Could it be that the best prime minister in Israel's history will also be remembered as one of its worst?
The prime minister who has managed to maintain rare levels of governmental stability, reduce terror, build in Judea and Samaria, upgrade our status in the world, fortify our borders, bolster our economy, position us at the technological forefront – has in one fell swoop of a virus knocked us all the way back, even farther behind than Iran and Rwanda. "Jealousy, lust, and the [pursuit of] honor," our sages said, "remove a person from the world." Netanyahu, the 2020 version, exemplifies this Talmudic maxim.
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Netanyahu's jealousy of his high-ranking American friends in power, his fanaticism over his place in history, has led him to cast aside anyone else capable of shining. I don't think anyone can really compete with him, but our leader's fears have now positioned him alone at the top, surrounded by people who can't hold a candle to him, including sycophants like Tzahi Hanegbi and the other Kadima castoffs. Lust, or greed – in the form of the tax benefits he wants, and the rapacious clauses inserted into the alternate prime minister's residence bill – dirty the political and ideological discourse required of a prime minister. Honor – the prime minister cannot admit he is wrong and doesn't respect those who respect him. Parties that followed him through the desert he kicked in the rear, to the detriment of all citizens.
A general rule of thumb among technicians is that when a tool is working well, you don't unplug it. Any business owner who works from home knows you don't switch providers if you have smooth internet. Netanyahu, however, doesn't know what it's like to be self-employed.
At a recent press conference he boasted that countries across the world consult with Israel to understand how to combat the coronavirus; what he didn't say is that Naftali Bennet is the one taking those calls. In March, Bennett published his plan to stop the pandemic. Netanyahu could have told Blue and White, when forming the coalition, that Bennett has to head the anti-corona strategy, not even as part of the coalition necessarily. But that would have made Bennett look too good, and that is a problem.
In a monumental interview with Defense Minister Benny Gantz last week, the interviewer asked him whether he is seeking additional authorities for himself and his ministry in light of the pandemic, and Gantz replied that the coronavirus was the responsibility of the Health Ministry and National Security Council, and there was no reason for him to seek more authority. A test of leadership, indeed: Going above and beyond to resolve a crisis, even if it doesn't fall within your jurisdiction – especially when your ministry has an unlimited budget.
Even those who disagree with his right-wing views, remember that Bennett called for 100,000 corona tests per day; and here we are, two months later, and the government is bragging over a mere 30,000. Netanyahu, the consummate man of the world, managed to erase the converted corona hotels, quarantining confirmed carriers, and the specialized care for the elderly. The prime minister's task forces prepared a media offensive instead of preparing for a second wave, which caused even me to wonder whether the man indicted on corruption charges – I assume unjustly – can function as prime minister with such a cloud hanging over his head. A normal prime minister would have succeeded, perhaps, because he would have delegated authority to the most talented people around him; and it would be obvious that the job was getting done. Netanyahu is not succeeding.
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