The prime minister is revving his engines ahead of an election campaign – which he is also trying to avert. It's hard to explain his speech at the Knesset plenum on Wednesday as anything but an election speech. With that, Netanyahu is engaged in feverish negotiations with the Blue and White party. They're not discussing the national budget, which was always just an excuse – and not only for Netanyahu but for Benny Gantz as well. The prime minister has his eyes on something completely different.
Senior appointments, for example. The coalition agreement between Likud and Blue and White stipulates the establishment of a consulting committee for senior appointments. Netanyahu is extremely keen on two appointments: attorney general and police commissioner. But the committee hasn't been formed. Netanyahu blames Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn for the delay. According to speculation, if Gantz and Nissenkorn give Netanyahu control over these appointments, he could concede on the budget.
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Likud officials say it's unacceptable for the coalition deal to only be upheld by one side while the other does as it wishes. They also view Blue and White's abstention from the vote to prevent Netanyahu, as someone facing indictments, from serving as prime minister, as a violation of the coalition agreement. Coalition Chairman Miki Zohar said that based on the understandings between the sides, Blue and White lawmakers should have attended that Knesset hearing and voted against the bill, rather than simply abstained.
In a normal coalition, such an incident would not be tolerated. Coalition partners cannot abstain from a personal bill directly targeting the prime minister and think they've done their part. There's no greater expression of no-confidence from those who are supposed to be partners in leadership. But this isn't a normal coalition. Or to put it more bluntly: This coalition is completely abnormal.
Exactly 33 years ago, in August of 1987, the Lavi fighter jet project was canceled. It was supposed to have been the flagship project of Israel Aerospace Industries and the IDF. It was mainly scrapped due to the endless tug of war between members of the national unity government at the time. The dream of an Israeli-made fighter jet, both amazing in terms of performance and cheap in terms of cost, dissipated due to a divided and disharmonious coalition. Who could have believed things could be even worse. The current government couldn't build a toy plane, let alone a world-class jet.
Officials in the Prime Minister's Office deny the claims. In their words, Netanyahu will never concede on the issue of a one-year budget because it is simply too consequential for the welfare of the Israeli economy. The groundwork for another election is being laid by all sides; by Netanyahu, too, whose demands may not be met. If they aren't, the clock will start on another election regardless, as the Knesset, having failed to pass a budget, will have to disperse in 10 days.
The prime minister's surprising speech at the Knesset on Wednesday was calculated and precise. Netanyahu used the stage to present the general outline of the Likud's next election campaign: Yair Lapid will be positioned as his primary adversary. The recent protests outside his Jerusalem residence will be painted as political, the handiwork of Lapid, the Left, and the Joint Arab List – and the trial against him, a witch hunt.
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