Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loves Hanukkah. The annual ritual of lighting the Hanukkah candelabra organized by his party provides him with a stage from which to project his brightness unto the people of Israel and the world. At the same time, he uses the platform to cast into shadow all those who wish ill on the State of Israel and the Netanyahu family — which the prime minister views as one and the same. This year, the Festival of Lights provided an ideal opportunity to save residents of northern Israel from the tunnels dug by Hezbollah from Lebanon into Israel, which residents have reported for years and largely been ignored. On Dec. 4, the IDF launched operation Northern Shield to uncover and neutralize these tunnels. Those claiming the timing of the operation, which has been in the planning for months, was linked to the Dec. 2 police recommendations to indict Netanyahu on suspicion of bribery and other crimes, do so at their own risk.

For Hanukkah 2012, Netanyahu posted a photo to Facebook of Israel taken from a satellite, writing in Hebrew, “The State of Israel is a light unto nations. One can see this from outer space, too.” Earlier that year, in February, Netanyahu took the opportunity of the appointment ceremony for Judge Asher Grunis as president of the Supreme Court to boast about Israel’s “exemplary legal system that serves as a light unto nations.” And not only a light unto nations, Netanyahu waxed poetically, “a bright light.”

On a Hanukkah 2017 conference call with Israeli embassies around the world, Netanyahu bragged, “Many countries understand that we are spreading light unto the nations — in our search and rescue missions and in health, agriculture, water and all the important fields.”

And what about the fields of corruption and law enforcement? Does the prime minister not regard them as important, or does he have trouble portraying Israel as a “bright light” in these areas?