Since Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced his indictment Thursday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to keep his ranks within the right-wing bloc in line, except for the defiance of Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar.
It would be true to say that most of Likud's officials and lawmakers were "strong-armed" into issuing generic comments of support Netanyahu or even better, embark on a belligerent media blitz to back him - or so some of them have stated.
Netanyahu managed to keep his troops in order - at least until Tuesday night when the fortified wall of support around him came tumbling down.
The prime minister has made great efforts over the last few days to agitate his supporters and bring thousands to rally in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night, in a show of support for him and condemnation of the justice system, with the stage in the plaza playing host to ministers, MKs, and party officials.
The anarchistic banner chosen by the rally organizers - "Against the governmental coup" – managed to achieve the complete opposite and lionized the ministers and MKs who thought that such a protest, in these turbulent times, crossed the line of civil debate in Israel.
Even shame has its boundaries it seems.
I conducted a short round of talks with Likud lawmakers, and they do not have it easy.
Filling up their schedules with events, obligations for "prior arrangements," going abroad or to conventions – all to distance themselves from the no man's land outside Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
A rally in support of Netanyahu is a legitimate and appropriate political gambit, and he himself deserves one given his current political and legal status.
But a rally against a "government coup" is bordering on an actual coup.
"Investigate Liat Ben Ari" (Tel Aviv District Attorney) and "Jail Shai Nitzan" (the State Prosecutor) were just two of the signs present at the rally.
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A video shown during the rally called State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan 'corrupt'
(Photo: Sat-view)
The justice system, the state prosecution and the police are justly open to criticism and scrutiny.
But this was not a rally looking for justice – it was looking for heads, primarily of those who are bringing Netanyahu to justice. It's all personal.
Justice Minister Amir Ohana attacked the state prosecutor not so long ago on the basis that "there is a prosecution within the prosecution."
But is the reaction to that statement to create a state within a state? A state with different police, prosecution, courts, and law - where the investigators are judged and not the leaders?
"Who is going to protest against their own country?" asked some of the ministers who absented themselves.
There is a big difference between what Likud officials say publicly and what they say behind closed doors.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman said this week that six Likud lawmakers told him in private that they would not support granting Netanyahu parliamentary immunity if he seeks it.
Ramat Gan Mayor and Likud member Carmel Shama Hacohen called on Netanyahu to resign due to the indictments during a television interview, describing the worried and critical comments against Netanyahu he has been hearing from party officials.
The question is when - if at all - will Likud officials find the courage to say such things publicly.