This Rosh Hashanah, pray for a true unity government
On Rosh Hashanah we should pray God makes our selfish leaders realize they must change their behavior and set aside their personal political interests.
By ISI LEIBLERPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
With Rosh Hashanah approaching, it is surely time for our leaders to take stock of themselves and recognize the terrible damage incurred on the nation by their indefensible, self-promoting, corrupt and anti-democratic behavior.Prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus six months ago, Israel was in the strongest position since its creation, and the prime minister’s standing was at an all-time high. US President Donald Trump’s administration proved to be more supportive of Israel than any previous American government, and openly allied itself with Israel, condemned the Palestinians for their intransigence and committed itself to denying Iran’s ambition to become a nuclear power.Israel’s economy, military and social standing in the world have never been so good, and we developed good reciprocal relations with countries as disparate as Russia and India.But today, despite the recent historic breakthrough with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, we face a series of looming confrontations that may endanger our long-term security.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his outstanding achievements, is indisputably destroying his legacy by promoting his personal political and legal interests to the point of endangering the nation.Amid the worsening medical crisis – in which the numbers of people infected with coronavirus are soaring – Netanyahu’s actions seem to be solely motivated toward retaining control, even if it involves undermining his coalition and outraging most of his constituents.The collapse of government also reflects the erosion of the role of the cabinet – a key feature of a democratic government – with Netanyahu treating his coalition partner, Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz, with outright contempt.Netanyahu must now apply himself urgently to the escalating danger of the coronavirus, in which has Israel catapulted from being a model of success to becoming the country with the highest per capita rate of infection in the world.There has been a total absence of leadership or direction in tackling coronavirus.Although Netanyahu appointed Prof. Ronni Gamzu as coronavirus “czar,” he has allowed his ministers, including members of the coronavirus cabinet, to consistently undermine him and issue contradictory statements that utterly confused the public.
Until now, no serious effort has been made to curb the rate of infection within the haredi and the Arab sectors. His pathetic last-minute surrenders to the demands of the ultra-Orthodox have outraged the nation and escalated societal tensions and hatred. Until now, decisions and policies have been floated, but invariably delayed, by political pressures to which Netanyahu invariably conceded.Gantz, who only agreed to join Netanyahu in the emergency government to deal with the issue, has performed no better. Together with members of his Blue and White Party, his primary focus has been to reject or undermine policies advanced by Netanyahu.It is still unclear whether Gamzu is the right person to be leading the fight against coronavirus, or whether his program of distinguishing between cities was feasible. He may have been overly optimistic in believing we could reduce the numbers without a lockdown, which – unless there is a last-minute flip-flop – is planned to come into effect beginning on Rosh Hashanah eve.If Netanyahu is unable to now provide leadership and enable the coronavirus cabinet to act responsibly with clear direction and unity to curb the spread of the virus and deal with the economic disruption, he is endangering the nation and must step down.There are other critical issues facing Israel at the international level with the pending US elections. Should former vice president Joe Biden be elected, our good fortune in having the most supportive American administration could be dramatically reversed.The problem is not Biden himself, but that a revolution is taking place in the lower ranks of the Democratic Party. This was exemplified by how close the far-left Sen. Bernie Sanders came to win the nomination for the Democratic presidential nominee.The radicalization of the Democratic Party includes extending the “big tent” to include outright antisemites like Linda Sarsour and others who are open fans of the abhorrent Louis Farrakhan.Some of Israel’s most loyal Democratic supporters have been defeated in primaries by radicals, many of whom are strongly anti-Israeli and pro the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Some of these were also backed by radical Jews. In fact, it is said that today being anti-Israel is the DNA test for being accepted within the “progressive” Democratic camp.Although most Americans still support Israel, the Democratic party is now divided, with the anti-Israeli factions gaining influence because of the passivity of many of Israel’s traditional supporters. Even those Democrats “supporting” Israel oppose the current security policies of the present government, which are endorsed by most Israelis. Biden has also pledged to reverse the Trump policies and reinstate the disastrous 2015 deal with Iran, whose leader still publicly boasts that Israel’s annihilation remains at the top of his agenda.But even in the best scenario, Biden will revert to Barack Obama’s “even-handed” policy, where Israel and the terrorists are regarded as morally equivalent and the US reinstates UN Relief and Works Agency and other payments, including funds that incentivize terrorists to kill Israelis.Should Biden be elected, he is unlikely to resist pressures from his rapidly expanding radical base. His vice presidential candidate, Sen. Kamala Harris, has supported Israel in the past, but has a track record in the Senate – second only to Sanders – for supporting radical policies. Should Biden be obliged to step down and Harris assumes the presidency, it is questionable whether she would be willing to alienate her radical supporters who are stridently anti-Israel.In this environment, the bastion of pro-Israel support of the Christian Evangelicals has no political clout. Unfortunately, the Jews – other than the Orthodox – have leaders who no longer even fight against the antisemitism directly impacting on them.Currently, only 5% of American Jews consider Israel a primary voting concern. Despite the fact that the Black Lives Matter movement includes radical anti-Israeli objectives in its charter and features prominent Jew-baiters in its demonstrations, the majority of Jewish leaders support such bodies out of cowardice and out of a sick desperation to earn the affection of progressive groups.Against this backdrop, it is disgraceful that centrist Israeli leaders, who basically share the same security objectives, are unwilling to submerge their personal interests and display unity. Netanyahu must set aside his own personal political interests and, in the face of the possible coming storms, start treating Gantz and Blue and White with respect as genuine coalition partners so that we can present a united front to the world.Gantz, for his part, should realize that he is now part of the government, and must not act as leader of the opposition.On Rosh Hashanah we should pray God makes our selfish leaders realize they must change their behavior and set aside their personal political interests and unite to belatedly deal professionally with the coronavirus. Failing to do that, history will not forgive them.A united centrist government with a functioning cabinet, with or without Netanyahu, would also have a dramatic positive impact on our relations with whatever American administration is elected. It may even influence some American Jewish leaders to wake up and renew support for the Jewish state, which, whether they like it or not, remains the key factor in their identity and political influence.The writer’s website can be viewed at www.wordfrom jerusalem.com.
