Facebook Post: Naftali Bennett on Netanyahu situation

IMRA translation of the Hebrew Facebook message posted by MK Naftali Bennett on 20 October 2019

My friends in the right-wing camp, Let’s be clear: If the judicial system succeeds in bringing down Netanyahu because of cigars and articles on the Walla website, it will be a grave blow to the entire national camp.

The right-wing leader to follow will be castrated and frightened by the media and the legal system.
**
“Why are you protecting Bibi?”  I am asked every day. My friends, I am not only defending Netanyahu , but the entire national camp and our State of Israel.

Against the unfair legal and media persecution of Netanyahu, the head of the right-wing camp and prime minister of Israel.

And yes, it is precisely in the most difficult times, and despite that he is a political opponent, that I decided to share the burden.
**
Look, Netanyahu is not perfect. But he was a very good prime minister for the State of Israel and its security.
**
From the moment he entered politics, he was a marked man.

Leftists in the media, academia, culture and law have made him the symbol of absolute evil.

They blamed him for backing Rabin’s assassination, even though at the time he came out against “traitor” cries and always resisted violence of any kind.

When he went to a demonstration in Ra’anana, there was a protest prop of a coffin with the slogan “Rabin is burying Zionism” – a sharp but legitimate protest.  Netanyahu was attacked for incitement for murder as if it were a coffin designated for Rabin himself(!).

And so it goes for 25 years, he was not given a moment of rest.
**
It may or may not be time for his replacement, but even then, it should be through the voting ballot and not an indictment.

By all accounts, he did not take any sacks of cash and did not transfer money to his personal accounts.

He got a little less hostile coverage on the Walla site.  And too many cigars and champagne.

It wasn’t right. I’ve already said that getting cigars and champagne on a large scale from billionaires is an unworthy example of a leader in Israel, But really – one doesn’t bring down a prime minister for it!
**
And something else should be clear:
If Netanyahu had announced the establishment of a Palestinian state or the massive transfer of territories to Palestinians, like Arik Sharon did during his days under the pressure of interrogations, the media and the judiciary would embrace him and “encourage” him.

They would explain: “one doesn’t hold up disengagement from Judea and Samaria because of some cigars.”
**
I too have criticism of Netanyahu.

In my opinion he complained a lot about the leftist hegemony, but in practice, he did very little to change anything:

– Throughout his years he has given full backing to the same justice system that is now haunting him. He seems to be scared of them, which is why they have stopped any change (judge appointments, rules, etc.).

He, like his predecessors, just didn’t do anything!

– He did not apply sovereignty over an inch of Israel. Levi Eshkol brought in Jerusalem, Menachem Begin the Golan Heights. Netanyahu – nothing.

– He handed over territories to the Arabs and voted for the disengagement plan from Gush Katif.

– He declared a Palestinian state in Bar Ilan.

– He released a lot of murderous terrorists, including Yahya Snawar. Many of them returned to murder dozens of Jews, no longer living among us.

– He allowed Hizbullah under his watch to continue to build up their in rockets in the years 2009-2013, and eroded Israel’s deterrence against Hamas.
**
But he also did a great deal of good for the people of Israel and strengthened the Jewish state:

– He elevated Israel’s image and position in the world to a level we have never been. It is with pride that we see Moody, Putin, Trump and Merkel here.

When I visited India, China and elsewhere, I saw the growing appreciation for us.
And lots of this is thanks to Netanyahu.

– He maneuvered and survived 8 years (!) of Obama’s hostile government. A difficult and thankless task.
That’s when many in the Israeli media were on Obama’s side!

– He halted Iran’s consolidation in Syria and helped impose very painful sanctions on it. He also temporarily delayed their progress toward a nuclear bomb.

– He maintained budgetary and economic responsibility and generally did not tend to populism. This is no small thing! It is easiest to spread around money to gain sympathy. He usually avoids this.

– As the Minister of Finance, he really saved the Israeli economy during the crisis of the 2000s through a series of very unpopular actions, and he paid a political price for it.That’s what I especially appreciate about him, maybe most of all.

– He navigated Israel wisely in the Arab Spring era, taking advantage of opportunities for contacts with Arab states.

– He avoided unnecessary wars. He hurts greatly for every fallen soldier.

– Terrorism during his period (even in his first term) was very low relative to the Oslo period and the Oslo intifada. Far fewer Israelis died under his administrations.
**
I can attest, after 13 years of close acquaintance, that Israel’s security and its wellbeing are really important to him. If I even had a slight suspicion that Netanyahu was a “dealer” in Israeli security,
I would be the first to act to oust him. But it just didn’t happen.

In a big way, his heart is in the right place. He is in politics not for the honor or money (which there isn’t),
but to take care of the existence of the People of Israel in their land.

In the big picture, he could have earned millions of dollars in the private sector, but he has been choosing to “eat gravel” day and night for the rest of us.
**
In my estimation, he will be remembered in the chronicles of our people as a very good prime minister of Israel. We will miss Benjamin Netanyahu here.
**
This is not an obituary.
I wish him and all of us that the cases will close and that life will return to normal.
**
My friends, if they succeed in bringing down Netanyahu, there is concern that his right-wing heir will be “stunned” by the media and the judiciary, and always try to gain their favor. And he will not dare make the necessary changes in Israel.

Unfortunately, my actions and statements regarding judicial system reform endanger me for the same reasons, but I will not be silent.

The system must be changed (not broken) in Israel. A frightened right-wing leader will not be able to do that.
**
It’s not Netanyahu they’re going after, but the entire right-wing camp and our views.
**
Therefore, in the face of injustice and the onslaught, I will continue to work with all my might to protect and defend the national camp.

I expect that from you too, my friends.

Yours, Naftali Bennett

October 22, 2019 | 13 Comments »
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13 Comments / 13 Comments

  1. Hope this is true and it bears out, it would be a reasonable way to form a unity government.

    Support is growing in Blue and White to accept a compromise proposal that would initially enable Benjamin Netanyahu to remain prime minister, a source close to party leader Benny Gantz said Thursday night.

    President Reuven Rivlin’s plan calls for Netanyahu to be prime minister first and then take an extended break while fighting corruption charges. According to the plan, Gantz would take Netanyahu’s place as prime minister after initially serving as vice prime minister.

    In order to accept Rivlin’s proposal, Gantz would have to return the mandate. Sources in the party claimed that a majority of Blue and White’s 33 MKs are at least in favor of using Rivlin’s plan as a basis for negotiations with Likud.

    Coalition talks will begin Sunday with negotiations with Likud and Yisrael Beytenu and continue Tuesday with Labor-Gesher and the Democratic Union. Gantz is expected to meet personally soon with Netanyahu and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman.

    He will meet on Monday with Labor-Gesher heads Amir Peretz and Orly Levy-Abecassis, who will be invited to enter the coalition, and Tuesday with Joint List head Ayman Odeh, who will not.

    Sources in Blue and White said there is far from a majority in the faction for forming a narrow government backed from the outside by the Joint List in a parliamentary safety net. The sources said Gantz himself opposed the idea, even if it ends up being the only government Gantz could form in which he serves as prime minister from day one.

  2. @ Adam Dalgliesh:I will bet a $1000 that the Joint Union (Arab Block) will NOT be in a coalition. You in?

    You keep telling us the Arabs will be part of the government. Back it up!

  3. @ Bear Klein: Even the English press provides enough data to figure out that Leiberman is now totally in Gantz’s camp and will do whatever Gantz asks him to do. I am considering your offer of a bet.

    Leiberman is a political Benedict Arnold. No, he hs not betrayed his country (except perhaps indirectly, if Gantz screws up as badly as I expect), but he has betrayed his political “bloc.” Once he has done that, he must be loyal to the new “bloc” he has joined. Otherwise, he would be universally despised by his fellow politicians, and have no supporters at all.

  4. @ Adam Dalgliesh:I am not a Liberman fan but he has followed through completely on demanding unity and his convictions on the draft law.

    I believe he will follow through on demanding unity. Actually contrary to your stretching, spinning, groping for saying he will sit with Arabs or rely on their votes he is not willing to work with the Arabs but demand a unity government.

    Actually Labor/Gesher will work these other parties and vica-versa. Perhaps you are confusing the Democratic Union (Meretz-Plus some) or just not sure who the players are and what their personal feelings and political views are. This is very important in understanding Israeli politics. If you knew Hebrew and could listen to these people in interviews and discussions it would provide a better feel. Relying solely on articles in English is not enough.

  5. @ Bear Klein: Yisrael Beitenu and the New Right will never agree to work together with Labor/Gesher. or vice versa. The gap in policies between the left and right blocs makes this impossible. For that matter, the disagreements over policy between Likud and Blue/White are also too great for them to form a coalition government. Gantz wants to attempt to withdraw Israeli settlers and soldiers from the central mountainous region of Judea-Samaria, in order to facilitate the creation of a contiguous territory for a Palestinian state in this area. Likud is strongly opposed to this proposal. Gants, whatever he may say in public, has little to gain and much to lose if he includes the Likud in his government, sinceLikud ministers would do everything in their power to thwart this plan.

  6. @ Bear Klein: Bear, Leiberman is a slippery character whose words cannot be relied on. He led people, including President Rivlin, to believe that he would serve in and support a government led by Bibi, but within a few weeks, he changed his mind. He worked with the haredim for 20 years in a series of governments, despite their disagreements, then suddenly sprung demands on them that he knew they would and could not agree to (that “not a comma” nonsense. As an experienced parliamentarian, Leiberman knows perfectly well that no bill is ever enacted into law by the Knesset without many commas and many words being changed, following debate in the cabinet, Knesset committees and the Knesset plenum)

    In order to figure out what this guy will do, you have to examine his actions and words carefully. He says he will serve in a government headed by Gantz, but not one headed by Netanyahu (he said the opposite as recently as last April). He signed a vote-sharing agreement with Blue-White, not Likud. And he has just said that he would not rule out a government that included, or relied on the votes of, the pro-PLO and pro-Hamas parties.

    It shouldn’t be all that difficult for my fellow commenters to put two and two together and come up with four.

  7. Most of the public support a unity government between Likud & Blue / White! This type of poll result will make it easier for the blocks to break up and have a unity government of the Largest parties plus some others such as Labor/Gesher, Yisreal Betenyu and the New Right.

    A majority (72%) of Likud voters and Blue and White voters (78%), as well as 72% of Labor-Gesher voters, support a government consisting of the two largest parties. Those opposing such a government include 69.5% of Shas voters, 68% of UTJ voters, and 42% of Democratic Camp and Joint Arab List voters.

  8. Liberman will ONLY support a Unity Government.

    There can ONLY be a unity government to stop new elections, in-spite of scare mongering that we will have a government with the Arab parties in it.

    Likud an Blue & White have agreed to meet. Too early for success.

  11. @ Bear KleinAll fantasies and wishful thinking. Gantz has 65 assured votes of confidence. That’s it. Be prepared for four years of appeasement, harassment of “settlers,” (Israelis living in the disputed territories), crawling to the PLO , access by the PLO and Hamas to Israeli military secrets,lartge quantities of concrete pouring into Gaza for tunnels and bunkers, maybe a port built for Hamas with billions of Israeli shekels, the evacuation of the Gaza envelope, etc.

  12. This is from the October 22 Jerusalem Post. Bibi asks a legitimate question:

    The prime minister warned in the video that Gantz could form a minority government backed by the Joint List in a parliamentary safety net.

    Netanyahu said that if Gantz built such a coalition, he would serve as head of the opposition.

    “A minority government will be formed with the support of Joint List MKs who encourage terror and oppose Israel’s existence,” Netanyahu warned.

    “How can a minority government led by Gantz and supported by these MKs fight terror?”

  13. Bennett as usual has a lot of good insight.

    However, before Bibi’s cases are disposed one way or the other Israel still needs to form a government. Gantz will likely not succeed in forming a government. David Bitan a Bibi loyalist and insider predicts the following:

    PM ally: Parties will ease up on demands after Gantz fails at forming coalition
    David Bitan predicts there won’t be 3rd election, says blocs will fall apart after 28 days Blue and White given to build government, at which points parties will act independently

    Likud MK David Bitan, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, predicted Tuesday that Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz would fail at forming a coalition but that parties would subsequently ease their demands in the final 21 days remaining for any lawmaker to garner the majority of support necessary to build a government.

    “I think a government will be formed in the final 21 days,” Bitan said, referring to the three weeks when any lawmaker can jockey for the support of 61 MKs in order to be tasked with forming a coalition. If no one succeeds, elections will be initiated automatically — a third round inside a year after April’s and September’s inconclusive votes.

    Bitan argued that a coalition would not be formed during the 28 days given to Benny Gantz, who will be handed the mandate to form a coalition on Wednesday after Netanyahu informed President Reuven Rivlin Monday that he had failed to cobble together a government. The Likud MK claimed that only after Gantz’s turn has passed and parties realize that they only have three weeks to prevent a new election will they “be under pressure” to compromise.

    All of the blocs — both on the left and on the right — will fall apart,” Bitan predicted. After the September election, Netanyahu formed a 55-member right-wing, religious bloc with Yamina along with the Shas and United Torah Judaism ultra-Orthodox parties. They all vowed to stick together throughout the negotiation process and only join a government led by Netanyahu.

    While no similar agreement was inked between left-wing parties, Bitan insisted one existed “that no one is talking about,” claiming that Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman had been cooperating with Blue and White in order to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government

    Regardless, the Likud MK assured that all factions “will be ready to do something so that there will be not be another election” during the final 21 days, though he refused to elaborate on how his party would be willing to compromise.

    On Monday, the Blue and White party issued a statement saying that “the time for spin is over” and that the party was “determined to form the liberal unity government, headed by Gantz, that the nation elected a month ago.”

    It was the second consecutive time Netanyahu has been unable to build a majority. Following elections in April, Netanyahu was one seat short of a majority and pushed through a vote to dissolve the Knesset and call a snap vote rather than let another lawmaker be tasked with forming a government.

    I think one of the most likely scenarios is that another Likud Leader is tasked with forming a government (such as Gideon Saar) by Rivlin and the Blue-White agree to join with him in a unity government. At that point the New Right, Labor-Gesher, Yisrael Betenyu and maybe even Shas join the government. Some Likudniks may drop out because of loyalty to Bibi but enough join up to form a government.