-OpEd-
TEL AVIV — Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t singularly to blame for the turmoil within Israeli government, but he is the prime minister. Thirty years ago, Prime Minister Menachem Begin was diagnosed with clinical depression, which was hidden from the public until he was simply unable to carry on.
Instead, today, nobody is trying to hide Bibi Netanyahu’s paranoia. It can be felt in each one of his statements. And sadly, his advisors and others surrounding him cultivate it without shame. Bibi is good for Jews! Paranoia is good for Jews! It might even become a campaign slogan.
Netanyahu’s ministers have been saying for a while now that their leader has lost his way — and his senses. And not just ministers from the coalition: key figures from Netanyahu’s Likud party are saying very harsh things about their prime minister in conversations that weren’t meant to be published.
Even senior government officials in his office are very concerned. There are no longer talks about the very well-known problem of his wife Sara Netanyahu, who has been sued for abusive behavior toward her housekeeper and a former family bodyguard. The problem now is Bibi himself. Those who have resigned from his office and his party have not yet shared their disillusionment with the public. Maybe it’s time for that, because it would be a betrayal of the people’s trust to remain silent.
Netanyahu must go
All the political commentators are chattering about why the elections that Netanyahu has called early, for March, are completely pointless, bemoaning the fact that they will cost millions of dollars to execute. But I disagree. The 2015 elections are essential for Israel’s future. They will probably be mostly anti-Netanyahu, but if it is the will of the people, let them remove a prime minister who is dragging down the country.
Netanyahu has destroyed the special relations Israel previously enjoyed with the United States, isolated Israel internationally, blocked every chance of reconciliation with moderate Mideast actors, sabotaged any economic reform, and ruined any chance of improving life for Israeli workers and taxpayers. Now, in a pathetic attempt to make everybody forget who has led and directed the government, he blames his ministers for failing.
Netanyahu is convinced that he was chosen to save the country and should therefore keep his position forever. He will never say, “I can’t do this anymore.”
Therefore, it is we who should send him home in the next election. Let him fly around the world to speak at conferences. This isn’t about the political left or right. Both sides are equally legitimate. Even the right-wing Likud party deserves better than Netanyahu. There are excellent people in the Likud, and if one of them becomes a candidate, so be it. Let him be prime minister. But Netanyahu must go.
