We’re at the end of Bibi’s’ mandate, without any results. With more than a hint of desperation, and indications from within Likud that–while expressing support for their leader–individuals are maneuvering to be next in line.
He’s produced another pledge, signed by the ultra-Orthodox, but not by Shaked and Bennett, that they’ll oppose any non-Bibi coalition that has the support of the Arab parties.
As his mandate was coming to a close, Bibi offered a detailed plan of consolidating with Blue and White. But without giving up his block of conservative parties, or giving up his position as Prime Minister. That would give him considerable privileges when indicted.
Both Avigdor Liberman and Blue and White head Benny Gantz were quick to criticize Bibi’s effort, and it went nowhere.
Now he’s given up, two days in advance of his mandate ending.
We’re having a kind of temporary government, prevented from taking major domestic changes, with Bibi managing as well as he can some international crises.
One has to do with Russia and the US, focused on a Russian being held in an Israeli jail while both the US and Russia want him. He’s accused of being involved in dealing with stolen credit cards, and hacking US information, and is a candidate for being transferred to the US. But that’s waiting a signature from the Likudnik serving as Minister of Justice.
Meanwhile, Russia has sentenced to 7.5 years a young woman who has both Israeli and US citizenship, and was found with an amount of hashish while in transit between a flight from India and another to Israel. Namaa Issachar has become a media personality, along with her mother, protesting an unholy sentence. And both the Prime Minister and the President have made appeals to Vladimir Putin to pardon her.
But hanging fire, and apparently the reason for the heavy sentence, is the question of the Russian hacker waiting transfer to the US or to Russia. The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled in favor of sending him to the US, and we’re waiting for the Minister’s signature. And Putin’s decision. And/or the decision of a Russia court upon receipt of Issachar’s appeal of the sentence.
On other front is Turkey’s invasion of Syria, against Kurds sitting in a 30 kilometer wide zone on Turkey’s border.
That came in response to a conversation between Donald Trump and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in which Trump indicated that he’d be pulling a small contingent of American troops from the area in question. He was giving Turkey a green light, all against the advice of his military people and an agreement to protect the Kurds.
This has added to Israel’s worry about relying on the US.
Not that Israel wants US troops or a formal alliance, but political support and the supply of arms remains important.
There have been expressions of forming an alliance with the US from some Likudniks, but the ideas has been opposed. An alliance would include, or imply, a reliance on US consent for Israeli actions. And that might not have come on several occasions. Including Israel’s attacks on Iraqi and Syrian nuclear facilities.
The US Secretary of State has come here, to assure Israelis that Trump’s pull out from the Middle East doesn’t apply to us.
The US House of Representatives has condemned Trump on the Kurdish issue; he’s also been severely criticized by Republican Senators. Enough to give some hope to those pushing impeachment?
Meanwhile, the Turkish situation may be indicating that Erdogan bit off more than he can chew. Information is confused, but Syria’s President has indicated his support for territory and the Kurds, and has sent troops. Also, Turkey’s heavy equipment is more than held by the Kurds, but they are not likely to give up. There’ll be fighting in the area, and the Kurds of Turkey may arise in opposition to their government.
Donald Trump sent an unpresidential letter to Erdogan, including the language, “Let’s work out a good deal!. You don’t want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don’t want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy . . . Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool!”.
We hear that Erdogan put the letter in the waste can.
A cease fire deal proclaimed by Presidents Trump and Erdogan may not be holding, as Turkish attacks continued, including the bombing of a hospital.
At home we’re expecting some more withering of Bibi’s support, and hoping that Gantz will find some magic to create a government.
The holidays are over, and Israelis will be working until Chanukah.
The Attorney General is contemplating the hearings on Bibi, and whether there’ll be any changes in the indictments to be handed down.
Republished from San Diego Jewish World