All Political Lives End in Failure. Benjamin Netanyahu is a Perfect Case in Point

Benjamin Netanyahu is the greatest politician of his generation!  There, I’ve said it, even as it sticks in my craw.  Putin, Obama, Blair, Merkel, take your pick.  None of them had to contend with the nightmare that is Israeli politics.

Love or hate Bibi, one cannot deny the man’s mastery of the art of politics in Israel, perhaps the most difficult and complex political environment in the world.  Now Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister, Bibi has shown a remarkable ability to not just survive, but win… over an extended period. 

There has never been his like and perhaps never will be again.  He has made short shrift of his political opponents, both those on the opposite side of the political map, as well as those in his own camp, where he has quashed any and all potential rivals.  Over time, he as ousted the credible thinkers, the smartest and most talented members of his own party, lest they pose a challenge to his leadership.  He has also established himself as a formidable and influential world leader.  His talent and achievements cannot be denied nor ignored.

Bibi likes to think of himself as somewhat Churchillian and I understand has read quite extensively about the famed leader of World War 2 Britain.  

There is however another British politician who he would have done well to take the time to read.

The controversial British Conservative and for a time, Ulster Unionist politician, Enoch Powell famously wrote, “All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream, at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs.”

Benjamin Netanyahu today is the perfect case in point.

Today, one cannot help but conclude that for all his talent, his determination, his significant political and diplomatic achievements, ultimately, Benjamin Netanyahu’s legacy will be one of failure, criminalising the office of Prime Minister,  corrupting the Cabinet, capitulating to religious and messianic extremism and sacrificing Israeli democracy, the state and the people of Israel, to his own narrow and selfish interests. He may even end up in prison.

And this is no ordinary man.  Netanyahu served with distinction in the IDF’s most elite special forces unit, Sayaeret Matkal.  He was arguably the most effective UN Ambassador Israel has ever had.  He secured his place in history as the longest ever serving Prime Minister.  He is loved and adored, even worshipped by a large section of the Israeli population.

It is regrettable and almost Shakespearean like, to observe a once formidable and seemingly unassailable leader, now a sad and desperate figure, lacking integrity, devoid of morals, or sense of personal responsibility, a spent warrior, fending off personal disaster willing to bring the rest of the country down with him as he falls.

Netanyahu faces charges in three criminal investigations, subject to hearings.  Where it not for his position as Prime Minster he would have been in court long ago.  As the leader of the opposition, Netanyahu attacked Ehud Olmert and famously maintained that a serving Prime Minister who faces criminal charges cannot continue in office and must resign.  Olmert resigned rather than bring the office of Prime Minister into disrepute, perhaps, even likely, because he felt he had no choice.  But that was then and this is now.

As with any other citizen, Bibi deserves the assumption of innocence however, the fact that the police, the prosecutor’s office and the Attorney General all believe that there is enough evidence against the Prime Minister in order to convict, suggests at the very least, that a trial is warranted.

Surround by controversy, with his wife already convicted of a lesser crime of misappropriation of public funds, Benjamin Netanyahu’s behaviour is increasingly cynical and self-serving, while his once, considered judgement appears to have gone straight out the proverbial window.

Israel’s long-standing policy of silence and ambiguity in regard to alleged Israeli military strikes against key strategic assets of our enemies has been cast aside, where Netanyahu now brazenly indeed irresponsibly, exploits such actions for political ends and to boost his image as “Mr. Security”. 

This image as Israel’s self-proclaimed “protector” is brought increasingly into question as his government has failed in spectacular manner when it comes to Gaza and Hamas.  He and his coalition partners’ willingness to politicise the IDF and the security services, is as contemptable as it is damaging.  Examples of Bibi’s “useful idiots” attacking the IDF and security services are too numerous and too shameful to mention. 

But that is another characteristic of Bibi’s government.  There is no shame!  None whatsoever.  There seems to be no limit to how low these people are prepared to go, even to the extent where two of the worst have no problem attacking bereaved families as liars, or even, god forbid, “leftists”.

Even Netanyahu’s core strategy regarding Iran appears to be unfolding as Trump looks to parley with the Iranians, suggesting that going “all in” with the current US President may not have been such a good idea after all.

In Netanyahu’s Israel, the ultimate insult that can be levelled at an individual or indeed an entire organisation, is “Leftist”.  Once “left” was a respected political position, albeit at odds with that of the right-wing Likud Party of which Netanyahu is the leader, yet legitimate, where two sides of the political map would debate the issues in a civil and meaningful manner.

Under the current government however and for some time now, debate has been reduced to superficial, lowest common denominator populism, personal insults, incitement and even violence.  Any individual or group who does not tow the Netanyahu line is automatically condemned as a “leftist” and a traitor. 

The Ex chief of police, a Kippa wearing National Religious Jew, appointed by Netanyahu himself, who happens to live on the West Bank, “leftist”.  The Attorney General, also a National Religious Jew, leftist, and the list goes on.  Former Minister and Likud member of the Knesset Benny Begin, the son of Menachem Begin, who has objected to Netanyahu’s assault on Israel’s legal system and the anti-democratic legislation tabled in the Knesset by Bibi’s coalition, is now also a “leftist”. 

Avigdor Lieberman, a life-long right-wing politician, the Leader of Yisrael Beitenu and today, perhaps the man who will ultimately bring down Bibi, lives on a settlement in the west bank, has advocated transfer for Arab populations along with other relatively extreme right-wing policies, according to Bibi and his supporters, is a leftist.  Ex Chiefs of Staff, Eisenkot, Yaalon, Ashkenazi, and Gantz, all leftists.  You get the point.

But there’s more... In his desperate attempt to avoid justice and preserve his power Netanyahu mobilises his supporters, and empowers extremists on the right of the political map in order to attack, demonize and delegitimise the gatekeepers of Israel’s democracy.  He and his allies have taken it upon themselves to incite against the High Court and seek to curb the authority and independence, not to mention the legitimacy of the High Court and the entire justice system.

Then there is the issue of a free press.  For many years now, Netanyahu has been obsessed with the media.  There is no more skilled communicator in politics.  He is highly skilled and aware in the working of the media.  For some time now, he seems obsessed with controlling the media in Israel, and bending it to his will in a Putin or Erdogan like manner.  And yes, the comparison is legitimate!  Any journalist, news or current affairs programme that dare investigate or criticise Netanyahu’s actions is dismissed as “leftist” anti-Zionist and traitorous.

Only recently, the journalist Guy Peleg, has required personal security arrangements to be made after Netanyahu openly demonized and incited against the journalist.  Peleg joins a considerable list of media personalities, publications and networks attacked by Bibi, including some of Israel’s most prominent and talented journalists.

Closer to home, Netanyahu has made it his mission to purge the Likud party of its critical thinkers and potential rivals, replacing them with loyal and useful idiots to do his bidding.  Indeed, Jabotinsky would find it hard to recognise his ideology in the modern Likud party, so much so that Benny Begin, Michael Eitan, along with other prominent and once proud Likudniks, have announced that they cannot and will not vote for Netanyahu’s Likud in the upcoming election.

The sad (not for his detractors) truth is that Netanyahu’s political life is coming to an end.

For sure, no one lasts forever, however Netanyahu’s demise is becoming a sickly fusion of farce and tragedy.  He has built a three-ring circus which is now crumbling around him.  He has surrounded himself with useful idiots, clowns unworthy and incapable of executing the offices of power and position they hold in his government. 

He allies himself with the most extreme anti-democratic elements of Israeli society.  Perhaps most unforgivable is his willingness to provide succour and legitimise religious and messianic fundamentalism along with Jewish fascism, in the form of the very same Kahanist supremacist and racist ideology, outlawed by a Likud government back in 1994.

For a long time now, Netanyahu ceased to be the Prime Minister of all the citizens of Israel pandering to his core support, and the more extreme fringes of Israeli politics in order to prop up his premiership.  His government continues to pay increasing levels of extortion, in both money and influence, to the Ultra-Orthodox and messianic settlers in return for their continuing support.  

Intoxicated by their new found power and undue influence political leaders from both are so desperate to see their “halcyon” days continue, that they will happily and cynically provide immunity in the face of criminal charges to Netanyahu as long as he continues to dance to their tune.

Don’t get me started on his wife and son.  That would be a whole other article in itself.

When it comes to the economy, Bibi likes to boast of his great achievements however if one looks a little deeper, it is clear to see here too, he has proved ineffective even highly damaging.   

His economic prowess is mostly smoke and mirrors.  Indeed, Israel has its lowest ever unemployment figures however, if you don’t work in high tech, the quality of jobs, lack of job security, not to mention, working conditions, and lack of benefits, leave a great deal to be desired.  Bibi’s economic legacy will be mega house price inflation, the second highest rate of child poverty in the OECD,  a new socio-economic class, the “working poor”, the greatest ever par between rich and poor, a crumbling health service, increasing poverty among the elderly, an education system struggling with overcrowded classrooms and a lack of quality teachers, a crumbling social-services, with the most disadvantaged in society being cast aside and forgotten. 

But as long as Bibi can have a brand-new plane to jet around the world, as long as he has champagne and cigars then, why worry and let’s just marvel at his so-called economic “miracle”. Oh, did I mention the largest budget deficit in our history?

In the end Bibi will be remembered as Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister but in essence he is a fallen Israeli hero who has sacrificed the national interest to his own personal agenda. His legacy will be as the man who broke Israel. Fortunately, the gate keepers of our democracy and indeed the people of Israel are strong enough and ultimately wise enough to ensure that the country and the people do not share Netanyahu’s fate.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s political life will certainly end in failure however, the Jewish and Democratic State of Israel, will come together and go on to build a better and brighter future for all Israelis.  It may take time to undo the damage he has wrought, but for Israel, failure to do so, is not an option!