JERUSALEM — All politics may require complexity in its leaders. How else to put together the various forces necessary to keep an alliance together? And for someone who has served a complex society for more than eleven years, the complexity is likely to spill over into what some would describe as unreliability.
Bibi may have been made for it. Considerable time and higher education in the US; three marriages; an earlier period when he changed his name to Benjamin Ben Nitai . Little if any relationship with an older daughter by one of his earlier wives. Skilled in the two languages most important for an Israeli leader. And with a father, wife, and elder son very much on the outside of what would be expected of a national leader.
Reliable? He’s known for extreme language, which surpasses by far the activity he has endorsed. And he is well known as a prevaricator. Or liar, depending on one’s perspective.
And with three criminal indictments, for breach of trust, bribery, and fraud, waiting on the onset of a trial due to begin in January, as well as efforts to manipulate the country’s politics in order to obtain a Knesset willing to vote him immunity for criminal action.
The recent advancement of Israel’s relations with the United Arab Emirates illustrates several sides of Bibi’s political personality.
On the one hand, he is a widely admired advancement of Israel’s position, with the UAE being the first Arab country in some 25 years to formally deal with Israel. The movement has come at an expense for Bibi. He had to give up his program to annex to Israel parts of the West Bank, perhaps the Jordan Valley and major settlement blocs. And to accept that the US would sell F-35s and other sophisticated equipment to the UAE.
Or perhaps he never intended to do the annexation, but posed as its champion in order to provide the UEA with something to demand as a price for normalization?
The move also may have benefited from Bibi’s close alliance with Donald Trump, whose government may have been crucial in bringing about the alliance with the UAE. Trump and his people are saying that Israel’s annexation is “off the table.” Bibi, in contrast, has claimed that it has been temporarily put aside. He’s also claiming that he has had nothing to do with the US move to sell the UAE with F-35 airplanes and other sophisticated equipment. Believe that, if you will. There are denials hinted from the Trump administration.
Both Trump and Netanyahu are known for their casual adherence to truth and candor.
So they may stay close while speaking all over the map.
Expressing himself as an extremist and acting as a moderate is nothing new for Bibi. It’s been his policy for years with respect to Gaza. He’s been outspoken in threatening massive retaliation for Gazan attacks, especially those directed at the border areas that have kept Israelis close to shelter for months on end, but has let the Israelis suffer while holding to moderate actions against Gaza.
Could he do more, yet stop short of occupying Gaza and running its social services? It’s not an easy call.
Recently weekend demonstrations at Bibi’s official residence of up to 15,000 and at his private residence along the coast, of perhaps a thousand participants, have been explained by Bibi and supporters as leftist and anarchists, but the realities are more complex.
Bibi’s family adds to his complexity. His wife, Sara, has been involved in several lawsuits by former employees, claiming her to be an insulting and demanding employer. The cases have dragged on, and featured claims that Ethiopian cleaners are not allowed onto the family’s floors of the residence, apparently to avoid a sense of unpleasant confrontation. Sara was found guilty of fraud and breach of trust, having to do with using outside caterers rather than established cooks for meals, which began a lengthy process of claims, and counter claims about the punishment to be received.
Elder son Yair’s conduct has also been prominent. Some time ago an official driver recorded conversations between Yair and friends, which included raunchy language about trading girl friends. Yair is currently 29, without an apparent profession, lives mostly at home, and has become known for extremist tweets against his father’s adversaries.
Neither Sara nor Yair seem to be damaging Bibi, although both may reflect the darkest sides of his personality.
There’s also a cousin who has promised financial support for Bibi’s trial, but the Legal Adviser to the Government has ruled against that.
Politically, Bibi has demanded a one-year budget in a continuing quarrel with Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz. The one-year budget would actually be a two-months budget, and the explanations by Bibi and his supporters seem contrived in the extreme. There was a pressing deadline, which would trigger the end of the Knesset and calling of elections if there was not a budget.
A day before the expiration of the Knesset, Bibi made a speech that began with great praise for his accomplishment of peace with the UAE, and promising more of the same. Then he repeated a claim against the Justice Ministry which seemed baseless, and charged Blue and White with foiling his administration. The presentation also included his apparent acceptance of a compromise, in which the deadline for passing a budget would be postponed for three months.
Bibi’s posture may be governed by his expectations, or hopes, for a Knesset majority for the parties that will vote to provide him with immunity from the looming trial. Recent polls have not confirmed his hopes, especially in light of strong opposition to his actions among former supporters.
There is plenty of anger or disappointment in Bibi’s management of the Coronavirus, the economy, and the deal with the US and the UAE. We’ve heard threats of his supporters among settlers, saying they’ll vote against him due to his giving up on the issue of annexation.
But who’ll they vote for?
Currently Likud remains united, the ultra-Orthodox remain within range of him providing resources to their Yeshivot and fudging on the Rosh Hashanah visit of thousands to the grave in Ukraine of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, as well as the limiting of synagogue attendance on the High Holidays..
Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked of Yamina (Right), have been kept out of Bibi’s present coalition, and there is reason to think that they would not support him. Likewise for Avigdor Lieberman. Yet both are rightists, and may be hoping for someone other than Bibi to reach the heights of Likud.
But that shows no signs of happening.
And what about his posture on a general closing of the country for the period of the High Holidays? The man designated as the manager of the fight against Coronavirus has come out in favor, with severe closures of synagogues, but the prospect of compliance seems limited.
Where will Bibi be?
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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansksy@sdjewishworld.com