Power leaders are willing to do a great deal for a visit by the President of the United States, probably the most powerful person in the world. For a meeting in the Oval Office that will last a few minutes, they are willing to fly for long hours. However, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is probably the only leader who simply blew the President of the United States .
Biden, as I recall, arrived in Israel about two weeks ago.
Bennett was invited to a meeting with him on Thursday alongside Prime Minister Lapid, and his office even confirmed his arrival.
But in the end - he didn't show up.
It is hard not to come to the conclusion: something bad is happening to the alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
People who spoke with him in the last two weeks tell of a man with a bad mood, who rarely talks to people, rarely leaves the house, and is also angry at the office of his good friend Yair Lapid, accusing them of briefings and leaks against him.
Lapid and Biden, about two weeks ago.
Bennett confirmed arrival - and did not appear, photo: Emil Salman
One of the people who spoke with Bennett recently says: "He is despised. He is in a bad mood and in a difficult time. You can see it in him. He says it is not easy for him but he copes; he comes to the cabinet meeting after the media, he has an office in the Knesset but he comes there once , maybe twice a week. The rest of the time he's at home in Ra'anana. I remember they said about Begin he used to lock himself in his room, so although Bennett isn't as extreme as Begin - but he's a bit reminiscent of that."
"It's not mental"
On the other hand, an associate of Levant paints a less dramatic picture.
"I wouldn't take it to the places of a mental state, it's not mental," he confidently states.
"Politicians are human beings and they simply run out of gas. One moment you are the most important person in the country - and one moment you have nothing. It is not easy."
One of the people who worked with Bennett in the political system says that "the transition from prime minister to interim prime minister did not sit well with him. Even though he controlled the process - he initiated it - something does not sit well. You walk around with a convoy and suddenly you are nothing and nothing. It is difficult." .
According to him, Bennett "entered into something with himself, no one is clear what it is. He went underground. He does crazy things that cannot be understood."
Bennet's conduct during Biden's visit stands out under the statement "absurd things".
Bennett in his days as prime minister, surrounded by security guards.
"It's not easy", photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"humiliating moment"
"It was a disaster in political and media terms, it's as if he forcibly tried to step on every landmine," claims the source.
"There wasn't a single minefield that he skipped over - a comedy of errors from beginning to end. It started with the reception: why did he have to stand there?! There is no such thing as an alternate prime minister, it was unnecessary. Then he got stuck in a situation from which it is impossible to get out - As soon as Herzog, Biden and Lapid start walking, if he walks behind them he looks like their secretary; if he stays standing, it's also humiliating.
"The problem is the frustration. Bennett was supposed to be Biden's host, and it didn't happen, so he tried to be there at all costs and it just didn't work. The people who were close to him for years are no longer with him to reflect the situation to him. He should have been on the same page With the government ministers and Netanyahu, it would have been much more accurate."
Bennett's house in Ra'anana.
shuts down,
"A man with a mission without action"
One of the main problems, it seems, is that Bennett has no employment.
"Bennett is a practical, task-oriented person," says one of his party members.
"If he does not pass the percentage of blocking with the new right, he will turn around and fight. If he is a minister or prime minister - he has tasks and he lives them. He needs a target, now he has no target. He is not a foreign minister, and an alternate prime minister is not A position with a job. What's the next task? Waiting outside to come back for another four, five, ten years? It's very difficult for him.
"In addition to everything, the truth must be told - there is no such thing as 'holding the Iran case', it is a fiction, it does not exist. There is a system that has been working for many years, and it will not change now just because it is important for politicians to have another role with two vehicles and sirens.
"The head of the Mossad is a systemic person. He speaks and works directly with the prime minister, this is how it has been going for decades. Does anyone think that because of political needs they decide that the head of the Mossad will work with a replacement prime minister who has no authority at all?! This does not belong. Can the replacement be updated , to consult with him, but the prime minister has to make decisions and he works with the head of the Mossad. 'Holding the Iran case' is bullshit."
Bennett at the time Biden landed.
"A disaster in political and media terms", photo: Yossi Zeliger
The question of retirement
One of the questions asked is why Bennett did not finally retire from political life.
Bennett's associates advised him to do so.
"Every day he doesn't retire, he leaves room for snoozers to humiliate him," says a political official who worked with Bennett.
"We are checking whether he came to the cabinet meeting or not, whether he entered before the photographers or after them. In which chamber he sits, how much money it costs and what he does or does not do. It is an unnecessary event for him."
However, Bennett does not retire for two reasons: the first, legally - in regards to the replacement prime minister mechanism headed by the "right-wing bloc";
The second is mainly related to his relationship with Lapid.
"For a whole year, Yair Lapid was next to Bennett, his number two," explains one of Yamina's people.
"It's not like Netanyahu and Gantz, that Gantz didn't want to be number two but tried to be Netanyahu's equal. Lapid didn't try to overshadow Bennett, he said 'I'm the foreign minister', backed Bennett, repeated that Bennett is the prime minister.
"Now that Bennett retired, he wanted to return a similar favor to Lapid, to be his number two, his backup. Bennett thought he would be able to do it - but he is unable. It is not in his character, it is not right for him politically and mentally and he cannot fulfill the task like that".
Bennett and Lapid.
Tried to be number two, photo: Mark Israel Salem
A complex matter
Bennett-Lapid relations are a complex matter.
Contrary to reports, the two are not broken up.
They meet once a week privately, the relationship and friendship between them is close - but Bennett is angry with the people in Lapid's office.
Bennett suspects that they are the source of the 12 News posting about him asking for former prime minister's benefits, such as an office, driver and assistants even though he did not serve long enough to receive them.
Then he saw how Lapid moved to the prime minister's apartment near Balfour, and wrote a letter of apology to the neighbors for the inconvenience.
He felt they were "taking him out small".
The social issue doesn't really add to Bennet's mood either.
The people who worked with him in the office are not considered friends but under an employer-employee relationship;
Ayelet Shaked is busy establishing her party;
Matan Kahane, who was particularly close to him, was not a member of "Bazrahot", outside of politics, and Bennett remained alone in the campaign.
Almond.
Busy starting a party, photo: Gideon Markovich
The dissolution of the government and the transfer of the reins to Lapid - a step he perceived as noble - passed from the world without being remembered.
A person who was close to Bennett in the party says: "No one remembers the concessions and menschism he used. This government will be remembered for two things - the shortest government in history, and the first government with the Arabs that ultimately failed. All of Bennett's menschism behavior will not be remembered at all, and this is very frustrating ".
"You can't win"
Bennett's office responded: "In Israel there is only one prime minister at any given moment, Bennett believed that when he was prime minister, and he still believes that today. Therefore, with Prime Minister Lapid taking office, the alternate Prime Minister Bennett decided to give Lapid the place The full. Bennett is always ready to help Lapid when asked and when it is needed. But it seems impossible to win. After all, if he had chosen to be involved in any matter - the accusations would be the opposite, and they would say 'Why is the alternative prime minister being pushed and not leaving the whole stage to Lapid?'
Bennett's schedule is full, he deals with certain security issues, and comes to government meetings, cabinet and other discussions as needed."
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