Three years ago, most observers of the Middle East were sure about one thing: the newly elected coalition government in Israel being put together by Benjamin Netanyahu couldn’t last. In particular, the Obama administration, which was only a month old itself, was hopeful Netanyahu would quickly flop and be replaced by the more pliant Tzipi Livni, the leader of the Kadima Party. Thirty-six months later, as the Israeli prime minister prepares to journey to Washington for another crucial summit with President Obama, there is no talk about the post-Netanyahu era. Though the Jewish state remains beset with a host of problems, both foreign and domestic, the volatility that has plagued the country’s political system for decades is largely absent these days.
His is actually the first Israeli cabinet to last this long in 20 years. Given that a breakup in his coalition is unlikely, it is almost a certainty that it will serve out its full four-year-term, which will be the first time that has happened since Menachem Begin was prime minister more than 30 years ago. And with polls projecting that Netanyahu and the Likud will easily win the next election when it occurs sometime in 2013, it is clear what we are seeing in Israel is a new era of political stability. While this is a remarkable personal achievement for Netanyahu, its impact goes deeper than that. When Netanyahu arrives in Washington next month, President Obama will know he is dealing with a leader who is secure in power and has the backing of his nation.
There are a number of reasons for Netanyahu’s success, but the most important of them is that experience helps. Netanyahu’s first term as prime minister from 1996 to 1999 was undermined by an arrogant refusal to listen to his cabinet colleagues and a reckless disregard for the impact of his statements on both his party and his nation’s sole ally, the United States. At that time, Netanyahu was wrongly blamed for derailing the peace process even though he repeatedly made concessions for the sake of peace while also getting the Palestinian Authority to crack down on terror. But his successes were overshadowed by his surly personality, and by the time he faced the electorate again, he had few friends left.
This time around, Netanyahu has been wiser, avoiding needless quarrels and maneuvering carefully in order to keep a diverse coalition moving in the right direction. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu Party could have dismantled the government several times, but Netanyahu smartly kept him inside the tent rather than out of it. Though Lieberman has continually talked about breaking up the coalition, he now finds himself stuck in it because a new election would diminish rather than strengthen his forces.
He has also been fortunate with his foes. Livni has been a hopeless opposition leader. Having refused Netanyahu’s offer of a coalition and a high cabinet post because she thought she would soon replace him, she now finds her party supplanted in the eyes of the public as the main alternative to the Likud by a resurgent Labor.
Even more important, Netanyahu has benefited from being the bête noire of President Obama. In the past, Israeli prime ministers always feared the enmity of American presidents, because to jeopardize the alliance was considered the political kiss of death in the Jewish state. But Obama is the least popular American president in history. Every attack launched on Netanyahu only strengthened his hold on power. By standing up to Obama on the future of Jerusalem and the 1967 lines, Netanyahu gained support rather than losing it as the president expected.
Though Obama has made no secret of his dislike for Netanyahu, the president must now acknowledge that Netanyahu is likely to remain as prime minister for the foreseeable future. Obama must also come to grips with the fact that his plans to revive the peace process has failed, and that Netanyahu’s evaluation of the Palestinians’ unwillingness to negotiate was far closer to the mark than his own opposition. Netanyahu’s political strength also makes it harder for Obama to try to muscle the Israeli on the issue of stopping Iran from going nuclear.
Three years after he plotted to dump Netanyahu, the president is also hoping Netanyahu will do nothing to complicate his own chances of re-election. As he attempts to walk back his quarrels with Jerusalem as part of his Jewish charm offensive, Obama must pay court to Netanyahu. The irony of this turnabout can’t be lost on the Israeli or his antagonist in the White House.
You can thank Ariel Sharon for that, who in wisdom retreated from the Gaza strip making sure nobody in Israel would harbor any illusions about palestinian readiness for peace. Thanks to Sharon and the disengagement from Gaza, no leftist goverment will be able to lure the Israeli public again into national suicide.
As an erstwhile admirer of Arik, I can only wish that Sharon was aware of what he was doing when he made Gush Katif judenrei, but I really doubt it. Sharon's legacy will be setting the precedent of an Israeli government destroying synagogues and cemeteries in order to leave a lethal thorn in Israel's side as well as promoting a bevy of corrupt politicians such as Olmert and Hanegbi and his sons.
I ask this from ignorance — to what extent are people in Israel more worried about Iranian nukes than fighting with each other? When you are worried about the wolf at the door — being killed tomorrow –human nature is to work together and concentrate on that threat. n nRemember the summer of 2001 when we were wondering if Gary Conduit had or hadn't been sleeping with his intern, Shaundra Levy — and then if he had or hadn't killed her? We had the luxury of worrying about such things then — today, I am not so sure that would even be a story let alone covered to the extent it was. n nThirty years ago, particularly after the peace treaty with Egypt, Israel was secure in a way it hadn't been in, say 1968 or 1974, and how much did that come to play in the factionalization of the political scene? If you aren't worried about being 'pushed into the sea' tomorrow, then you can worry about other stuff…. n nNetanyahu strikes me as a stronger leader than Obama, and the reasons why are a distinction without a difference, but how much of this is a condition of the changed times and how serious (I will not say "dire" but could) the situation is for Israel? n nHas Netanyahu built his coalition, or is the strength of his coalition the product of his times? n nThree nukes — one airburst at 20,000 feet for the EMP, one targeting Nazareth and one targeting Tel Aviv and Israel would essentially cease to exist — and everyone knows that. Throw in some crazy Iranians working on building them and quite clear on what their intent is, and is no the "Joe Sixpack" of Israel psychologically back to where he would have been in 1968?
Actually Iran would not even need to use a nuke to destroy Israel. As soon as they get one 50% of the Israeli population said they'll try to emigrate, according to polls. Immigration, tourism and investment would all dry up abruptly. Of course there would be non-stop rocket fire from Lebanon and Gaza. The economy would disappear. And that's just the stuff that is easy to predict. nMy guess the Mullahs will use the nukes on NYC and our coastal refineries. After all destroying Israel is their pleasure, destroying the US is a necessity. My guess they feel safe from retaliation because Obama is in power.
One other thing — Winston Churchill is known to have had a learning disability, most likely had ADHD as well even though we didn't know what it was back then; and more importantly, was very rarely sober. There is the classic line to a woman who commented on his intoxication "Yes, maam, I may be drunk but you are ugly, and tomorrow morning, my dear, I will be sober but you still will be ugly." — or something like that. The really diplomatic thing to win supporters and build a coalition in a Parliamentary system. n nLike Netanyahu, he didn't do well prior to the war — and he was voted out of office after it. nAt almost any other time in British history, he wouldn't have stood a chance at a leadership position. n nBut Britain was in mortal peril. The times made the man. Is that what is happening in Israel now? n nAre Churchill and Netanyahu similar types of leaders — both trying to drag an isolationist American President into confronting a growing menace? (And lest I get the tin foil hat and Ron Paul brigade stirred up further, FDR & BHO are both Depresion-era Presidents, and the battle with Iran could well become WW-III.) n nFurthermore, personality-wise — well could one say that both men have their abrasive tendencies?
Good Men who are both great Watchmen on the Wall and great at strategies of war are necessary – they don't have what the community is looking for in "good table manners", the nature of their talents and gifting and skills is what makes them intolerant of damned fools, so the damned fools among their own community are always the greatest enemies of the Winston Churchills and Netanyahus, and JFKs and Ronald Reagans. nAnother lady who hated Churchill once exploded at him with great venom, "Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink" – to which he replied, "Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it." nThe times didn't make the man, the man was made by God for the times.
Oh, in case I didn't make myself terribly plain, the damned fools who hate the Winston Churchills – they are so very very very NOT necessary. And the Good Earth would b e ever so much better off without their existence at all, whatsoever.
By the time Israel left Gaza, the majority of Israelis already knew the palestinians had no interest in peace with Israel. It is the rest of the world that refuses to (publicly) admit that.
The Netanyahu government has brought security to Israel, not perfect security, but a relative quiet and safety that most Israelis find comforting. Netanyahu has made it plain to the Palestinians that he will stand firm on security for Israelis even if it means standing up to the dictates and misguided ignorance of President Barack Obama, whose antagonism towards Israel is becoming legendary. nNetanyahu has also made it plain to the Palestinian terrorists that their terror has consequences in the form of rapid and effective Israeli retaliation for any attacks they make. nNetanyahu has also managed to appoint professionals to important positions in the Finance Ministry thus keeping the state budget stable, inflation and unemployment low, and the size of government within effective limits. nIndeed, Netanyahu has led Israel effectively and kept our economy growing at a time when most of the international community including the US has suffered from economic recession and a dearth of leadership. nToo bad Obama's personal arrogance and hostility towards Israel and the Jewish People keeps him from taking a lesson or two from Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu.
I remember well how brilliantly hard-headed Norman Podhoretz was about every issue. These days most Commentary analysts seem strangely given to self-deception. Most bought the absurd ''Arab Spring'' concept, and they continue to hold out hope that Obama can be dealt with reasonably and will eventually come to Israel's defense. n The notion that Obama is weak is no longer true as the economy improves slightly and his fauning media flunkies paint a rosy scenario weekly. Meanwhile the GOP has deeply damaged itself with an endless debate schedule which has hurt Romney, the only contender with any chance whatsoever of beating Obama. n Tragically there is no shortage of American Jews who astonishingly will applaud Obama if he ''stands up to Netanyahu.'' The idea that any Israeli leader is in a superior position to any U.S. President is strictly wishful thinking. Without strong support from a U.S. president Israel is in trouble, and that's where it finds itself these days. n
That is the thinking behind the pomposity of Odrama Queen. n nIt is false. Utterly false. n nEzekial 38 and 39 states that in these days, it is God who will both save and vindicate Israel with no nation assisting, and not even by her own strength. Those who watched the previous wars against Israel in their first 21 years of regathering know this well. nThen the Book of Obadiah spells out the fate of the those who came to the land of Israel in order to prevent the Return that God had foretold 2,500-,000 years before. nNumerous other Bible Prophecies written before the time when Jesus walked on this earth all show that the events unfolding before us now are confirming those prophecies and that Odrama Queen can seal his own fate as one of God's personal and direct enemies by aiding attacks on Israel, but he cannot alter the course of the fulfillment of the prophecies. nThere is nothing Odrama Queen can do to actually, literally increase the chances that Israel would face demise with his help. He is utterly powerless in that situation. nMake no mistake about THAT. nHe has succeeded in aiding Israel's enemies – that may prove something of a hindrance, but the potential for Odrama Queen to cross over into the Korah, and Ahab and Pharoah and Herod lines, where God Himself takes a direct hand in his fate – that is greatly increased in Obama's situation – in fact, it would be stunning to see Odrama Queen truly reverse himself in Israel's behalf or in any manner designed by Odrama Queen to enhance his on future prospects. Absolutely stunning, indeed.
YAY for Netanyahu and for Israel.