Israel’s possible next prime minister Naftali Bennett would need to deliver to his base, with anti-Palestinian provocation. Which makes it unlikely that a non-Netanyahu government can stem the tide of pro-Palestinian sentiment which followed the last massacre in Gaza. Though this is what hasbara-ists, in the US and Israel, are hoping for.
Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid’s “Change bloc” that may form the next Israeli government is not ideologically very different to a Likud bloc. It might not have the extreme right Kahanist faction of Jewish Power in it, as the right bloc did, but the Change bloc really is about Jewish power anyway: the Zionist dominance of Jewish power.
Many seem to see Netanyahu as an illiberal, corrupt, anti-democratic leader. But we must also see, that he is part of a regime that itself is illiberal, corrupt and anti-democratic. It’s always been the case. Who is the new hope? Gideon Sa’ar who is even to the right of Netanyahu? Naftali Bennett who is even to the right of Sa’ar? Or Yair Lapid, who is to their left, alas with the “principle” which says “maximum Jews on maximum land with maximum security and with minimum Palestinians”?
Following Israel’s fourth election in two years, Benjamin Netanyahu’s base is more vulnerable and more extreme than ever before. But this time a coalition with Arab parties could tip the scales.
The Israeli election appears to be deadlocked, judging by exit polls. Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party has the upper hand with 31 or more seats, far more than the nearest competitor, per the polls, but the anti-Netanyahu parties have as many as 60 seats, or half the parliament.
The last polls before March 23 election show Netanyahu with commanding position. 45 percent of voters think he is the best candidate for prime minister, nearly double the number of the hope of American liberal Zionists, centrist Yair Lapid. And Likud polls at 20 seats, way out ahead of Lapid’s party at 18.
On Friday March 5, between 10,000-20,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel marched in Umm al-Fahm against police abuse and neglect, as months of violence reached a boiling point.
Israeli politics continue to lurch rightward. The only way to knock out Netanyahu is for Naftali Bennett to join Gideon Sa’ar in opposition, and no room for Palestinians. The Netanyahu opposition would go from left to far right, but at least that way it’s a Zionist coalition with ability to govern, says Amir Tibon of Haaretz.
Analysts say Benjamin Netanyahu’s courtship of the United Arab List goes beyond the its ability to help him form a ruling coalition, pointing to a much more sinister reason for the premier’s efforts to break up the Joint List.
The Never Netanyahu parties in Israeli politics only get to about 50 seats in polls for the March 23 elections, which likely leaves Netanyahu in power because opposition won’t work with Palestinian votes! Netanyahu sees a path to a majority of 61 with a deal he forged between Bezalel Smotrich and Otsma Yehudit, or Jewish Power, a racist fascistic party with Kahanist roots.