Benjamin Netanyahu scored a resounding victory over his detractors on the left in Tuesday's election, but no less than that – he also settled the score with his rivals on the Right. Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, Gideon Saar, Zeev Elkin, Zvi Hauser, Moshe Ya'alon, Yoaz Hendel, Ayelet Shaked, and all the other right-wing politicians who refused to toe the line found themselves in opposition or at home.
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Netanyahu wages ideological war against the Left, but when it comes to right-wing politicians in his bad books it is total warfare. For Netanyahu, a challenge from the Right is a threat to his rule and his very being. This is despite the fact that calls for him to govern in a "full right-wing" manner aren't aimed at him politically. It is an error on his part and on the part of his family to interpret things in this way. The contrary is true. It is because Netanyahu is held in such high esteem that the right wants to see him fulfill its worldview. Proof of this can be found in the ideological cohesion that currently exists in the right-wing camp.
Neither Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Miki Zohar, nor Yariv Levin have any aspiration to replace Netanyahu. All they want is to see their worldview and that of their voters fulfilled: An overhaul of the judicial system and a return of the balance of power in favor of the Knesset; restoration of governability and personal security throughout Israel and in Area C of Judea and Samaria; and a restoration of the IDF's deterrence. These expectations of course come on top of general necessities such as reducing the cost of living and a solution to the housing crisis, and a return to a constitutional situation where there is one prime minister, without a parity-based government, or an alternate prime minister.
On the previous occasions when Netanyahu has been elected prime minister, he hid behind the left, be it in a coalition or by hiding behind the attorney general, to shirk his duty of carrying out right-wing measures. It is the disappointment in Netanyahu's behavior that led to criticism from within. Now that he has a broad and secure coalition without anyone to challenge him, and knowing that the opposing camp is just looking for opportunities to bring him down, Netanyahu has to function as a full right-wing leader, without excuses, without dodging, and without sidestepping. And he should do so responsibly without pulling the wool over anyone's eyes.
At the age of 73 and starting his sixth term as prime minister, Netanyahu is Israel's undisputed leader. He has the freedom to be who he really is. If he does so, his government will easily last its term. No less important, if he enacts the policies that his voters voted for, he will rectify the impression left by the previous non-right-wing policies that he led. His legacy will be set in stone: A leader of the right.
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