Netanyahu and Gantz Agree on Unity, but Not on What It Means

So long, Bibi. Trump is soon to follow.

The article is factually in error, and then there is this: "Israeli elections can be tribal [sic], with loyalties to ethnic groups, religious factions and ideologies." It is odd that the Times feels so radically free in its use of language (and cartoons) when it comes to anything connected with Jews. What the author describes as "tribal" is described in other contexts, e.g., American presidential elections, as politics. Yet, one sees in the Times no mention of tribalism when it comes to American voters, does one? As for Benny Gantz's objections to Netahanyahu's participation in a unity coalition, the reason is not that Netanyahu is facing indictment but that he (Gantz) wants to be prime minister as he has repeatedly said (daily). Although not in this article, the Times oft mentioned opinion that Benny Gantz is a "chance for peace" demands comment: if Gantz is a chance for peace, Donald Trump is the voice of reason. Gantz was furious when Netanyahu agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas and allowed the transfer of funds into Gaza, threatening an invasion of Gaza once he became PM. As well, there is nothing Netanyahu did with respect to the PA that Gantz would not have done and sooner. One could reason that if the Joint List agrees to a coalition with Blue and White, some progress could be made, but Odeh is not naive and will probably opt for leading the opposition. This, of course, assumes that we are not headed for another election.

Bibi and company are faced with indictments. Israel deserves a prime minister without charges pending. Benny Gantz will make a much better leader of Israel. Being alined with our problematic occupant of the WH isn't a good recommendation.

Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party won more seats - he should get a chance to form a government first. If this means Netanyahu may get charged on Oct 2, that would be just desserts. Israel, you can do better. Time to jettison Netanyahu.

What a bardak. For starters, Israel could contemplate setting term limits on the Prime Minister’s office. We have seen what power has done to Bibi. It has corrupted him absolutely and he is now a danger to Israel as he turns it into a right wing, undemocratic theocracy. Rivlin should give this to Gantz. He had more seats. Enough!

Netanyahu is learning the lesson of Eliot Spitzer: When you're a bully with power and things go south for you no one will be there to have your back.

Throw him out and lock him up.

BIbi will be a partner until he gets an opportunity to play dirty and turn the tables. Not to be trusted. Ever.

Netanyahu has to go. He is out of date. He is beholden to the extreme Jewish right. The Jewish Right does nothing to protect the people of Isreal since they are still waiting for the messiah to come. As an American Jew I find them to be selfish and backwards. They stymie the cultured Isreal by not recognizing marriages of non conservatives Jews. But they do not fight to keep Isreal safe and that is their worse offense. Netanyahu has been in power for too long. He is facing criminal charges in court and must answer for what he has done. He like IQ45 has to answer to ALL the people. Do not make any deals that would allow him to keep a seat of power.

Netanyahu is grasping at straws. He crawling around looking for a way out. The man has a bigger ego than I thought. He’s worse than Trump. This Emperor lost his clothes. Tell him to go home and retire and get his lawyers together and fight his case. I thought the Israelis were smarter than this. He’s become an embarrassment.

With dictators like Netanyahu, “unity” really means “everybody do what I say. “

Israel deserves this. They have earned it. Decades of supporting illegal settlements, racism and opposing the two-state solution. Now, they are totally stuck in their own maze, a fractured society falling apart. Another South Africa.

This can be a golden opportunity to include the Joint List in the governing coalition and reset the stage for much needed peace negotiations with the Palestinians, which have been stalled for way too long.

The election was a terrible defeat for Bibi but it need not be a defeat for his party. I can just imagine that members of his party are contemplating dumping Bibi to remain in the cabinet of a new center right government. I would guess, but not predict, that Bibi may lose to the venality of his fellow party members.

A unity government of the top two parties can only work if Bibi resigns. Based on his history and comments to date there is no way Netanyahu resigns. The Blue and White Party will have to create a coalition government excluding Bibi and the Ultra orthodox parties. It will take hard work but Israel needs this new approach. The Ultra orthodox parties have too much power based upon their number of seats.It is time for the mainly secular Israelis to have some influence.

I used to think that our form of government, with the electoral college, only two functioning parties and so many checks and balances that grid lock was unavoidable, was bad. If Israel (and the UK) is where a parliamentary system takes us, praise be to Madison and Hamilton.

If Mr. Netanyahu had any sense of dignity, honor or self-respect, he would walk off the stage right now and salvage what's left of his tattered reputation. But of course he won't; any more than his soul-mate will, in November 2020 or January 20. 2021. I don't know what we'll be faced with, but I'm pretty sure "dignity" won't be the word for it. We lost that on January 20, 2017.

It is simply time for Bibi to go. A Unity government without Netanyahu in it is a workable solution that could make real progress on the issue of Palestinian rights. It is time for the next chapter.

Why was nothing written of the Joint List (the Arab party, which came in 3rd, and with which the other major parties refuse to join in coalition)? Doesn't that even deserve a mention?

The “corruption” charges against Mr. Netanyahu -- which are not spelled out here -- prominently center on the accusation that he wrongly accepted some expensive cigars. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/world/middleeast/benjamin-netanyahu-indictment.html Articles like this one concerning Mr. Netanyahu would be a great deal more convincing to me as a cigar lover if the brand of cigars he was gifted had been identified. I have sampled dozens of expensive ones, but Macanudos -- a moderately priced one world-renowned for its savory flavor, consistency and smoothness -- is my personal favorite. Were it not for my fear of embroiling Mr. Netanyahu in further legal difficulties, I’d send him a couple of boxes tomorrow. And by the way … I find it nothing short of astonishing that none of the Netanyahu-haters who regularly revile him here are yet celebrating the fact that cigars may be a health hazard to Mr. Netanyahu. Oh well, I assume that will be dealt with in an editorial tomorrow.

Netyanhu must stand and answer his corruption charges. He must not receive a get out of jail free card. Corruption is corruption!

I expect this kind of behaviour November 2020: Hey - I lost the election but why don't you walk up the hill, genuflect in front of me and we'll discuss how much authority I'm going to give you even though I lost. Netanyahu needs to pack his bags and wait for Gantz to call. I suggest battery backup for his phone because if Gantz has any sense it should be a long, long wait.

The election should go first to whoever has the most votes, or Gantz. Does Israel have term limits for the prime minister position? It sounds to me like it's time for new leadership.

Netanyahu grinning for the cameras at a memorial service. Just like Trump's thumbs-up with the baby whose parents were killed in -- which gun massacre? It's hard to keep them categorized...

Netanyahu is the one person limiting a broad secular unity government in Israel. He is only thinking about himself and using Likud and the religious parties as tools not to go to jail. If his terms are not met he will try to force a third election. Netanyahu is for Netanyahu and nothing else. Will Likud be for Israel or for Netanyahu? It’s time to turn the page.

The President has the power to decide who can form a government. The Attorney General has the power as to whether a Prime Minister can be indicted. Israeli government seems designed for deadlock and division.

Interesting how the same pattern will eventually play out here in the States. I can hear Trump now: "Vote for me or I'll have to go to jail! So Unfair!"

A true government of national unity would include the Joint List. It is time to include them in a government. If that happens we can all go ice-skating on the Dead Sea.