Had the leaders of Israel’s political parties with seats in the next Knesset been committed to the good of the country and all its citizens – rather than their own interests and the advancement of their party – they’d recommend to the president a government led by the two major parties, Likudand Blue and White. Smaller parties would be welcome to join but without their current extortionist demands that they’re now making as conditions for joining a Likud-led Netanyahu government.
In the larger government, Netanyahu could stay as prime minister with Gantz as say defense minister. Lapid, Gantz’s Number Two, who is an experienced, gifted writer and media person, would probably do well as minister of communications and there’s enough talent in the two parties (including two former chiefs of staff, apart from Gantz) to fill posts according to competence, not self-interest.
It’s possible that it would be a relatively short-lived government, as it would have to arrange for new elections when Netanyahu is indicted on charges now pending. In the meantime, however, the country would be spared inter alia exemption of all Orthodox men and women from military service, massive indoctrination in state schools, restrictions imposed on the country’s Arab citizens, etc. etc.
I know that this is a pipe dream, because that’s not how politicians seem to function. (The danger of early indictment would be enough to compel Netanyahu to oppose an alliance with Blue and White, even if he remained prime minister.) Had more politicians been statespersons who cared for the country and not only for their own clique, they’d sacrifice some of their ambitions for the good of us all, but judging by their performance to date, there’s no evidence of it, alas.
The fact that politicians in other countries act in similar fashion is no consolation, for the stakes in Israel are higher, because here the very future of the country is at stake. I’m among those who take Scripture and its traditional interpreters seriously, not least in their insistence that it was the sins of ancient leaders that cost us our sovereignty long ago. The Prophets tell us that we squandered it then because of hubris and refusal to follow God’s norms of morality and decency. There’s much to suggest that we may squander it again now for similar reasons.
Judging by headgear and sometimes attire, it seems that a sizeable number of Members of Knesset describe themselves as religious. The problem is that that they deny, and often denigrate, that description to those who manifest their commitment to the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob in other ways. One of the many shortcomings of a partisan government is that other streams of Judaism will be punished, even if this means that many Jewish citizens of Israel as well as most Jews in the Diaspora will be alienated – yes, at time even described as aliens! Unless you’re Orthodox you’re not likely to be considered religious, irrespective of your Jewish credentials and commitment to God, Torah and Israel!
Jews who describe themselves as secular will be welcome in the Netanyahu government as long as they collude with Orthodox demands to close facilities, including transportation on Shabbat, granting the Israeli Chief Rabbinate the right to control a range of activities from personal status to restaurants, and a host of other impositions in the name of Jewish law.
Which prompts me once again to cite the late Amos Oz, the celebrated Israeli writer, this time with a parenthesis at the end: I love Israel, even when I can’t stand it(s politics).
Republished from San Diego Jewish World