Skip to main content

Israeli left must unite to survive

The Democratic Camp and Labor-Gesher may need to join together to survive a third round of elections in which the Blue and White Party is perceived as the key to Netanyahu’s defeat.
Israeli legislator Stav Shaffir poses for a photograph in Tel Aviv February 15, 2015. Whether on the left, in the centre or on the right of the spectrum, women are filling senior positions in Israel's major parties, influencing the style, tone and manner of politics, even if it remains a tough-talking game. On the left of the spectrum there is Shaffir, 29, who was the youngest woman to serve in the Israeli parliament when she was first elected in 2013. A former leader of the social protests that took over T
Read in 

During a Nov. 2 interview with Al-Monitor at the Knesset, a senior member of the Democratic Union expressed great frustration and a sense of helplessness over the events to come. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said, “If I were in [Blue and White leader] Benny Gantz’ shoes, I would take up the offer and give [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu five months as the first prime minister [in a rotation deal]. As it is, Netanyahu is already using all sorts of legal and parliamentary tricks to hold on to office and hold up everything else. Who knows what might happen if yet another election is held? We could easily find ourselves out of the Knesset, leaving Netanyahu the biggest winner.”

Two hours earlier, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit handed the criminal indictment against Netanyahu to Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein, giving the prime minister 30 days to seek Knesset immunity from prosecution. Mandelblit’s move set off a storm of speculation in the Knesset corridors as lawmakers tried to gauge its political ramifications. It's unclear whether the current Knesset is authorized to debate Netanyahu’s immunity request and whether Netanyahu will even take advantage of the 30 days allotted to him to ask the Knesset for immunity.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.