Last summer, two US congresswomen, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, asked to visit Israel with a pro-BDS group. The purpose of the visit was to spread ideas of hatred for and boycott of Israel, and effectively conduct an anti-Semitic campaign against Israel from within its own borders and in violation of its laws.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who didn't want to hurt the special, important relations between Israel and Capitol Hill, faced a difficult decision. He knew that if he barred the two from the country, it would outrage the American Left. He, in particular, would be vulnerable to criticism from the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, but eventually, he made a balanced decision. He rejected the congresswomen's right to exploit their status, and announced he would not allow them to advocate for BDS in Israel, but he also said that if Tlaib wanted to visit her grandmother in a Palestinian village near Ramallah, she would be allowed to do so. (Tlaib had claimed her grandmother was about to die and this might be her last chance to visit her.)
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Eventually, Tlaib's true face was exposed: she rejected Netanyahu's offer to allow her a humanitarian visit and refused to promise she would not exploit the visit for BDS purposes. Eventually, Israel slammed the door in her face. Tlaib had proved her hatred of Israel was stronger than her love for her grandmother.
Today, the "Anyone but Bibi" camp should also think about the question of whether or not they love Israel more than they hate Netanyahu. We are facing enormous health and economic challenges because of the corona crisis, and of course, the country's diplomatic challenges – from Gaza to Iran – remain.
In addition, thanks to US President Donald Trump's groundbreaking peace plan, Israel is for the first time in decades at a pivotal moment that will allow it to shape its borders optimally, in a way that only a few years ago would have seemed nearly impossible. And all this with the support of the biggest superpower in the world, a modern-day Rome.
But that makes no impression on the leaders of Blue and White or Yisrael Beytenu. Because Benny Gantz and Avigdor Lieberman are allowing their hatred for Netanyahu to overcome their love of Israel. They might not be aware of or admit that distinction, and it might only appear to be true, but in politics what appears to be is no less important than reality. Any thinking person, any citizen, who wants the last election to count and not merely be a matter of protocol, should demand that Blue and White and Avigdor Lieberman do what must be done and joint a unity government under Netanyahu and allow him to continue on as prime minister until at least January 2021, when Trump or Trump's successor will be sworn in on the steps of Capitol Hill.
Now is the time to join hands and allow Netanyahu to deal with the challenges and opportunities that he is facing right now. After that, you can step into his shoes when he steps aside.
Gantz and Lieberman, you received votes from Israelis who love their country, and you must pay them back in the same currency - love for the country. Prove to your voters that you can and want to express the will of the voters and deal with the magnitude of current events. Don't treat the country like Tlaib treated her grandmother. In the end, if you insist on doing everything your way, you won't achieve a single one of your goals.
The voters have given you a chance, like Netanyahu gave Tlaib a rare chance to pay a specific, humanitarian visit. If you don't take advantage of this opportunity and agree to unity with Netanyahu, in the end you'll find yourselves – like Tlaib – on the losing side.
