Israeli protesters raise a sign in Hebrew 'Mandelblit, let us decide, we came from Mahalot to protest', as they demonstrate against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Politics

Bibis faustischer Pakt

Feb 27, 2018 Shalom Lipner

JERUSALEM – Nach Ermittlungen, die im Jahr 2016 begannen, empfahl die israelische Polizei am 13. Februar, Anklage gegen Ministerpräsident Benjamin Netanjahu wegen Bestechung, Betrug und Untreue zu erheben. Nun liegt das Augenmerk auf Generalstaatsanwalt Avichai Mandelblit, der entscheiden muss, ob eine formelle Anklageschrift gegen einen Mann eingebracht wird, der gewissermaßen zum Synonym für die moderne israelische Politik geworden ist.

Wenn die derzeitige israelische Regierung bis zum Sommer 2019 überlebt, wird Netanjahu Israels dienstältester Spitzenpolitiker sein. Momentan ist es allerdings keineswegs sicher, dass er bis dahin im Amt bleibt.

Seit Netanjahus Rückkehr als Ministerpräsident im März 2009 – er hatte dieses Amt erstmals von Juni 1996 bis Juli 1999 inne – verzeichnete Israel ein beispielloses Wirtschaftswachstum und eine Reihe diplomatischer Erfolge. Gleichzeitig wurde die extreme Spaltung zu einem Merkmal seiner Amtszeit und das Säbelrasseln möglicher Kriege in Syrien, im Libanon und in Gaza unüberhörbar. Wie sich Netanjahus politische Zwangslage auflöst, wird darüber entscheiden, welches Narrativ die Oberhand behält.

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j. von Hettlingen Mar 3, 2018

Shalom Lipner says Benjamin Netanyahu’s “faustian bargain” would be to pander to the ultra right groups in order to survive politically, amid charges for „bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.“ The ball is now in the attorney general’s court, who must decide whether to indict „a man who has become virtually synonymous with modern Israeli politics.“ The police recommended an indictment in two separate bribery probes based on „just-completed“ inquiries.
Should Netanyahu get away with impunity and remain in office until the summer 2019, he would go down in Israel’s history as the longest-serving leader. Yet for the time being, „it is far from certain he will last until then.“ Already deeply mired in scandals, he is once again focus of another corruption case, with police entering his residence in Jerusalem this morning, while his wife was being questioned at the same time in Tel Aviv.
The new legal challenge that bedevils Bibi – known as Case 4000 – is an investigation around allegations that the owners of Bezeq Israel Telecom provided positive coverage of the Netanyahus on a news website in return for regulatory changes worth hundreds of millions of dollars. This development, along with the arrest of high-level members of his inner circle, poses a serious threat to Netanyahu’s political fate.
No doubt the „ripple effect“ of these scandals could „engulf an already-fragile political dynamic in Israel, where rivals within Netanyahu’s coalition hold tremendous sway over him and his Likud faction.“ The ongoing investigations also throw a cloud above Netanyahu’s planned visit to Washington next week, where he will meet Trump and give a speech to the pro-Israel lobby Aipac. So far he has been emboldened by Trump’s support – recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the US embassy there, and seeking to derail the nuclear deal with Iran. What could complicate the visit is Netanyahu’s recent lie about discussing Israeli annexation of West Bank settlements with Washington – a claim that the White House has denied.
Pressure has been piling on 68-year-old leader, whose rightwing, divisive politics have dominated Israel for years. Members of Netanyahu‘s cabinet „are wary about deciding their leader’s fate prematurely. But they are also monitoring carefully which way the political winds are blowing. None of his ministers is particularly interested in new elections, but no one wants to go down with a sinking ship.“ For the sake of their „own long-term political aspirations,“ they will not hesitate to remove him, „especially if calls for resignation grow louder.“
The author fears that this „predicament…could make Netanyahu amenable to the demands“ of the hawkish wing of his coalition that calls for „a more spirited response to Iranian-sponsored aggression in the Golan Heights“ as well as „more construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.“ Meanwhile ultra-orthodox powerbrokers „will also pressure Netanyahu not to accommodate liberal expressions of Judaism in Israel.“
Netanyahu is „no political neophyte,“ knowing that he could be indicted or pushed out of office. It should come as no surprise if he „surrenders to the aggressive demands of his coalition,“ because he has no „principles“ and scruples. He is a hedonist and puts his personal interests ahead of his „allegiance to the office.“ It remains to be seen „if he resists the temptation to pander,“ because it would only hasten his downfall. Indeed, „the stakes have never been higher, both for Netanyahu, and for the state.“ His coalition has stood by him so far. So „at the moment, he continues to lead,“ and he plans to run again in 2019. The attorney general will decide whether to accept the police recommendation to indict him, a process that is likely to take months.
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M M Feb 27, 2018

Which is more important, the future of BiBi or the future of the State of Israel? BiBi has gambled it all.
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