It’s a ritual by now. The prime minister decides to release Palestinian prisoners, and HaBayit HaYehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett and his fellows shout out from every possible forum how they oppose such a “detrimental” move. The government approves the decision anyway, and the next day, it is back to business as usual, as if nothing happened. That’s exactly what happened two months ago, on Aug. 12, and that’s what happened this week, on Oct. 27.
It is safe to assume that HaBayit Hayehudi’s ministers have not yet managed to forget during their short term in office a lesson that all young Israelis learn in high-school civics class. According to the principle of joint responsibility, all ministers bear responsibility for all the decisions and actions of the government, regardless of whether they voted for or against them. As such, the only way to see the ruckus that HaBayit HaYehudi caused before the vote is as a cynical and ugly act of provocation, intended to draw fire away from them.
