Those who may have been wondering what kind of country we are living in were given a definitive answer Wednesday, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, displaying no shame at all, stood up and lied to the public.
It must be said, the man lied.
2 View gallery
Prime Minister Netanyahu announces he is seeking immunity from prosecution
(Photo: Rafi Kotz)
What the prime minister said in his televised speech in which he announced he would be seeking immunity from prosecution, was a bald-faced lie.
fabricated accusations, unfounded allegations, badgering witnesses, targeted leaks - these are just some of the charges Netanyahu directed at law enforcement, the judicial system, his political opposition, and the media.
If that is not bad enough, Netanyahu also perverted the meaning of the immunity law that he said was legislated to protect the public from trumped-up charges against elected officials, thereby presenting himself not as attempting to avoid justice, but as a champion of the people out to protect them.
2 View gallery
Prime Minister Netanyahu greets voters after Likud's primary race
(Photo: Motti Kimchi)
If there is any truth to what the prime minister said in his speech, this is not a country any of us should want to live in, unless we aspire to a totalitarian regime.
If Netanyahu is in fact lying, he must not be allowed to continue in his job one more day.
During the speech, Netanyahu showed none of the self-confidence the public has become accustomed to. He seemed afraid, bothered and tired. A bit like a man on the run.
Who would have believed we would witness the prime minister trying to flee from justice in such a crude manner? The only substantial response to this travesty has come from Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman who announced soon after Netanyahu's speech that his party would work to bar the PM from receiving immunity.
It is not likely that 61 out of the 120 members of Knesset will support the prime minister's request but what he had done on Wednesday, by announcing he is seeking immunity from prosecution, was in line with his efforts of the past year. He was buying more time.
The Knesset committee that must weigh the request, has not been formed and would likely not be convened before the next election campaign. Netanyahu may just be able to drag this travesty out over more election cycles.