Uri Avnery: What Happened To Netanyahu?
Has it happened to him too? Is he losing touch with reality? It happened to David Ben-Gurion after 15 years in power. His behavior in the Lavon Affair was crazy. He was removed. It happened to Menachem Begin after six years in power. With great honesty, Begin admitted: “I cannot go on any longer.” He said so, and withdrew to his home. Is that what is now happening to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after 12 years in office?
His most recent acts were not sane. They were crazy as far as his own interests are concerned too. Netanyahu could have brought Isaac Herzog into his government. The good Bougie – honest, submissive and disciplined. Herzog would have brought his party with him, all of it or the great majority of it, and guaranteed a long life for the government. Herzog would have calmed the nations of the world, who have started being afraid of Netanyahu. And what did he want after all? For Netanyahu to put certain promises in writing? So what? Since when has Netanyahu hesitated to break his written promises exactly the same way he breaks his verbal promises?
Instead of the comfortable and pleasant partner, Netanyahu chose a devious bully who does not even bother to hide his deep contempt for him. Avigdor Lieberman does not hide his hopes to succeed Netanyahu at the first opportunity either. A partner who the entire world views as a dangerous man. Why? There is no explanation. No logical reason. To bring Lieberman into the government is a suicidal act. To hand the Defense Ministry to him is an insane act.
..... A person cannot continue to rule the country when a growing number of esteemed people with influence and power, who head such major institutions – the military leadership, courts, media, arts and academia – have all reached the conclusion that he is dangerous. When clear establishment figures such as former Mossad chief Meir Dagan, deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Yair Golan and former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon feel the need of their consciences to stand up and voice a warning. This is what happened to Ben-Gurion. And who is Netanyahu in comparison to Ben-Gurion?
Uri Avnery: What happened to Netanyahu? ? Jewish Business News
We will see, but several people are predicting the collapse of the Netanyahu coalition. I would see that as nothing but good news.