Netanyahu’s political demise

The Israeli PM might end up serving a jail term without the immunity that comes with the premiership

Earlier this month, Israeli citizens voted for the second time in five months.  The voters had to choose between their longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu or his opponent, a moderate former military chief Benny Gantz.

The result gave Gantz a razor-thin lead over Netanyahu’s Likud party, which secured 31 seats, but not enough to form a government. The tightly contested September election leaves Netanyahu, fighting the toughest battle for his political and personal survival. While the result brings no surprises for many Israelis, it is shocking for Netanyahu’s supporters, who were counting on him for the much-awaited annexation of West Bank territory.

Perhaps dissolving the Knesset, triggering repeat elections, and being overconfident about his political survival, was a miscalculated move for the Israeli prime minister, who is known for his political sorcery.

At this point, chances of Netanyahu’s political and personal survival look bleak. The prime minister, who also goes by the nickname Bibi, is facing a long list of corruption charges not to forget the atrocities committed against Palestinians and while he faces no penalty for the latter, Netanyahu might not be able to escape the corruption trial and an inevitable indictment, if he loses the keys to the highest office.

With Gantz refusing to form a unity government with Netanyahu ‘s Likud party, there is a significant chance that the prime minister might end up serving a jail term without the immunity that comes with the premiership. Sailing against the tide, Netanyahu’s reign is nearing its ends. For the millions of Israelis who voted against him, and politicians like Gantz, the final departure of Netanyahu, might slow down the continuation of a rightward, religious shift in the country. But knowing Netanyahu,  he might try, one more time,  to prolong his political demise by cajoling other political players into forming a unity government.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2019.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.