Netanyahu Wins Elections - Will Remain Prime Minister of Israel
"It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t convincing, it wasn’t done wholeheartedly, but it was done. The reign of “King Bibi,” despite the legion of naysayers both in Israel and around the world, has not yet come to an end.
Why? Why has a man who has not made himself beloved of his people, even of his own party supporters, been given another shot? How has a man who many leaders in the free world hoped would be pushed off Israel’s stage managed to keep standing for another day? How? Because most of the country – meaning those who voted for the Likud and the other parties that can be grouped in the center-right bloc, namely, Bayit Yehudi, Yisrael Beytenu, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Yahad, and, we’ll see, Kulanu – agrees with his basic message: the region is dangerous; Iran is a threat; the Palestinians are not really interested in peace; Israel needs a leader who will stand his ground.
They may not love him personally, they may dislike his wife, they may feel that he is cut off from their problems, but they believe that he will stand his ground.
More than anything else – more than housing prices or Iran – this election was a referendum on Netanyahu. And the verdict: the country wants more. Maybe not more of Netanyahu the man, but at least of what Netanyahu represents: standing tall, hanging tough.
To understand the verdict, it is necessary to understand the changes that have swept over this country since the second intifada in 2000, changes brought about by terrorism and rockets and an unstable region that has made everyone feel insecure. And that insecurity trumps all. To understand Israel is to understand that real, genuine sense of insecurity."
* Up to this point, I think the article in the Jerusalem Post (HERE) is on target. But the author proceeds to suggest that now, after winning in spite of Obama's bitterness and illegal attempt to change the course of Israel's elections, Netanyahu should pretend that didn't happen and start acting more subservient to an American President who is NOT going to help him in any way. The article continues:
"Everyone was waiting for the election.
And now that the election is over, the pressure will again mount. As we were busy with ourselves, the world continued to turn: the P5+1 negotiations with Iran continued, Palestinian initiatives in the world moved forward (though on a smaller burner), and the instability in the region continued to deepen (Syria, Iraq, Yemen).
Therefore, the first phone call Netanyahu needs to make after contacting his likely coalition partners, if not before, is to US President Barack Obama. He should not wait for Obama to call him and “congratulate” him on his victory.
Netanyahu should call first.
Following the weeks of tension between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office, there is now a need to push the proverbial reset button.
That need is obviously in the interest of Israel, but also very much in the interest of the US.
The two capitals need to stop quibbling publicly about the emerging Iran deal, and coordinate privately about how to deal with it. Netanyahu will no longer gain any political benefit from being seen going head to head with Obama, and Obama will not be able to impact the Israeli polls by snubbing Netanyahu.
Both countries share the same strategic goal of keeping Iran from reaching a bomb, and now the leaders – following the election – need to responsibly work together to ensure that if there is a deal, it is a good one.
With all the bad blood between the two men, pushing reset will not be easy.
The US may likely demand that in order to push reset Netanyahu will have to replace Ron Dermer as ambassador to Washington. That will be extremely difficult for Netanyahu, but a reset is necessary."
* I don't think a true reset is possible, but hopefully I am proven wrong.