Arsen Ostrovsky and Joshua Karsh – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com israelhayom english website Wed, 05 Jun 2019 11:14:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://www.israelhayom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-G_rTskDu_400x400-32x32.jpg Arsen Ostrovsky and Joshua Karsh – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com 32 32 The path not traveled https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/the-path-not-traveled/ Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:00:11 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?post_type=opinions&p=375789 Israeli politics is defined by the larger-than-life personalities that lead the litany of political parties. Netanyahu, Gantz, Lapid, Lieberman, Gabbay, Bennett, Shaked, Deri … these personalities and their egos dominate the political landscape. Campaign ads are focused on the faces of the leaders of the parties – the other members of their respective parties and […]

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Israeli politics is defined by the larger-than-life personalities that lead the litany of political parties. Netanyahu, Gantz, Lapid, Lieberman, Gabbay, Bennett, Shaked, Deri … these personalities and their egos dominate the political landscape. Campaign ads are focused on the faces of the leaders of the parties – the other members of their respective parties and their policy positions are largely left undiscussed.

A clash of egos is forcing Israel into another unwanted and unwarranted national election. The election results for the 21st Knesset were clear – the majority of Israelis voted for a right-wing government. The inability of the right-wing parties to form a coalition agreement is a massive failure for the leaders who were entrusted by the public to lead this nation.

Shortly before the last election, we wrote that the major parties of this country need to put aside their minor policy differences and create a coalition government for the greater good of Israel. We are reiterating that call again today. The next few months will follow a familiar path: The Israeli public is going to be subjected to an onslaught of negative campaigns. The results of the next election may strongly resemble the results of this past election. Following the election, there will be infighting and political horse-trading until the next ruling coalition is formed.

Instead, the collective leaders of our nation should walk down a new path together.

The majority of the Israeli population prefers a government led by the Right to tackle the challenges and opportunities facing the nation. There is also widespread support for an inclusive Zionist government that is committed to the security and prosperity of Israel. The Trump administration's peace efforts will begin in the coming weeks with a conference in Bahrain. The fact that there is not a stable Israeli government to engage in this effort is deeply unfortunate and could have been entirely avoided. U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the new election by saying Israel "needs to get their act together."

After the Knesset voted to dissolve itself and head to a new election, the public learned of the myriad efforts that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made to create a ruling coalition. In particular, his efforts to lean across the political spectrum to woo Labor should be commended. If the Likud can invite Labor to join a coalition, there can surely be a coalition government with the Blue and White party. Will the leaders of these parties put the needs of the country before their own egos?

The lesson learned from the failure of the shortest-ever Knesset should not be forgotten. The campaigns for the Sept. 17 election have already begun and have picked up from where they left off in April. However, the Israeli populace should demand better this time. For the greater good of Israel and the Middle East, the larger-than-life personalities that dominate Israeli politics need to travel a different path. The egos and pettiness that caused the coalition to fail cannot be repeated. Israel deserves better.

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The day after the election https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/the-day-after-the-election/ Wed, 03 Apr 2019 13:29:19 +0000 http://www.israelhayom.com/?post_type=opinions&p=28501 We are less than a week before the Israeli election and all indications point to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party being in the best position to form a government. For the sake of the country and of the greater Middle East, Israel needs a wide-reaching coalition government that will embrace the Trump […]

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We are less than a week before the Israeli election and all indications point to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party being in the best position to form a government. For the sake of the country and of the greater Middle East, Israel needs a wide-reaching coalition government that will embrace the Trump administration's peace efforts and tackle the security challenges facing the Jewish state.

In welcoming Netanyahu to the White House last week, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated, "My administration will always stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters, and will always stand strong with our cherished friend and partner, the State of Israel."

This sentiment was echoed at the AIPAC Policy Conference held last week in Washington, D.C.  Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman all made compelling cases as to why the Trump administration is the most pro-Israel administration in the history of the United States.

True to his pre-election promises, Trump has withdrawn from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal and moved the United States Embassy to Jerusalem. This administration has also shown unwavering support for Israel at the United Nations and has held the Palestinian leadership accountable for its incitement and funding of terror. The recent recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights further underscored the Trump administration's unparalleled support for the safety and security of Israel.

As Netanyahu noted during his Oval Office meeting with Trump during the Golan Heights signing proclamation, "I've met many friends of Israel in this office but we have never had a greater friend than President Trump." The president's actions in support of Israel has translated to overwhelmingly positive feelings among the Israeli public toward the American president and his administration.

Following the Israeli election, the U.S. will reveal its vision for an all-encompassing peace between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as a broader regional peace with the Arab states.

The Palestinian Authority leadership, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, has already indicted it would dismiss the Trump peace plan out of hand, without having even seen it.

While the details of the plan remain a well-guarded secret, the Israeli public should feel confident in the proposal that will ultimately be presented, given that this administration has demonstrated beyond a doubt its unequivocal solidarity with the State of Israel and understanding of the Jewish state's security concerns.

Despite the virulent political rhetoric and personal attacks that have punctuated this electoral cycle, the policy differences between Likud and Blue and White on issues of national security are largely superficial. Blue and White co-leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid deserve praise for showing that candidates from diverse and opposing political backgrounds can come together for the betterment of the nation.

The wider Israeli leadership should embrace this truly unique moment to join forces for the future of their country. Immediately after the election, they must put aside the bruised egos and petty differences, to create a stable and lasting coalition government from across the political spectrum that will embrace the Trump administration's vision for safer, more secure and more prosperous Middle East.

As Pence said at the AIPAC Policy Conference: "Israel and the United States will always stand together because America and Israel are more than friends. We're more than partners or allies. We are a family, descended from a common tradition of faith. We're a family that upholds common values. And together, we share a common destiny."

From day one, the Trump administration has shown its support for Israel has been not only by word, but also deed and action. Therefore, when this administration says it "has Israel's back," Israelis overwhelmingly believe it.

The Israeli public, the most pro-American population in the world, can accordingly rest assured that any future peace agreement led by the Trump administration will have the Jewish state's security interests foremost at heart.

As such, the upcoming peace plan will present a unique occasion for Israel that will require of its leadership courage, commitment and most of all, unity, to seize this unprecedented opportunity by coming together to embrace the vision our American family is creating for a stronger and safer Israel and Middle East.

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