David Singer: An amalgam of eight leaders trading insults and denigrating each other - whilst their parties have adopted policies that are totally irreconcilable on critical issues – is not the foundation for any stable Government – especially in Israel – whose enemies will become increasingly emboldened following the announcement of a cobbled-together Israeli Government comprising very different bedfellows.
David Singer: Rockets from Gaza indiscriminately targeting Israel’s civilian population and Arab riots targeting Israel’s Jewish population in the streets of Jerusalem seem to have not moved Israel’s politicians to stop engaging in arm-wrestles in pursuit of their own personal political power.
Former minister and senior Likud figure and son of the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Benny Begin has announced he would be joining Gideon Saar, and the New Hope Party as a candidate for the Knesset in the upcoming elections.
Chair of New Hope, and candidate for prime minister, Gideon Saar: “We have become accustomed to living in the midst of lies and hatred. All of you here, online with us tonight, are standing up to say we are not prepared to leave this reality as a legacy for our children. I call on all of you to safeguard statesmanship, and not be dragged into petty arguments.”
Knesset member Gideon Sa’ar dismissed notions that he would abandon Likud should he lose his bid for the party leadership, saying “the Likud is my home. I am competing within the Likud.”
Jonathan S. Tobin: Neither Netanyahu fatigue nor the rise of a centrist alternative changed the basic math of Israel’s political culture. The question is whether the right’s dominance will survive the prime minister’s legal woes.
