I’ve been distracted from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s troubles by our own, but his have been continuing without me. They may impact the United States, at least as a distraction from President Trump’s huge troubles. Ben Caspit reports for AL Monitor concerning Netanyahu’s recent nation-wide address, touted as a big announcement:
One minute after Netanyahu began to talk, it was clear that all the drama had been unwarranted. He did not announce peace, declare war or reveal a new existential threat. He presented no achievement in the battle against Iranian nuclearization. Instead, he faced the camera to complain about the way he was treated in the investigations and to demand the right to confront the men who turned state’s witness against him. He even suggested that the face-to-face meetings be broadcast live.
“He lost touch with reality,” one of Netanyahu’s ministers told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity after the broadcast. “He thinks this is a reality show and that he is the director.”
It’s one thing when the opposition claims you’ve lost contact with reality. But one of your own Cabinet ministers? Sounds like a former Secretary we’ve heard from. And with an election coming up very soon …
Netanyahu suddenly understood that he stands to lose the race he started just two weeks ago, when he brought the election date forward, between [Attorney General] Mandelblit’s announcement [of possible indictments on the charge of corruption] and the election. Netanyahu examined surveys that probed the influence of an indictment before the elections and concluded its political impact could be lethal. We’re not talking only about the election results — Netanyahu knows that even if he wins the elections after such an announcement, he would have a hard time assembling a coalition. He would need a miracle that would heighten the power of the far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties to give him a majority, with partners willing to serve under a prime minister who is struggling to prove his innocence in court. It is unclear whether other potential partners would enter a coalition under such circumstances. Even for Netanyahu, that miracle is likely unattainable. He also understands that he is fighting not only for his political life, but for his freedom.
What is especially interesting for me, though, is how this is affecting Netanyahu’s political party, the Likud:
The polls taken after Netanyahu’s appearance revealed that a significant majority of the general public does not believe his version of events or his claims that the proceedings against him are unfair. On the other hand, Netanyahu reaped success among Likud voters, his base, and got them to close ranks. A large majority of them believes him and swallows his version as absolute truth. Still, this limited achievement might not be sufficient for his political survival.
Indicating that, like Trump, Netanyahu has enticed a large number of citizens into placing their leader above truth. A precarious time for Israel, between hostile powers, a potentially corrupt leader, and an opposition that doesn’t appear to sport a plausible replacement for Netanyahu:
Despite all the above and the unprecedented drama, we must remember an important point: Netanyahu still enjoys a large lead in the polls. Even now, when his situation seems hopeless, it is too early to eulogize the man.
