Israelis now have an alternative to Prime Minister Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu: Benny Gantz, a former chief of staff and the founder of a new political party. In his efforts to create a broad front against Bibi, Gantz has already enlisted the support of another former chief of staff: Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon, who recently founded his own party. Gantz’s intention, he says, is to bring together other political leaders to create a bloc that may defeat the current coalition, even though he himself doesn’t seem to have ruled out the possibility of joining a version of the existing setup, presumably as minister of defense.
After having kept silent for some time, making opponents and supporters wonder if he had anything to say, Gantz delivered an important speech in Tel Aviv last Tuesday in which he appears to have stated that (1) he is committed to strive for peace with Israel’s neighbors; (2) to a united Jewish Jerusalem; (3) to the settlements in the West Bank; (4) to perhaps some form of secular marriage; (5) to access of all religious streams in Judaism to the Western Wall; (6) to fighting discrimination against women and gays; (7) to promote public transport on Shabbat and festivals.
Critics may argue that there isn’t that much new in this, but it was enough for the prime minister to label Gantz as an extreme leftist, which is Netanyahu’s standard way of dismissing all opposition. But it seems that Netanyahu is aware of the broad public appeal of the new rival, for Gantz spoke about the need to clean things up in government and not to allow a person about to stand trial for corruption to continue to be prime minister. This may resonate with the public.
The emergence of Benny and the return of Bogie (he was minister of defense in Netanyahu’s present government until they parted company some three years ago) points to the return of the generals to politics. Until recently, there have always been senior retired military leaders, including chiefs of staff, in the government. Not so after Bogie’s departure. Both Gantz and Yaalon are former chiefs of staff and there’s still hope that a third, Gabi Ashkenazi, will join them.
Over the years, apart from other generals, eleven retired chiefs of staff have served in Israeli governments, two as prime ministers (Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak). Starting with Moshe Dayan several generals have been ministers of defense.
We don’t know if Benny Gantz will be the savior of Israel, but we can reasonably predict that his ascendance to office would breathe fresh air into the country’s political system, remove accusations of corruption and stop vicious attacks from on high of the police, the judiciary, the media and whoever else dares to challenge those in power. For the first time in years Israel may indeed have an alternative to Netanyahu.
I’m reminded of the Swedish writer August Strindberg who defended himself and others for seeking to change things in his country by asking rhetorically: To bring air and light – isn’t that enough? In the case of Israel, the ascendance of Benny, Bogie & Co may not be enough to bring peace to the realm and equal rights to all its citizens – Arabs no less than Jews – but enough for an auspicious start that even those on the political left may want to support to save Israel from Naftali Bennet, who seems to want to take the country even further to the right than Netanyahu has taken it.
Republished from San Diego Jewish World