When the confrontation became validation: Netanyahu's call proved he couldn't close the gap

One benefit came from the invitation to a duel sent by Prime Minister Gantz: confirmation of the impression, which emerged from the media surveys and supported by internal data of the parties - that the criminal defendant fails to reduce the gaps between him and blue and white. Therefore, accurate Gantz answer: focus on the fight against corruption living in and around Balfour

When the confrontation became validation: Netanyahu's call proved he couldn't close the gap

In his claim in the bullying case at the Prime Minister's Residence and a breach of his promise to take up civil service five years ago, Manny Naftali named one of the Netanyahu spouses. Not Sarah, but her husband. But Benjamin Netanyahu evaded standing in the Regional Court (and later, the National) Labor Court, and Naftali's lawyers, Naomi Landau and Nava Pinchuk Alexander, waived his summons to testify. They feared that Netanyahu would inherit his literal power, if not the professional magistrate, Druzinin, perhaps the two representatives of the public who could vote on it.

There is no debate about Netanyahu's skill as a wizard of speech, gestures and performances in front of an audience and camera. Often this is a thin visual behind it empty, but the show is not aimed at cold and in-depth analysis of material. It is supposed to elaborate on emotional strings, highlight the positive and absorb the negative, in minutes or their fragments. For wages, sometimes even for lies, when the disillusionment is too late to come.

Netanyahu: "Invites Gantz to Conflict"; Blue and White Chairman: "Panic So Are You Producing a Spin?"

Netanyahu (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Debate on the Knesset Plenum - Proposal of the Knesset Immunity Committee for Life Katz, Knesset, Jerusalem, February 17, 2020 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

It goes without saying why Netanyahu relies on his ability to beat Benny Gantz in a televised confrontation. He is fast-paced, smooth in tongue and easy to improvise from his opponent. Tackling them will be described as Mohammed Ali vs. Sony Liston. Gantz, a man with no suicidal tendencies (except for riding Harley Davidson at a little over 120 mph), has no reason to lose himself. It's much cheaper to absorb touch-avoidance stings than to pay the touch price.

This is what Shimon Peres refused to internalize when Netanyahu taunted him and lured him into a 1996 election confrontation. The leader in the race, as Peres was after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and even after the "Grapes of Wrath" operation, which ended in a draw with Hezbollah, should be interested in preserving his advantage. A bet on increasing the advantage, in confrontation, does not stand the test of chance against risk. Reverse in his competitor. He may reduce the advantage, catch up with No. 1 and possibly even pass.

The incumbent will usually be defensive

When the carrier is the vertex, the claimant to the crown gains points by raising it to an equitable level. The two wear similar suits, standing in front of the same Israeli flag, are perceived - in the case of Peres and Netanyahu - as being tainted by similar material of leadership. Peres helped Netanyahu accustom the public to the idea that he, perhaps the youngest of a quarter-century prime minister and without any experience at a high level from a deputy minister, could function as prime minister.

The outgoing prime minister has to defend his achievements and failures. His opponent relies mainly on promises he has not yet had a chance to breach. Therefore, during the confrontation, the incumbent will usually defend and sound apologetic and the challenger will usually attack and appear decisive.

Three years after the confrontation with Peres, the situation reversed. Netanyahu became Peres and Ehud Barak - Netanyahu. This time, however, Barak, for the experience of '96, was the leader and Netanyahu, whose government life was shortened for a year and a half, followed. And again, it was worthwhile for Netanyahu and not his opponent to confront. Desperate that Netanyahu was content with a confrontation with the third candidate, Itzik Mordechai, a kind of Avigdor Lieberman of the time, Netanyahu also lost in this secondary. Not that the conflict was necessarily due to misjudgment: his loss in the elections (personal and not only the Knesset) was doomed either way.

(Photo: Jonathan Zindel \ Flash 90)

Benny Gantz at the Knesset Plenary, February 10, 2020 (Photo: Jonathan Zindel, Flash 90)

Gantz benefits from the lessons of '96 and '99, too, because confrontation between two candidates is not an area for his broadcast time. It's like playing football between strong teams in Europe, who also make a living from selling goods, the revered players' shirts. The clashes are packed into a large spate of opinion polls, channel polemics and newspaper commentary. Who will prevent Netanyahu from being photographed the next day, holding his hands, in the form of Truman after his victory over Thomas Dewey (as opposed to a daily headline printed) or Trump after acquitting him in the Senate impeachment trial, a newspaper - and in the absence of a newspaper, "Israel Today" - titled "Conflict: Bibi defeated" Are you my son? "

Conflict will not be, because it is worthwhile only to one side, but one benefit has arisen from the invitation to duel: it ratified the impression, which emerges from the media surveys and supported by the parties internal data, that Netanyahu can not close the gap that Gantz opened. Conflict, therefore, is validation.

Gantz's correct answer today is the renewed and increased focus on combating Netanyahu's corruption and his environment, with the arrowhead in the shape of MK Yoav Segalovich, former commander-in-chief of Lahav 433 investigators and the head of the Police Investigations and Intelligence Division. Over the next two weeks and, moreover, later - he may refer him to Seglovich, who may have questions and answers to exchange with him.

On this promising horizon for Gantz, there are two clouds - the degree to which he is matched with the prime minister, compared to Netanyahu (a decline to Gantz, after almost equality), that a public who is fed up with Netanyahu's inclusions and his long-standing government has not yet realized that Gantz is more than negative, and his aides hiding him from the press implicitly admit that Its superficiality and stumbling; And Netanyahu's efforts to spur the Likud, its disillusioned and defeated Likud voters. Typical focus on Ethiopian immigrants and taxi drivers. If every driver runs a counter, pick up four Ethiopians and their five come to vote for Netanyahu, his loss may be smaller, half a consolation when the Balfour Shin Bet is slammed behind him.