STEVEN GRUZD
So said political commentator and former member of Knesset, Rabbi Dov Lipman, in a Zoom webinar hosted by the South African Zionist Federation’s Cape Council on 13 May 2020.
“No one expected this when we went to the polls in December 2018,” Lipman said. Then, the new Kachol Lavan (Blue and White) Party headed by career military figures Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, and Moshe Ya’alon banded together in an attempt to finally unseat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Throughout the election campaigns, Gantz vowed not to serve with or under Netanyahu, who has been indicted for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
After the third election, Gantz was given the mandate by President Reuven Rivlin to form a government, but he failed to do so. Eventually, he performed a 180 degree turn to hammer out an emergency broad coalition government with Netanyahu, “to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent a fourth election [on 4 August]”, said Lipman.
Lipman said Gantz’s decision was portrayed by some as courageous. For others, it was shocking and reflected poorly on Gantz’s integrity. Blue and White fell apart in the Knesset on live television as Lapid and Ya’alon chose to leave the coalition and form part of the opposition instead. Gantz kept the Blue and White name, but with other defections, he was left with just 15 Knesset seats to Likud’s 36 in the 120-member Knesset.
Lipman explained the details of the coalition pact. Netanyahu would be prime minister for the first 18 months, with Gantz in a new post which essentially amounts to deputy prime minister. At the latest on 17 November 2021, they will switch roles, and Israel will have a new prime minister for the first time since 2009. The Knesset would not seek to pass any major legislation in its first six months.
“This was democracy in action,” said Lipman. “The laws, rules, and procedures were followed. I wear this as a badge of pride as an Israeli.”
The battle then shifted to parcelling out ministries. The agreement guarantees 18 ministries each for the two major blocs, plus 18 deputies, making it Israel’s largest cabinet ever. In a time of economic hardship, “this has been broadly criticised”, said Lipman.
Parties may need to apply the so-called “Norwegian Law” which allows members of the Knesset to resign on becoming a minister, with the next person on the party list taking up the Knesset seat. Lipman explained that this is complicated for Gantz, as his coalition partners have quit his alliance. It may allow more opposition voices rather than Blue and White loyalists into the Knesset.
As usual, there was much haggling over ministerial posts. Long-time Speaker Yuli Edelstein became heath minister, and religious parties in Netanyahu’s bloc received ministries like religious affairs and the interior. Gantz will serve as defence minister, with Blue and White’s Gabi Ashkenazi becoming foreign minister. Crucially, Blue and White will also have the justice and communications ministries to attempt to prevent any political manipulation around Netanyahu’s trial.
In terms of COVID-19, Lipman said that Israel’s medical system had handled the virus well so far, and was gearing up for a spike in infections as the economy opens up. He discussed how coronavirus has spread rapidly in Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) communities, citing an initial failure in rabbinic leadership as people didn’t practice social distancing, especially during Purim.
“Groups of extremists defied regulations and held public bonfires on Lag B’Omer,” Lipman said, “but 99% obeyed the rules and stayed home”.
From 1 July, Israel’s government can explore the annexation of settlement blocs in the West Bank in accordance with the Trump Peace Plan. Lipman said support for at least limited annexation has gained ground as Israel has shifted to the right after the 1993 Oslo Accords, suicide bombings, and the withdrawal from Gaza that handed the territory to Hamas.
With the American elections in November, some believe the annexation should take place while Trump is still in office. “There will be consequences for diaspora communities. It risks more anti-Israel activism, and some Jewish communities will be divided. There will be some noise around the world about this”, Lipman said, “but many predicted doomsday after the US embassy moved to Jerusalem, and there was no horrific result for Israel. It seems Israel is willing to risk it.”
