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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Analysis: A prime minister in waiting? |
| 2007-01-22 |
| Opinions were divided on Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu's speech at the Herzliya Conference on Sunday. He was masterful as always, but on the bottom line, it was a recapitulation of everything we've heard before. "A total election speech," was one view. "He thinks he's just won the election" opined another. "He's already the prime minister" was a more succinct view. What it wasn't, was a standard speech by a leader of the opposition. Netanyahu didn't attack the government or Prime Minister Ehud Olmert even once. He set out his blueprint for how to address the Iranian threat, but only obliquely mentioned that "partial action is not what's needed, but a coordinated effort that the government in Israel should lead." He was a bit more critical on the Palestinian issue, saying, "It's hard to believe, but we're still hearing about planning for the realignment, which would only bring the missile-firing sites closer to Gush Dan," but he still wasn't naming any names. In the economic policy chapter of the speech, he promised that "a government under our leadership will renew all these [policies] with full force." Or, I'll be back in office soon. By law, elections don't have to take place before 2010. Netanyahu, currently leading a party tied with Shas for the third largest party in the Knesset, seems convinced that we're going back to the ballot box much sooner, or at least that half of Kadima's MKs are planning to break away and nominate him. Despite all the government's ills, it's still based on a wide coalition. Unrest within Kadima might lead to a rebellion but there's little indication that any of the potential rebels will look to Netanyahu for leadership. And even if elections were to take place some time in 2007, Netanyahu might be leading in the polls by a considerable margin, but actually, the numbers are not that encouraging from his point of view. None of the polls have put the Likud at 30 MKs, and this at a time when the public's alienation from the government has reached unprecedented heights and, with Avigdor Lieberman now in the coalition, Netanyahu is the only alternative. Plus, he's the only Israeli PM ever who knows how to deal with Americans. |
| Posted by:gromgoru |
| #1 I think Sharon was necessary to do the things required, to give the Pals the rope to hang themselves and really show the world they are currently incapable of self-government. It's a shame that Bibi didn't follow Sharon in office. I have no doubt the recent Hezbollah war would have gone differently (quibbling if he should have occupied Damascus or not). |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-01-22 11:58 |