As Israel Creeps Towards 4th Election, Who Are The Winners And Losers?

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Blue And White’s Benny Gantz announced Tuesday that he would support a no-confidence motion Wednesday to disband the government formed just half a year ago and go to elections. This is far from an inevitable move, since Gantz’s main complaint regarding the budget is still in the hands of the prime minister. If Netanyahu will pass the 2020 budget (nearly a year late), the preliminary vote to dissolve the Knesset Wednesday will remain meaningless and the coalition government will continue to stumble on until Gantz is due to become prime minister in less than a year.

However Gantz has already realized that Netanyahu has no intention of allowing him to “reach the promised land” and replace him. The budget – or rather the lack of it –  is Netanyahu’s tactic for ensuring that the government will fall, and thus he will extend his rule for another few months and possibly for a few years. Neither the coronavirus nor the resulting economic crisis have seriously eroded the longstanding prime minister’s popularity and even his legal indictments have failed to dislodge his diehard followers. Most of them consider the indictments as a witchhunt on the part of the legal system, which is heavily tilted towards anti-Netanyahu sentiments. Thus Netanyahu’s Likud can be assured of maintaining a sizable portion of the electorate, especially in light of the recent peace agreements with Arab countries. Netanyahu has almost succeeded in wooing a part of the Joint Arab List to join his government, which could prove decisive in a future election

Gantz on the other hand stands to lose considerable clout as a result of the coming elections due to the rise of another star in Israeli politics- Naftali Bennett. The Yemina head has gained political power both from his stint in the Defense Ministry and ironically from the government’s apparent ineptness at dealing with coronavirus. Bennett formed an alternate coronavirus cabinet, offering alternative solutions and criticizing the government for its repeated lockdowns which have led to over 20% unemployment. He has succeeded in rebranding himself as a moderate right-winger, which is where most of the electorate is positioned.

Gantz on the other hand is perceived as weak and gullible- the most egregious political sins possible in a country which requires shrewdness and artfulness to survive in the Middle East. He has less charisma than his rivals and even some members of his party have eclipsed his public profile. Thus Gantz’s move to dissolve the Knesset does not augur well for his own personal political fortunes, but may ultimately help the state of Israel, which is the biggest loser from the infighting and lack of budget which have destabilized the country’s economy and attempts to combat COVID-19 despite the broad government formed half a year ago.