Netanyahu Alone at Top of Israeli Politics

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is undoubtedly a unique phenomenon in the annals of Israeli politics. For years he has been alone at the top, without a political rival to threaten his hegemony as prime minister.

On the eve of the Jewish New Year, he can look around in satisfaction to find that he still has no potential rivals for leadership of the state. For more than four years, since the 2009 elections, Netanyahu has been the only contender for the post of prime minister. In fact, the last time he ran in a tight race against another candidate for the job was during those elections, when Tzipi Livni, then leader of the Kadima Party [and now Justice Minister], raked in 28 Knesset seats — one more than Netanyahu — but was unable to put together a coalition government. Livni’s political downfall put an end to her chances as a leadership hopeful, and she left the field.