Avi Benlolo
National Post, Nov. 3, 2022
“The more critical of Israel that leftish so-called human-rights organizations become, the more Israel will lurch rightward in defiance.”
The more critical of Israel that leftish so-called human-rights organizations become, the more Israel will lurch rightward in defiance.
Some media pundits expressed alarm on Tuesday as Benjamin Netanyahu’s election win propelled Israel’s right-wing bloc back to power. But there is no longer a right or a left in Israel. There are only parties who capture and represent the public sentiment of the day. Netanyahu’s landslide victory (by Israeli standards) and voter support for the religious Zionist bloc shows Israelis are feeling insecure. Consequently, the demise of Israel’s so-called left-wing parties or “peaceniks” is indicative of a public sentiment that is more interested in bolstering the homeland than compromising with Palestinian neighbours who have proven untrustworthy.
In Israel, the public’s empowerment of the right has traditionally been born out of concern for public safety. Even while Israel is an economic and military powerhouse, over the past number of months under Yair Lapid’s affable leadership it’s become apparent that just maintaining the status quo endangers the Jewish State’s future.
First and foremost, the Biden administration has been unable to solve the Iranian nuclear problem. America’s blind insistence to renegotiate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was against the wishes of Israeli military leaders and public sentiment. Now it’s clear that negotiations with Iran have failed and the ayatollahs were biding their time in order to continue the development of nuclear weapons. In their eyes, President Joe Biden was willing to throw Israel under the bus — again. A Netanyahu-led government might be prepared to strike Iran if Israel’s security is at stake.
When it comes to Israel’s security, Iran is not the only threat concerning the Israeli public. Even while Tel Aviv’s cafés are jammed with people, they are well aware of the more than 200,000 rockets pointed at them by their enemies. Living under the gun is untenable. Even while Netanyahu is unlikely to solve this deadlock, the public generally believes Israel is safer under a Netanyahu-led government.
Second, the Israeli public is well aware that Netanyahu has unfettered access to world leaders. He might be the only Israeli leader with a direct line to Vladimir Putin and he would be in a unique position to address the rising tension between Israel and Russia over Ukraine. Even while Israel has joined western allies in aligning with Ukraine, it needs Russia to allow its planes to strike Iranian and Hezbollah installations. Netanyahu is uniquely capable to neutralize Russian angst and rein in Ukrainian demands for Israeli weapons systems.
