Following police investigations into alleged bribe-taking and mob ties, Knesset member David Bitan resigned Dec. 20 as parliament coalition chairman. His resignation was expected and fitting. The surprise was in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s choice as Bitan’s successor.

Senior members of Netanyahu’s ruling coalition thought the prime minister would name Likud Knesset member Yoav Kisch to the important post. Netanyahu was even heard saying that Kisch’s clean record would help dispel the clouds of corruption covering his Likud Party. The logic was fairly simple: Given the heavy suspicions of graft against Bitan and his alleged entanglement with loan sharks, a man such as Kisch — a former fighter pilot and a straight shooter with a pleasant manner — would instill a measure of calm and tone down the anti-corruption campaign that has emerged on the political right (in addition to the one on the political left and center). 

But when the time came, Netanyahu did the opposite. He appointed Knesset member David Amsalem, a man whose record is tainted by legislative proposals designed to undermine the police in order to help Netanyahu, who is under several criminal investigations. One such proposed bill, known as the Recommendations Law, would have prevented police from publicly disclosing their recommendations on whether to prosecute targets of investigation. This is the man chosen to be the face of the Likud and the coalition it leads in the post-Bitan era. Despite the damage wrought by his media appearances to the sane wing of the Likud, this non-elegant, outspoken politician will likely be the Likud’s poster boy, at least until the next elections.

Netanyahu has undoubtedly adopted a strategic decision to continue eroding the rule of law, especially the power of the police force and its chief, Roni Alsheikh, whom Amsalem recently suggested should have his pay cut. The goal is clear: to pre-empt a likely police recommendation to indict Netanyahu (probably on charges of graft) by building up an image of the police as doing the bidding of the left and of the media in order to bring down Netanyahu and his allies. Netanyahu is casting off all pretensions of nonpartisanship, and his choice of Amsalem is the ultimate proof.