The year and two months in which the Lapid-Bennet government has been in office has removed any doubt.
There are no significant differences between the policy measures taken by the duo, and those of their predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Like him, they opposed the agreement with Iran (albeit in moderate tones), did not return the governments, did not lower the apartment prices and certainly did not prove to be more reliable or cleaner.
From the recruitment of the ultra-Orthodox, through a small government to clean politics, there was not a single promise that Lapid did not break.
As for Bennett, it was the lie that killed him politically.
A political "price tag" against Russia: Israel is considering dramatic measures if the activities of the Jewish Agency are harmed | First publication >>>
And here in the last day, rather surprisingly, a very significant gap between Lapid and Netanyahu is sharpening and it concerns Israel's place in the world.
As prime minister, Lapid continued the line he took as foreign minister and openly disapproved of Russia's offensive actions and war crimes in Ukraine.
His critical position has a price.
This is at least the explanation in Israel for the Russian intention to close the offices of the Jewish Agency in the country.
Nevertheless, Lapid chose to conduct the fight in public and escalate the tone even more.
In an official announcement, he defined the intention to close the agency's offices as a "serious incident".
That is, Lapid goes with a clear mind to a public confrontation with Putin.
Netanyahu and Putin // Photo: Reuters
There are no coincidences here.
Lapid believes that Israel's place is in the bosom of the countries of the liberal West.
In his opinion, they are the moral and political depth on which Israel rests, even if it will be needed on the day of command.
That's why he often talks about "being on the right side of history".
Therefore pressure to upgrade relations with the European Union.
Lapid may be right in clashing with Putin, but his move is not necessarily wise.
Because Netanyahu, on the other hand, did not build on the West.
Although he shares the liberal democratic worldview, he is well aware of the laxity and failures of the West when put to the test.
A gap that has no cover, hanging between the West's lofty talk about morality, and its poor flinching before the Nazi boot, for example.
Not to mention the historical treatment of Jews, before, during and after the Holocaust, right up to the last decade.
As a leader with a sober and shrewd historical awareness, Netanyahu believes that Putin may be a dictator, but you can do business with him and protect the Jews with him.
He will look for our missing soldiers in Russia and as he recently confirmed, Israel's former ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, will also agree to cast a veto on our behalf in the Security Council against the US - if the circumstances justify it.
Therefore, even in an outrageous event like the Naama Issachar affair, Netanyahu made sure to avoid public friction with the Russian president.
Putin respects power.
This is how you can and should work with him.
Germany, France and the rest of the Western countries are a broken barrel when tested - and there were unfortunately too many tests that showed this.
While Lapid puts all his eggs in the Western basket, Netanyahu believes in maneuvering between the West and the East, in accordance with Israel's interests.
His policy may be less sympathetic but undoubtedly more realistic.
In order to prosper, Israel certainly needs moral strength, but it is not enough by itself.
The strong survives, the nice are destroyed.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
