Sometimes, when we no longer expect things to get better – when we are already resigned to the fact that they may get worse, the situation shifts.
And that is what happened yesterday, when the news broke – in leaks at first – that Gantz was going to join Netanyahu in forming a unity government. Baruch Hashem.
~~~~~~~~~~
I doubt that any of my readers are unaware of what has transpired, in terms of Gantz’s move. But I could not go into Shabbat without sending this brief posting, marking the change in the situation.
After Shabbat, I will be eager to return to this to share further details; at that time I will likely have additional information that is not yet available.
~~~~~~~~~~
What preceded this announcement of a unity government was a declaration by Yair Lapid and Moshe Ya’alon that they were breaking from Blue & White because they were very angry with Gantz for a position he had taken that enabled negotiations on a unity government to proceed. (This position comes as part of a complex situation that I will have to explore post-Shabbat.)
So we can say Baruch Hashem as well, that they left. Gantz’s move was made much easier because of this, certainly, and in fact followed almost inevitably.
So now, not only will we have a unity government, we will have it without the corrosive influence of Lapid and Ya’alon. Much of the venom of the Blue & White campaign originated with Lapid.
~~~~~~~~~~
There is much still to be worked out, but according to the deal, Netanyahu will remain prime minister for 18 months, and then Gantz, who will begin as Foreign Minister, will take over.
Gabi Ashkenazi, from Blue and White, is joining the unity government as well.
You may remember that I wrote, probably more than once, about the reports that there was in-fighting in Blue & White, with Gantz and Ashkenazi ready to consider a unity government and Lapid and Ya’alon furiously opposed. In that sense, what we saw yesterday was not totally a surprise.
~~~~~~~~~~
But what it took, aside from Lapid and Ya’alon separating themselves, is for Gantz to show courage and to act on a sense of what was right. He came through splendidly, acting for the good of the country. There are still tensions between Gantz and Netanyahu, but Gantz is now ready to move beyond this.
And this is the biggest Baruch Hashem. May others follow his example!! I have been mourning, big time, a failure of politicians to act responsibly. This offers new hope. (When I return to write about responsible politicians, I will address Yuli Edelstein, as well.)
~~~~~~~~~~
And Lapid? He is livid, in fact I suspect that there is steam coming out of his ears.
Could not happen to a more deserving character. One cannot build a campaign out of “Get rid of Netanyahu,” with no positive vision offered. But that’s what he tried to do.
He and Ya’alon will sit in the opposition with the Arabs, Leiberman’s Yisrael Beitenu, and Meretz, and that’s about it. They deserve each other.
As I understand it, Labor and Gesher, and Hauser and Hendel, who broke away from Ya’alon’s group, will all be joining the unity government.
~~~~~~~~~~
May the Almighty, who has moved to bring us relief politically, bring us relief as well from the scourge of this coronavirus plague that has us all isolated and worried.
Shabbat Shalom. Be strong and in good health.
~~~~~~~~~~
© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
