By Ira Sharkansky
JERUSALEM — We’ve had the holidays, and have gone back to work.
Slowly, in the matters of the Netanyahus.
Sara’s trial has begun, sort of.
The prosecution has asked for three judges, given the delicacy and complexity of things. Sara’s lawyer has opposed, and has said there is nothing to judge.
Next hearing is scheduled for November.
It’ll take a while for the pre-trial jousting to end, then more months, assuming that we get to a real trial..
We’re talking about some NIS 360,000 in meals charged to the government improperly. They came from Jerusalem’s elite and expensive chefs, despite there being a chef employed at the official residence. Plus some other shenanigans. Sara had agreed to repay a tiny fraction of these sums, but her offer was rejected by the prosecution.
The police have had another visit with Bibi. Again he has said that there is nothing, because there wasn’t anything.
We’ve heard a much different story, about three cases. Or maybe four. So we’ll wait for next developments.
He’s having trouble with the ultra-Orthodox, about the bill meant to deal with the issue of drafting young men.
The PM is threatening an early election, probably meant to settle his status in one way or another ahead of the police and prosecutors.
There’s also been killings in an industry established in the West Bank, done by an individual employee of the company. There had been nothing to expect a personal explosion of this kind.
It’s a condition that comes along with more than 100,000 working legally in Israel or for Jews in the territories. No apparent cure for personal madness. Overall, we remain safer than Americans and people in many other countries. Less so in the territories, perhaps, than elsewhere in Israel.
We get along, with occasional upsetting excitements of this kind. And there are many more deaths by traffic accidents. But still on this point we’re safer than in the US, and about at the West European average. And without a freedom of gun control, we’re a lot safer than Americans.
There’s some political excitement about the local elections, set for October 30. So far it seems more personal than anything else, with candidates seeking media time to express their points of view.
At the national level, we’re wondering if the supply of advanced Russian anti-aircraft missiles will curtail Israel’s hitherto free access to Iranian sites in Syria.
The leader of Zionist Union (Labor Party) Avi Gabbay indicated his support for a two-state solution as part of a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah. One can doubt that such will increase his party’s standing in the polls, currently at 10 seats, compared to 24 in the present Knesset.
Big news for Israel is Nikki Halley’s resignation as US Ambassador to the UN. She’s been a good friend. Speculation is rife as to her reasons: Disagreements with John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, or her intention of running against Donald Trump for President. She denies the latter, but we’ll see.
The two problems that confuse things are Netanyahu’s status, and the absence of a full deal with the Palestinians.
Neither of them keep the Israeli government from functioning, but cause discomfort at home and confusion overseas.
It seems clear from more than two years of police investigations into four cases that the PM is guilty of something serious enough to end his service, as well as his personal freedom.
Yet the inquiries proceed, with final police conclusions, then a prosecutor’s decision, then hearings for the accused, then final decision on indictment stretching out until sometime in 2019 or even later.
Meanwhile, polls indicate that the present coalition can continue until the end of its term, and would likely be returned to power.
Sara, too, seems guilty of manipulating her management of the PM’s residences in a fraudulent manner.
And son Yair is a drag on the family, and may be guilty of involvement in monkey business.
Meanwhile, overseas Jews see Bibi as essential to Israel’s security and even existence.
Many of these people have limited information about Israel’s situation, and seem fixed on a view from years past, unable to maneuver between the overt antipathy of many Muslims, as well as their governments, along with the willingness of those governments to deal with Israel quietly on matters of security to both Israel and themselves.
Likewise, there is dissonance on the matter of Palestine. Overseas Jews and governments want a solution that is impossible to obtain. Palestinian opposition to all deals–either between themselves or with Israel–takes their problem off the table. Except for the insistence of left wing Israelis and many overseas that greater efforts be made by Israel to find a solution.
There doesn’t seem to be a quick fix either to Bibi’s situation or that of the Palestinians.
Life goes on, with discomfort. But a lot better than it has been in Jewish history. Israel scores well on a comparative scale of happiness.
Remember that Israel is currently richer than France, Britain, and Japan on Gross Domestic Product per capita, and Israelis are safer than Americans.
There remain problems. But they also exist elsewhere.
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Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com