It was very uncharacteristic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – with his reputation as Mr. Television, who always sticks to his prearranged message and keeps his cool – to let his emotions get the better of him two weeks ago, on live TV, and snap at Channel 12 reporter Amalia Douek during a press conference about the government's economic bailout package.
The irritability certainly pointed to his levels of distress.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Just prior to his outburst, he had admitted that reopening banquet halls was a mistake. It was already his third admission of fault, after already apologizing for hosting his son during the Passover Seder; saying he regretted the timing of his request for a tax refund, and taking responsibility for the second wave of the coronavirus. There's nothing Netanyahu hates more than publicly admitting a mistake, even more so when the public – including his staunchest supporters – pin the blame on him for the current situation.
Aside from the apparent failure in terms of managing the coronavirus crisis is the shoddy political situation, within the Likud party as well. In a normal state of affairs, the prime minister leans on the coalition chairman in the Knesset, who allows the premier to work in peace and quiet. In actuality, the current coalition chairman, Miki Zohar, is causing a great deal of commotion and friction – within Likud and among the coalition – and is thus undermining the Netanyahu government.
The prime minister is surely cognizant of the severity of his situation. Over the past 24 hours it seems he's adopted a new strategy. After long months of staying put, on Tuesday he went up north and also visited Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba in the south. In the evening, in another move that appeared to be part of a new approach, Defense Minister Benny Gantz appeared alongside him and hailed the unity government in a mutual display of harmony.
What does Netanyahu want? The truth is that he has two options – and both are bad. He can continue his partnership with Gantz, which ends in his exit from the Prime Minister's Office. The second option is forming a right-wing government, before an election or after, but this will depend on the graces of his bitter political rivals – Naftali Bennett and Gideon Sa'ar.
Indeed, officials in the Likud believe that if the unity government falls apart, it will be possible to find the 61 MKs in the current Knesset to give Netanyahu the necessary majority.
"Three of the factions in the current Knesset won't pass the electoral threshold according to the polls. In Labor, Derech Eretz, and Blue and White there are enough people whose political careers will end if we go to another election. It's more than reasonable to assume they will join a right-wing government," said one senior Likud official. He believes Netanyahu's threats of another election are meant to facilitate the formation of a new government from within the current Knesset.
In Blue and White, officials are aware of the possibility but don't believe Netanyahu will form a government of defectors. "We may be a political corpse, but such a government during a national crisis isn't realistic," said a senior minister in Gantz's Blue and White party.
One way or another, whether there's another election, a new government or the current one drags along, "politicians are smelling blood, and this time it's Netanyahu's blood," said another senior government minister.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
