Netanyahu prevails, Israel unifies, and peace is more likely; Gantz and some members of his Blue and White party will help Bibi form a governing bloc

Washington Examiner ^ | 03/27/2020 | by Quin Hillyer

[SeekAndFind]

Americans, and indeed all people of goodwill, should be pleased to see that Israel finally has broken its 15-month political impasse.

Amidst a global pandemic, jihadists might have misinterpreted instability in Israel as providing them with a chance to spark a conflagration without fearing effective repercussions from a stricken and distracted Western world. But now that three-time challenger Bennie Gantz has agreed to let Benjamin Netanyahu continue for 18 months as prime minister in a “unity government,” there will be no doubt that Israel itself can act against any aggression with solidarity and dispatch.

Gantz and some but not all of his Blue and White party will help Netanyahu form a governing bloc with about 74 members of the 120-seat Knesset (Israel’s parliament). Gantz apparently will serve as foreign minister until September of 2021, after which he will take over as prime minister. Even though this seems to mean the end of Blue and White as a unified party, it provides a coalition with Netanyahu’s Likud party that is numerous enough to last for a while rather than teetering just one or two votes away (in the Knesset) from collapsing.

Whatever one thinks of Netanyahu’s private behavior (self-indulgent but not necessarily illegal or harmful to the public polity), he has been a remarkable success at improving Israel’s economy and its diplomacy with more of its Arab neighbors. This unified front against more radical forms of Islam serves not only Israel’s interests but those of the whole civilized world.

Meanwhile, a stable Israel also is an Israel even better able to put its remarkable genius to work in realms of science and, especially now, medical research, in ways that can help the world cope with the pandemic.

[stars & stripes forever]

Good news! PTL

[Conserv]

Our media scum are not going to like this.

[JayGalt]

I’m glad to see this. We need a strong leader in Israel and Netanyahu is a dependable ally.

[Bob434]

Nope they aren’t- but thankfully God is in control of who becomes leaders and who doesn’t- for His own purposes- not the press- let them wail and gnash their teeth- they are just practicing-

[SunkenCiv]

Gantz and some members of his Blue and White party will help Bibi form a governing bloc

['Civ buffs his nails on his shirt with an insufferable expression on his face]

[elcid1970]

Rashida Tlaib gnashing her gums in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.......

[caww]

I was notified in my e-mail.....and this really shocked the nation it rolled out this way.

Here’s what I've been informed:

-Netanyahu and Gantz are creating an emergency unity government, in a deal apparently brokered by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

-Gantz was just elected as Speaker of the Knesset, winning 74 votes in favor, 18 were opposed, and the rest abstained. But this is only temporary — once the full agreement is finalized and signed, 'Gantz will become Foreign Minister for 18 months'.

-Netanyahu will serve as Prime Minister for 18 more months. Then, Gantz will become the Prime Minister. It’s not clear at this hour what happens to Netanyahu at that point.

-Upset with this move, two of Gantz’s key allies — Yair Lapid and Moshe “Bogie” Yaalon — have rejected the Gantz move...The Blue & White Party is now breaking up.

-Gantz’s team are expected to get the major Cabinet portfolios, including the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, Justice Ministry and the Economic Ministry.

These are enormous concessions by Netanyahu and the Likud. Not clear yet: what happens when Netanyahu goes on trial.

[PrivatizationNow]

This is awesome. As a Conservative Jew, Netanyahu is exactly the kind of leader a nation like Israel needs and that will help the US. Let’s go!

[fortheDeclaration]

Great news!

[caww]

Yes I’m glad he’s still in charge even if the balance in offical positions is questionable. I know nothing of Gantz apart from running against Bee-Bee as I’ve always been a huge Bee-Bee fan. Guess I’ll have to find out more about Gantz.

[caww]

Well after doing a bit of research on Gantz..Netanyahu and Gantz appear to make a formidable team! Gantz has a heck of a resume...

[goldstategop]

Gantz as the head of Israel Resilience said the following in defense of his decision to enter the government:

At the end of the path, I believe it is not allowed to drag Israel to a fourth election in this very difficult time when the country is dealing with the coronavirus crisis and its consequences and on that note we disagree,” he continued. “Israel comes before everything.”

I agree with him. The Jewish State comes before party and everyone had the duty to work together to overcome a major crisis. At this time, a national unity government is an existential prerogative. All other political considerations are of a purely secondary nature. The new government, I’m sure - will serve Israel well.

[goldstategop]

The trial will be delayed anyway. Things are so bad Netanyahu’s legal problems scarcely matter at this point...

[FES0844]

Thank you God!

[Eleutheria5]

Israel is stable. Only its government sucks.

[GOPJ]

It’s a win - buff away...

On a different note from Pookie:

https://i.imgur.com/0w9yMBz.jpg

[SunkenCiv]

Well put (the text in the graphic).

[Impy]

Looks like Gantz has enough pragmatist and/or patriot in him after all.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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Good news, though I doubt it makes peace more likely, if he's referring to peace with the palestinian authority.