The Prime Minister was disappointed with the results of the US election, but for cold political reasons they help him remind voters that in the face of a hostile government - he has no competitors • Interpretation
Since the American media networks announced that Joe Biden has been elected president of the United States, Israel's political system has undergone a biennialisation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will leave our lives.
Yair Lapid recognized the developing trend in left-wing circles and delivered a speech full of reconciliation and compassion for Minister Dudi Amsalem from the Knesset podium.
"My uncle," Lapid exclaimed excitedly, "I want to ask you a question. Week after week you stand here on stage, calling people 'maniacs' and 'liars.' Why? Why is that good?"
It does not matter that a minute later he was called a criminal, the main thing being that the soft tone was heard.
Not only Lapid, but also Naftali Bennett.
"In our leadership," he said pathetically, "everyone will feel part. Everyone. Even a leftist will feel part, because there is dialogue and respect and connection. No one will feel that he is not equal. Without de-legitimization and without calling some of the people oppressors of Israel."
The arrows of the two are aimed at Netanyahu, who in the eyes of many on the left is no less than Trump's Siamese twin.
The truth is that Netanyahu recognized the trend even before the two of them.
Even before the American election, he realized that the next global tone would be calming down and moderating discourse.
He therefore almost completely stopped the attacks on members of the opposition, blue and white who suck his blood out of the government, and against the law enforcement system - despite the many opportunities that have come his way recently to do so.
Only against Naftali Bennett does he still have a hard time holding back, but it is possible that this will come later.
The announcement of Biden disappointed Netanyahu who wanted Trump, but in cold political consideration he is better off with Biden's victory.
He did not wait long to clarify right now what the new line is with the government, and especially with the Israeli public: a rigid and firm stand on the interests of the State of Israel.
The message the prime minister wants to convey is that in the face of a hostile government, or a semi-hostile one, he has no competitors.
Who will you trust when the pressures of the new administration begin to transfer territories to the Arabs?
Netanyahu will ask.
About Benny Gantz the anemic?
About the inexperienced Naftali Bennett?
Or for someone on the left to surrender immediately?
Netanyahu knows that the spirit in the sails of leftists who are encouraged by the American media's announcement of Biden's victory will not last long and will not spread too far.
Nor does he see himself as similar to Trump as they try to portray him;
Not in style.
Nor in essence.
Trump belittled Corona from the first moment.
In the first wave he generally refused to wear a mask.
Netanyahu is just the opposite.
Back on Purim, when no one here understood what this corona was, he asked the citizens to stop shaking hands.
The full column - tomorrow in "Israel This Week"