Daring to "kill father" Netanyahu
Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett are political sons of Benjamin Netanyahu. Both were ministers of the longest-serving head of government in Israel's history. Both now have it in their hands to end their "father's" political career, after the former was given the task of forming a government by President Reuven Rivlin.
Netanyahu held out until the last minute before midnight on Wednesday to try to gather the necessary support in the Knesset. The fateful 61 deputies needed, out of the 120 in the House, finally proved impossible for the man who has been in office for the last two years and after four elections that have not solved the problem of finding a stable and lasting coalition for a single legislature.
That his bitterest enemies and even many simple adversaries seek the liquidation of the current leader of the conservative Likud is an almost secular endeavour, which has so far ended in failure as Netanyahu has avoided all political and judicial pitfalls. His corruption and embezzlement trials are ongoing. Many in these circles believe that this time, indeed, the tough-talking prime minister has never been closer to being forced out of office.
The hand charged with carrying out this political execution would be that of Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party, the current second force in parliament with 17 MPs. A former finance minister under Netanyahu, Lapid far surpassed as a journalist and television presenter his own biological father, who also served as deputy prime minister of Israel. Since his move into politics, his previous popularity has served as leverage to catapult him to the top of the Israeli executive, but never before has he been tasked with forming the majority needed to do so.
As is the norm in Israel's diverse and nuanced parliamentary arc, Lapid will have to proceed in the company of others. He seems to have already lined up Naftali Bennett, leader of the far-right Yamina and his seven deputies. Bennett, an American-born billionaire, also held the defence portfolio under Netanyahu. The two would form the core of the so-called Change Bloc, to which the Labour Party, the left-wing Meretz of centrist ex-general Benny Gantz, as well as the radical splinter Likud parties led by Gideon Saar and Avigdor Lieberman, have pledged their support.
The Lapid-Bennett tandem would therefore have no choice but to make a pact with the Arab parties, among which they would have obtained the pre-agreement of seven MPs. They are still short of four, who are sure to sell the compromise at a high price. Netanyahu is trying to prevent such alliances from coming to fruition and has focused his attack on the Yamina MPs, warning them not to fall into the clutches of "a dangerous left".
It is clear, therefore, that not all the fish is yet sold, although both Lapid and Bennett are promoting the need to open a new era. The former has already issued a first communiqué, in which he states that "a unity government is not a compromise or an emergency solution but the goal we now need to achieve". As can be seen, it is not very forceful, nor is Bennett's statement, which is limited to pointing out "that he will spare no effort to avoid new elections", which would be the fifth in the last two years. After doubting that he can achieve the goal of forming a unity government, he assures his commitment to "not renounce his principles and ideals".
It is clear from all this that none of them is convinced that they will succeed in putting an end to Benjamin Netanyahu's political life. Killing one's father, even if it is a political patricide, marks his hypothetical executioners very much. They seem to be ashamed of it. And it shows.