Is Netanyahu floundering?

These are exciting days in Israel. Because of increased frustration with Netanyahu’s mismanagement of Corona in the country, demonstrations against this corrupt man (referred to as CRIME-Minister by some), who is clinging to power, have really been gathering pace .

 

The two big questions are:

·      Will the demonstrations bring about Netanyahu’s departure?

·      What happens on n+1: the day after Netanyahu has finally gone?

 

And looming over is the question – is Israel on the verge of a civil war? And if so, how will it end?

 

Netanyahu has managed to tear the country apart and there is enormous hatred between his supporters and opponents. There are divides between the Orthodox, whose loyalty is being bought with government bribes, and the secular, Israel's real eonomic engine. Additionally, Netanyahu causes the rift between European and Oriental Jews to fester again. Another problem is the fact that the Party representing the Arab population of Israel (Palestinians who are Israeli citizens), constituting some 20% of the population, is not considered as a legitimate partner to govern with, by virtually any of the Jewish parties.

 

Whereas there may be sufficient hatred for civil war and a lot of mistrust, I do not believe that Israelis are at a stage, in which they will take up arms to fight each other.

 

Will Netanyahu be forced to leave? He knows that his next stop might be prison, and he will, therefore, not leave of his own accord. In the last few years, he has surrounded himself and given senior positions in his administration to the most primitive yes-sayers one can imagine. This is truly unpreceented in Israeli politics. A few of them serve mainly as virulent attack dogs, as they are sent daily by Netanyahu on confrontation missions with anyone he considers as an opponent. Currently in the news is Amir Okhana, as minister in charge of the police, he has been orchestrating police violence against the demonstrators.  

Demonstrations now take place three days a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. And Netanyahu is panicking, which would indicate that he, at least, believes these demonstrations to be a threat. Senior members of his own party, wishing to save their house (and positions) before it becomes too late, might force his departure. To that end, demonstrations must continue. What the tipping point will be is hard to guess.

 

Whatever happens after the man is gone, it will unlikely bring true peace to the region, as the vast majority of the Israeli Jewish population supports political parties that have no plan or wish to end the occupation of the Palestinian Territories.