Netanyahu's opponents are all talk and no action
Op-ed: As soon as it became obvious Israel was heading for elections, ministers — even from Likud — began criticizing government policy in an effort to prove they are more right-wing than Netanyahu; none of them have the guts to actually quit.
In an unprecedented turn of events, nine ministers came out in criticism of the government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last weekend. Four of them were even from Likud: Environmental Protection Minister Ze'ev Elkin; Tourism Minister Yariv Levin; Welfare Minister Haim Katz; and Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis. Even Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Galant, who is actually about to jump ship from Kulanu to Likud, also joined the frey.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the hard-right Jewish Home party, meanwhile, went so far as to slam the government policy on terrorism, even though both of them are on the security cabinet and participate in the decision-making process. Even the opposition doesn't confront the government like its own ministers are doing. Which begs the question why these nay-sayers choose to remain in the coalition, given their very evident disapproval of its policies.
Let's not be naive. How many ministers have we seen so far volunteer to leave their posts, especially ahead of an election? Besides, this is the great paradox of this tail end of the current Netanyahu government. On the one hand, the coalition partners are trying hard to keep it intact, since no one is willing to be the one to bring down a right-wing government. On the other hand, the elections are close, the primaries are around the corner, and the ministers are investing all their efforts in pleasing their own electorates.
So the ministers must learn to walk a tightrope, and maneuver between rhetoric that will win over their right-wing electorate and the fear that the said rhetoric will pull the rug out from under the feet of this government — and they are held responsible for bringing it down.
Bennett and Shaked, who only two weeks ago insisted they would quit the coalition if the former did not get the defense portfolio, appear to be the most frustrated with the government. That’s understandable. Not only did Netanyahu refuse to show a single drop of gratitude for them keeping his coalition alive, he persists in abusing both Bennett and Shaked at every opportunity. Just a few days ago, after legislation to regulate settlement construction was approved by a ministerial committee, Netanyahu gave himself the credit for this achievement despite the fact Shaked has been heavily promoting the bill for several years.
It isn’t the first time the prime minister has taken credit for another’s work, and while such actions are sometimes met with a faint protest, they are mostly swept under the rug. But not this time. If there is anything that drives the justice minister crazy, it’s the brazen manner in which Netanyahu claims her achievements for his own. This could also explain her and Bennett's decision to abstain during the vote to approve Netanyahu as defense minister.
Shaked justified her decision by saying that Israel needs a full-time defense minister, and that Bennett is the most suitable candidate. But the two Jewish Home leaders backed down from their ultimatum, so what are they complaining about? This indecision serves no purpose other than to show their electorate that they are more right-wing than Netanyahu. But what would’ve happened had Bennett actually become defense minister? What could Bennett do that Netanyahu hasn't?
It's a shame that Netanyahu isn’t as impassioned fighting terrorism as he is fighting us, claimed Bennett at one of the cabinet meetings, prompting Netanyahu to say that the education minister doesn’t need to double down because everyone heard his ultimatum. Shaked, meanwhile, attacked Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz—who defended the prime minister—by calling him a “suck-up.”
So what did Bennett and Shaked achieve? Absolutely nothing. All those jockeying for position on party lists will keep expressing dissatisfaction with government policy, while all those waiting for Netanyahu to bestow a ministerial position will keep protecting him.
It’s an epidemic of all talk, no action.
