JERUSALEM — I’m confused.
Among other things, about the creation of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
We hear of several promises. From Bibi, they are worth as much as a wet tissue. Itamar Ben-Gvir expects to be Minister of Public Security, Bezalel Smotrich with two years as Minister of Finance, Aryeh Deri as Minister of Interior and Health Minister for two years, Avi Maoz has campaigned against LGBT rights, is against women serving in the Israel Defense Forces, and has called for increased gender segregation in public events; he expects to be a deputy minister and head a new organization focused on Jewish identity,, concerned with immigration from former Soviet countries. Maoz has said he wishes to change Israel’s Law of Return to exclude non-Jewish grandchildren of Jews and recognize only Orthdox conversions to Judaism.
These and other promises of Bibi have not been realized.
There’s still no government in place, and some dispute in Likud about the appointments to various ministries, deputy ministries, heads of Knesset Committees and the chair of the Knesset.
Netanyahu asked the president to extend his time for forming a government for two weeks, and received a 10 day extension.
Does this pressure mean that Bibi will sweat more, or does it represent a quiet deal between Bibi and the President to apply pressure on the various nay-sayers in Likud and elsewhere about the creation of a government?
Along the way, we’ve heard of ministries being cut up into their various portions, with prospective appointees claiming more authority than previous ministers have enjoyed.
Ben-Gvir and Maoz have seemed to talk out of both sides of their mouths, asserting that they’ll push for reforms, but also claiming that they’ll leave controversial matters to the established bureaucracy.
And all the while Bibi has asserted that he’ll maintain control, and all will be well.
Meanwhile, Jews here and overseas are expressing their concern about the extremism of the “new government.” American and European politicians are also expressing their worries.
Are we on the verge of creating an extreme right wing authority, on the road to being fascist, against women, gays, the police, and established rules of law?
Or will Bibi ultimately fail to produce an agreement among his factions?
Sixty-four seats is not a large and comfortable majority in the Knesset. A handful of Likudniks, or dissidents from other parties can produce a situation where there is no agreement, or where a government seemingly created slips and falls.
Among our problems is deciding on the postures of various parties. Left and right are too simple. There are two ultra-Orthodox parties, primarily concerned with freedom from military service, and family allowances. Who knows how much the right wing, religious and nationalist parties will demand to implement their missions? What are the ideological differences between Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, and Gideon Saar? How to sort out Likudnik claims of being right-wing and liberal?
Is my confusion spread more broadly among Israels and those concerned about us?