Mr. Netanyahu Shows His True Colors
After twelve years in power, Benjamin Netanyahu was deposed by a multi-party coalition that includes the Knesset's group of Arab parliamentarians. American news media is full of reports detailing Benjamin Netanyahu's uncooperative behavior and defiant attitude on his last day as Prime Minister of the State of Israel.
The New York Times reported that Mr. Netanyahu hopes the new coalition will collapse, “I will lead you in a daily battle against this bad and dangerous left-wing government, and bring it down. And with the help of God, this will happen faster than you think.” Citing a senior Israeli diplomat, Axios reported Mr. Netanyahu's efforts to create challenges for the new Prime Minister, "[Netanyahu] decided to damage the US-Israel relationship for his own personal interests and is trying to leave scorched earth for the incoming government". Netanyahu blamed US President Joe Biden in his departure speech for showing 'softness' towards Iran.
Netanyahu's description of a legitimate political rival as "bad and dangerous" betrays a fundamental distrust in the Israeli democratic process. True confidence in a country's democratic process is manifested by a dignified transfer of power, by honoring the process and the outcomes of the nation's ways of vesting power. On the other hand, believing that a dangerous political actor can rise to power amounts to a belief that the democratic process is flawed. A virtuous and proper democratic process should screen out bad-faith actors; the process is flawed if it gives dangerous actors a legitimate path to power.
Netanyahu's willingness to put his country in peril for personal gain is a common pattern in politics everywhere; cooperation for me, not for thee. It is also the cleanest testament that he won't act in the nation's best interest unless he is the one leading. That's not true love for Israel. Can you love your Nation if you are willing to ignore its voice? The Wall Street Journal reports that a key problem for Netanyahu has been his inability to maintain relationships with people who have worked with him. Quoting a former Likud lawmaker who recently switched political affiliation, "[Netanyahu] serves one person, himself."
✎ Connection to
Key / A Fragile Democracy
Key / Acting in Good and Bad Faith