Skip to main content

Has Netanyahu's political credit expired?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost political and personal credibility by appointing Avigdor Liberman as defense minister and with the state comptroller exposing his past financial dealings.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (front) and Avigdor Lieberman head of far-right Yisrael Beitenu party attend the opening of the summer session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, May 23, 2016. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RTSFKJO
Read in 

“As they say where I come from, give me a little credit,” Prime Minister Levi Eshkol said to his predecessor and rival, David Ben-Gurion, at the 1965 convention of the ruling Mapai, precursor to the Labor Party. Eshkol had sought said credit to lead the state. That was more than 50 years ago, before credit cards were introduced in Israel.

Not so long ago, Israel's current, well-heeled prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had asked a civil servant for credit — that is, to put plane tickets for his sons on the civil servant's credit card. The police will invariably examine Netanyahu’s version of events, according to which when he served as finance minister more than 10 years ago, he was not in possession of a credit card, and therefore, according to a report by the state comptroller, asked a Finance Ministry official, Yechiel Leiter, to pay for the tickets.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.