Netanyahu is his own biggest challenge
JERUSALEM — With elections on the horizon, the greatest obstacle standing between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a return to high office could be Netanyahu himself.
A slew of challengers, including some of his traditional supporters, are taking aim at the longtime Israeli leader, saying that after nearly nine years in office, it is time for a new face at the top. Although opinion polls still make Netanyahu the front-runner, “Bibi fatigue” is shaping up to be a key issue during the upcoming three-month campaign.
His approval numbers are dropping fast and, for the first time, a newly formed opposition alliance is inching past his Likud Party in the polls as the largest parliamentary faction. That does not guarantee an opposition victory, but it is cause for concern for Netanyahu.
“There is definitely a sense that people want to see a change,” Danny Danon, a Likud lawmaker who is running against Netanyahu internally, said. “I hear these voices and I am troubled by the next elections and the coalition that could follow.”
When Netanyahu dissolved his unwieldy coalition and called new elections last week, he appeared to be a lock for re-election, thanks to his unrivalled experience and a dearth of challengers. He seemed such a sure bet that his move was seen as a tactical decision to guarantee himself a fourth term.
But in just a few days, the “anyone but Bibi” campaign — referring to his popular nickname — has gained traction and his manoeuvre is looking increasingly risky. The election is set for March 17.
There are many reasons for the sentiment. On Israel’s dovish left, Netanyahu is seen as a hard-line ideologue who has aligned himself with allies who oppose peace with the Palestinians and favour a greater role for religion in daily life. They also lament the deterioration in relations with the U.S., Israel’s closest and most important ally.
Even among more conservative voters, many fear that Netanyahu has veered too far to the religious-nationalist right, while hardliners ironically think Netanyahu is too soft on security issues and are turning to other parties. Meanwhile, an economy that is increasingly divided between haves and have-nots has alienated many Israelis. Across the board, many just feel it’s time for some fresh blood.
“Read my lips: Prime Benjamin Netanyahu will lose the election,” columnist Uri Misgav wrote Tuesday in Haaretz, a liberal daily newspaper. “Netanyahu’s stock is at an all-time low, and he has nothing left to sell. … Netanyahu will lose because the rising revulsion for him crosses party lines and overflows its banks.”
In a boost for the antiNetanyahu camp, the centre-left Labour Party this week joined forces with the recently fired justice minister, Tzipi Livni, and her Hatnuah party, which focuses on pursuing peace with the Palestinians.
Opinion polls give the joint list about 24 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, which would make it the largest single faction in parliament, with two or three seats more than Likud, Netanyahu’s party. Polls still give Netanyahu the best chance of forming a majority coalition because of the expected strength of other religious or nationalist parties. But a single defection from this bloc could swing the election against Netanyahu.