Binyamin Netanyahu: a parable of modern populism

[Gaon]

Netanyahu's Likud Announces Merger With Hayamin Hehadash; PM Expected to Tap Bennett as Defense Minister

Netanyahu surprisingly brings back into the fold two former ministers he had sacked as his concerns grow that they will unite with rival Benny Gantz



Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party announced Friday afternoon that it is going to merge with Hayamin Hehadash, which is headed by Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, once an aide who has been estranged from the premier.



Netanyahu is expected to tap Bennett, a former education minister he previously fired from his post, to be Israel's next defense minister.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-netanyahu-s-likud-merges-with-hayamin-hehadash-bennett-to-be-defense-minister-1.8096675">https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/ele ... -1.8096675">https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-netanyahu-s-likud-merges-with-hayamin-hehadash-bennett-to-be-defense-minister-1.8096675

[Gaon]

Third Israeli elections growing more likely as time running out for Gantz



Ultimatums. Recriminations. Bad blood. These characterize the efforts of Israel's two biggest parties to form a unity government, a likelihood that appears less likely as time goes on. In only nine days, next Wednesday, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz must return the mandate he was given to form a government.



Frustrated with the slow pace of talks, Israel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman warned both Blue and White and Likud that if they don't come to an agreement, he will punish the guilty party by joining with the other side.



Both Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to meet with Liberman to discuss next steps but neither committed to making the compromises Liberman demanded. Netanyahu also expressed suspicion of Liberman, saying he secretly wants a government based on the Arab vote, yet another example of the distrust that pervades the negotiations.



There are still several options that could come to fruition before time runs out.



Unity government

This is the outcome desired by the majority of Israelis. The sticking points preventing a unity government boil down to two issues: 1) The Likud's insistence that Netanyahu serve as prime minister first in a rotational government, and; 2) Blue and White's insistence that the Likud negotiate only as the representative of itself and not of a larger, right-wing bloc that includes a number of other parties.



However, neither side is willing to compromise on these points. Israel Hayom reports on Monday that one of the reasons that Blue and White's leaders don't want to accede to Netanyahu's demand that he serve first in a shared-leadership government is that they fear he won't live up to his end of the bargain after his term – likely two years – ends.



Minority government

A "minority government" refers to a coalition that doesn't have a technical majority but is able to govern through tacit approval from Knesset members outside of it. In this case, the Blue and White party would take the reins with the help of Arab parties. Such a government would count 44 Knesset members, and not the minimum majority of 61. It would include Blue and White, Labor and the Democratic Union party.



Supporting it from outside would be the Joint List, a faction of Arab parties. Yet a government resting on anti-Zionist Arab Knesset members makes Israeli voters uneasy. However, this may be changing as an  Army Radio poll on Monday showed a majority (52%) of Blue and White voters in favor of forming a coalition with the Joint List party.



Another issue making such a government unlikely is that it would need the quiet support of Avigdor Liberman's Israel Beiteinu party. Liberman has called the Joint List  a "fifth column" and said it belongs in Ramallah (the seat of the Palestinian Authority) and not in Israel's Knesset.



Narrow right-wing government

Ynet reports that the possibility of a right-wing government with a narrow majority rests with Liberman. On a Saturday evening news show, he delivered an ultimatum to the two sides, more or less promising to join whichever side was least responsible for failure in the negotiations to form a unity government.



If he determined that Likud was not the guilty party, he could conceivably join. His party's eight seats would be enough to give Netanyahu a majority of 63 Knesset seats.



However, to do so Liberman would need to break his central campaign promise not to join a government containing haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, elements. A major part of Netanyahu's coalition are two haredi parties: Shas and United Torah Judaism.



Third elections

This is increasingly looking to be the most likely scenario. With time running out for Gantz to cobble together a coalition, there remains a 21-day option where another candidate can present a government. But such a possibility is not one Israeli pundits are treating seriously.

https://worldisraelnews.com/third-israeli-elections-growing-more-likely-as-time-running-out/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=push_notification&utm_campaign=vwo_notification_1573465108&vwo_powered=1">https://worldisraelnews.com/third-israe ... _powered=1">https://worldisraelnews.com/third-israeli-elections-growing-more-likely-as-time-running-out/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=push_notification&utm_campaign=vwo_notification_1573465108&vwo_powered=1



The clock is ticking on Gantz.

[Anonymous]

Another frickin election.

[Anonymous]

A big change in US policy.

https://scontent.fyyc2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74939096_3143260035746944_7552675684796071936_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_oc=AQkESPuJJo0dkkajI9TqPPUO9xjoewXnUggGWf3jZrHuNCZSd0PvG04g24-V2yVfz8s&_nc_ht=scontent.fyyc2-1.fna&oh=ec52b5594fcb116213709320dc43b8a1&oe=5E89DB40">

[Anonymous]

A big change in US policy.

https://scontent.fyyc2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74939096_3143260035746944_7552675684796071936_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_oc=AQkESPuJJo0dkkajI9TqPPUO9xjoewXnUggGWf3jZrHuNCZSd0PvG04g24-V2yVfz8s&_nc_ht=scontent.fyyc2-1.fna&oh=ec52b5594fcb116213709320dc43b8a1&oe=5E89DB40">

This will infuriate the left.

[Anonymous]

A big change in US policy.

https://scontent.fyyc2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74939096_3143260035746944_7552675684796071936_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_oc=AQkESPuJJo0dkkajI9TqPPUO9xjoewXnUggGWf3jZrHuNCZSd0PvG04g24-V2yVfz8s&_nc_ht=scontent.fyyc2-1.fna&oh=ec52b5594fcb116213709320dc43b8a1&oe=5E89DB40">

I saw that on the news..



That's a big change.

[Anonymous]

A big change in US policy.

https://scontent.fyyc2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74939096_3143260035746944_7552675684796071936_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_oc=AQkESPuJJo0dkkajI9TqPPUO9xjoewXnUggGWf3jZrHuNCZSd0PvG04g24-V2yVfz8s&_nc_ht=scontent.fyyc2-1.fna&oh=ec52b5594fcb116213709320dc43b8a1&oe=5E89DB40">

I saw that on the news..



That's a big change.

Awesome, aint it.

[Anonymous]

Elizabeth Warren on Bibi's Indictment: "Like his pal Donald Trump, he'll stop at nothing to enrich himself and stay in power"



What a stunned cunt.

[Anonymous]

Elizabeth Warren on Bibi's Indictment: "Like his pal Donald Trump, he'll stop at nothing to enrich himself and stay in power"



What a stunned cunt.

You mean Elizabeth Warren is stunned?

[Anonymous]

Elizabeth Warren on Bibi's Indictment: "Like his pal Donald Trump, he'll stop at nothing to enrich himself and stay in power"



What a stunned cunt.

You mean Elizabeth Warren is stunned?

Pocahontas of course.

[Gaon]

Netanyahu's rival in Likud party demands leadership contest within two weeks



As corruption charges weigh heavily on Likud, Gideon Saar claims to have the necessary support to replace Netanyahu.



By World Israel News Staff and AP



On Saturday evening, senior Likud member Gideon Sa'ar slammed Benjamin Netanyahu for calling his prosecution an attempted "coup," demanding a party leadership contest within two weeks.



Sa'ar also claimed he could "easily form a government," Times of Israel reported.



Netanyahu's primary Likud rival also maintained that the prime minister's response to the criminal charges he faces had further plunged the country into "chaos."



After Netanyahu's indictment was announced on Thursday, Saar immediately said a party primary should be held ahead of any future elections and that he would compete.



"We know there are members of the Knesset who say that Netanyahu has become a liability and perhaps he should resign, but they are still afraid to come against him in the open," said Eytan Gilboa, a political science professor at Israel's Bar Ilan University.



"The only one who could do it is Gideon Saar," he added.

https://worldisraelnews.com/gideon-saar-blasts-netanyahu-demands-party-leadership-contest-within-two-weeks/">https://worldisraelnews.com/gideon-saar ... two-weeks/">https://worldisraelnews.com/gideon-saar-blasts-netanyahu-demands-party-leadership-contest-within-two-weeks/



It didn't take long for opportunists within the Likud Party to show themselves.

[Gaon]

Israelis demonstrate for and against Netanyahu throughout country



As the nation braces for a bitter fight following Netanyahu's indictment, Israelis took to the streets to voice their opinions.



Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's indictment has sharpened the battle lines in Israel's already deadlocked political system and could test the loyalty of his right-wing allies, Israeli commentators said Friday.



Meanwhile, Israelis from different ends of the political spectrum took to the streets on Saturday evening to register either support for or outrage over Netanyahu.



Demonstrations and protests took place in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa, according to Times of Israel, just two days after the attorney general's decision was announced regarding Netanyahu's indictment in three corruption cases.



According to the Times, activists gathered in Tel Aviv at Habima Square, demanding Netanyahu step down. Simultaneously, supporters of the prime minister demonstrated in the Haifa suburb of Kiryat Bialik, calling for "justice" for the Israeli prime minister.

https://worldisraelnews.com/israelis-demonstrate-for-and-against-netanyahu-throughout-country/">https://worldisraelnews.com/israelis-de ... t-country/">https://worldisraelnews.com/israelis-demonstrate-for-and-against-netanyahu-throughout-country/



It's hard for right wingers to imagine anyone else other than Bibi leading Likud. Left wingers see hope for a leftist revival with him out of the picture.

[Anonymous]

I read  that pm Netanyahu refuses to step down.

[Gaon]

I read  that pm Netanyahu refuses to step down.

So far, yes. But, according to Israeli law, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to concede all his ministerial positions outside of the premiership.

[Gaon]

Bibi agreed to hold Likud leadership primary in next six weeks.