaked hav- and the judiciary and all who disagree decisions of the Supreme Court.
who recently oc on the Israeli economy, destroying with him, and considering his interests Both of these agenda items are
broke with him businesses and leaving many unem- ahead of the country’s. To sum it up, strongly opposed by the left and center
and formed the ployed. Much of the public is disen- the opposition will declare that Net- parties. They fear that increased settle-
New Hope party. chanted with uncertain economic help anyahu divides the country and is mor- ment will end the future possibility of a
Harold M. Halpern At the time of to ease the financial pain and has lost ally unfit to continue as prime minister. two-state solution and that the right of
our visit, Israel was in the midst of its confidence in the government’s ability They blame him and Gantz for the gov- override will give unchecked power to
second election. The prior election had to bring the virus under control. For ernment’s dysfunction. the Knesset, each of which is perceived
produced a deadlock. All efforts to put months there have been daily protests The most current polls, as I write as a threat to democracy and human
a coalition together failed. The second demanding that Netanyahu go. this column, project that Likud will rights.
election similarly failed. Israel went The upcoming election will be a remain the largest party in the Knesset Experience teaches that it is one
to a third election on March 2, 2020. referendum on Netanyahu. It will be but will lose a number of seats, and the thing to advocate an action while sit-
Finally, on May 17, 2020, Benjamin light on issues. Netanyahu is opposed Blue and White party will be almost ting in an opposition party but another
Netanyahu was sworn into office, end- by parties on the right (New Hope, entirely wiped out. when having the burden of governance.
ing nearly a year and a half of political Yamina, Yisrael Beiteinu), by the cen- If this holds true until the election, Then there is a recognition that there
stalemate involving three stormy elec- ter parties of Yesh Atid and Blue and Likud, with only the support of the must be a balancing of the perceived
tions and multiple rounds of coalition White, as well as the Joint List of Arab two religious parties, Shas and United benefits of action against potential
negotiations. Israeli parties and by the left parties Torah, will be short of the 61 member detriment. The next government will
Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue (Meretz, Labor and The Israelis, the votes necessary to form a government pause before it takes action that will be
and White party, ended the deadlock by latest new party of Tel Aviv Mayor as will the center and left parties. divisive within the country and/or op-
breaking his promise not to be part of Ron Hudai). The common theme of Similarly, the right-wing parties posed by the new Arab partners and the
a government with Benjamin Netanya- these disparate parties is that Netanya- that oppose Netanyahu, namely New United States.
hu. Half of the members of Gantz’s hu must go. Hope, Yamina and Yisrael Beiteinu, There are many more issues facing
party quit in protest and joined the In a nutshell, Netanyahu will extol will be short of 61 votes. Israeli society which will be the subject
opposition as the Yesh Atid party. his many achievements, including the This political divide on the right of future columns.
may lead to another deadlock. The I leave you with one certainty. The
public pressure to avoid a fifth election election will be a referendum on Net-
might push the center and left parties, anyahu with the outcome uncertain.
or some combination, to enter a coali- Harold Halpern is a retired attorney
tion with the right-wing parties, with- residing in Lakewood Ranch. He is a
out Likud, in order to end the reign of board member of the American Asso-
Netanyahu. ciation of Jewish Jurists and Lawyers
All of this is uncertain. Early polls and of the West Coast Chapter of the
are not terribly accurate. It is also American Jewish Committee.
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