Netanyahu puts settlers before Israel, again

On the evening of April 6, the Likud and the Blue and White had come close to signing a draft agreement to form a unity government. Two weeks earlier, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz had fractured his own camp by acting on the good-faith belief that the coronavirus crisis required him to put the country above all else and form a government with Benjamin Netanyahu. He certainly never imagined that the war against the novel coronavirus would hardly feature in the coalition negotiations, which have instead focused on matters of concern to Netanyahu, in particular his political survival.

Being at the center of the talks, these issues put reaching an agreement at risk. On top of this, Gantz was prepared to agree that the Netanyahu family receive an official residence, paid for by the state, even after Gantz becomes prime minister, one and a half years down the road in accordance with the coalition agreement.

The big breakthrough occurred when Gantz shocked his supporters by conceding on the issue of annexing West Bank territories, agreeing that it could be brought before the Knesset for a vote. In other words, he made it easier for a Netanyahu-Gantz government to impose Israeli sovereignty on territories in the West Bank and Jordan Valley. Then, when it seemed that the road was clear for a national emergency government and a coalition agreement signed before Passover, Netanyahu reneged.

After reaching agreements on all the important matters, the Likud backed away from an understanding on judicial appointments. “After reaching understandings on all issues, the Likud party asked to reopen discussions regarding the committee to appoint judges,” an outraged Blue and White responded. “In light of this, negotiations have been halted. We will not allow any change in the functioning of the judiciary nor damage to democracy.”