Saving Bougie
Op-ed: After lying to everyone for months, Opposition Leader Isaac ‘Bougie’ Herzog reveals he is only out to save himself.
The political saga unfurling within the Labor Party has a name. It’s called the Quest to Save Bougie (Labor and Zionist Union Leader Isaac Herzog). And if it weren't so pathetic, it would likely be funny.
The man who over the last few months had denied any and all rumors saying that he is in talks with (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, who had blatantly lied—for there is no other way to put it—to anyone who had approached him on the matter, claiming it’s all rumors, spins, nonsense. The man who repeatedly spoke in a victim-like tone about how these rumors are absolute fantasy and only meant to cause him damage, has really been on a quest, negotiating with members of his own party in an effort to convince them to join the government.
It’s been an exhausting, stubborn and almost Sisyphean quest, mainly because Herzog has nothing to sell to his own party. Apart from two potential senior ministries—Foreign Affairs and Economy—plus a few junior ministries, he has not received a single promise that the current Netanyahu government would change its approach. Not regarding the bi-yearly budget. Not regarding a diplomatic breakthrough. Not regarding a halt on all settlement development. Nothing on changing its fundamental attitude. Netanyahu wasn’t even willing to acknowledge the idea of two countries for two peoples. The proposal itself is devoid of any substance, offering nothing save a few jobs that, truth be told, are pretty embarrassing.
It’s worth noting that the Zionist Union did rule not out joining the government in advance. It’s even plausible that they would have been willing to settle for very little to do so. Still, something. Some shred of an excuse, a reason, some explanation that would save their self respect. A promise to renegotiate later on. A parity government. A few agreed-upon guidelines. A change in the makeup of the coalition. But Netanyahu did not come to Herzog’s aid and did not supply him with one good reason that would help convince (fellow Zionist Union Leader) Livni and (former Labor leader) Yachimovich to go for it. Instead, he stuck to his initial and humiliating offer that Herzog should have thrown back in his face. Rather than doing this, Herzog has decided to take it up and start selling it door-to-door.
Things are so pitiful right now that over the last few days, Likud MKs have stopped talking about a unity government in the press, speaking instead of a broad government.
There isn’t a single politician who could claim that having the Zionist Union enter the government isn’t political suicide. But what’s tantamount to suicide for the Zionist Union is a lifesaver for Herzog. That’s the whole point. Because factually speaking, there have been no changes over the last few days that justify the wave of commentaries all assuming the Labor Party is headed toward the government. Nothing new has transpired between Netanyahu’s office and Herzog’s. If anything is transpiring, it’s in Herzog’s head. And he has good reasons for it: his police investigation, the polls that have never looked so bad (except perhaps during the Barak-Netanyahu government). Pressure from within his own party.
Herzog would like to reach the summer session as a minister and spare himself the task of delivering a speech as a head of the opposition whom no one sees as their leader. He would rather enter a government where everyone would be stepping all over him. A government that would push for bills that fly in the face of democracy, continuing a diplomatic stalemate and international isolation. A government that would roast him alive. Because when you have to decide what’s worse: facing all of the above or being a doormat in the Opposition, Herzog’s answer seems clear.
Herzog brought Netanyahu’s offer before the two strongest women in his (Zionist Union) party and was rebuffed by both of them, each in her own style. Seemingly no one in his party would be willing to sacrifice their own political future for such an offer. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be those ready to perform the suicide ritual that the Labor Party performs from time to time.
It wasn’t long ago that Herzog said that no decent person would enter Netanyahu’s government. It would be interesting to know how he perceives himself today.
