It’s election season for everyone it seems, a chance to choose which way to go next. Ben Caspit writes in AL Monitor to suggest that Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing a serious challenger this time around – Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapi, who came out on top of a recent poll that left Netanyahu’s Likud Party in the dust.
How did he do it? The answer is quite simple: Lapid is the new Netanyahu. He doesn’t attack Netanyahu from the left. Instead, he tries to outflank him from the right and criticize him from the center.
In the final stretch of recent election campaign, one candidate would always emerge as the quintessential “anti-Bibi.” In 2009, it had been Hatnua leader Tzipi Livni; in 2013, it was Lapid in his premiere performance; and in 2015, it had been Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog. Then Lapid, buttressed by effective, in-depth surveys by the American pollster Mark Mellman, understood that Israelis are not looking for an “anti-Bibi.” Under the best of circumstances they will look for another Bibi, an alternative who constitutes an upgraded version of the current Bibi. This is exactly what Lapid is doing.
What sort of challenge is Netanyahu facing?
Netanyahu will have a hard time casting Lapid as an “Arab-loving left winger,” as he has done to other rivals, in particular Herzog. Lapid was brought up and educated in a right-wing household. Negotiations with the Palestinians are not on his agenda. He sidesteps the diplomatic issue at every opportunity and obscures his real positions while viewing Jerusalem according to the Israeli consensus. Lapid speaks the language of liberal, hip Tel Aviv, but infuses it with right-wing content.
Thus anyone tired of Netanyahu’s public conduct, his tricks and sleights of hand, his attacks on democracy and the media and his emperor-like demeanor will find refuge in Lapid. He is somewhat similar to Netanyahu, but without the chaos and hysteria. Lapid is a younger, vigorous politician who will rehabilitate Israel’s status among nations and usher in a different type of politics. This is what Lapid offers, and this is his goal. He is programmatic, disciplined and an excellent campaigner. Netanyahu knows how to spot a threat, and Lapid, for now at least, is at the top of Netanyahu’s list of dangers lying in wait.
So it’s not entirely clear how he would differ substantially from Netanyahu, but it’s worth keeping an eye on events in Israel. A changing of the guard always brings danger and opportunity for friends and enemies.
