Many good people, right and left, wonder what the secret of Netanyahu's political eternity is. Of course, on the right the answer will recite a graph of permanent economic improvement, regional peace agreements and a semblance of security (until that Shabbat, of course). On the left, the explanation will, of course, relate to corruption, "incitement," Neanderthal voters and causes that represent opposition voters around the world.
Both miss Netanyahu's superpower: the pull of time. And to be precise - his ability to accustom us to the thought that no matter what problem arises at the moment - everything is in treatment.
It is important to clarify: this is not written mockingly. The art of pulling time is a well-known political tactic that is a serious factor in game theory and requires iron nerves. The average citizen would prefer a leader who responds calmly, who is aware of the current problem even though he has not yet dealt with the previous problem, over a leader with an executive history who knocks on the table once a week and demands that worlds be turned upside down. This is Netanyahu's conservative approach and there is no stopping it.
We had good times with her. Living standards and the economy have survived global bumps like Covid-19 and other market crashes, and we've had bad times like repeatedly capitulating to socialist populism like a rising (and of course only harmful) minimum wage and price controls in conjunction with yellowing cartels; good times like the opening of the skies, weekends in Dubai and glitzy Israeli high-tech; And bad guys like creeping surrender to aggressive and mafia pressure groups that have deepened the insertion of long nails in Israeli democratic freedom. There were terror attacks, but there was also the almost elimination of the idea of a Palestinian terrorist state; There have been waves of immigration to Israel, but also High Court justices who are dismantling the Law of Return from the springboard.
The routine: good and evil quarrel, Netanyahu calms down with the establishment of a "treatment committee" – until the next problem is dealt with by the establishment of an "expert committee," and the next one will lead to a "professional advisory team," and then again.
And time passes, trouble remains, everything is Under Control. The judicial system makes the democratic process redundant, but it will be okay because "dialogue is held." The Histadrut is again threatening to shut down, but they will "reach a solution" that will be (always) compromise and payment. Just let it be quiet, so that the ship doesn't shake. Keep sailing slowly, and time (and protection) will heal everything, or at least buy a little more time.
The average citizen would prefer a leader who responds calmly, who is aware of the current problem even though he has not yet dealt with the previous problem, over a leader with an executive history who knocks on the table once a week and demands that worlds be turned upside down. This is Netanyahu's conservative approach and there is no end to it
For better or worse, it worked for Netanyahu. And what do you know, the country was also relatively fine. Until that Shabbat. And if we entered this war in full unity and with fire in our eyes, the past few days have brought us back to despondency that includes opening crossings, outrageous ceasefires, spectacular surrender to every demand in favor of the murderers of Gaza, and the best of our sons who are killed in purges of buildings that should not have been flattened because it will not look good in the world and the State Prosecutor's Office will be angry.
Netanyahu mentions that he is, well, Netanyahu. He again says that everything is fine, as if this is another Histadrut crisis that can be solved with money and time. The problem is that this time Netanyahu encounters a Nazi enemy for whom time is the only thing keeping him alive, and an Israeli public that wants impulsive leadership to turn tables once in its life. Let's hope that no committee will be formed, because Netanyahu's time is running out.
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