When Avigdor Lieberman decided to scapegoat the chareidi public
O
n May 29, 1996, a 46-year-old Binyamin Netanyahu shocked Israel, and the world, when he defeated incumbent Shimon Peres to become Israel’s prime minister. Last Wednesday, exactly 23 years later, a now 69-year-old Netanyahu failed for the first time to form a government, leading Israel to a repeat election on September 17.
Elections in mid-September mean a government may be formed by early November — assuming Netanyahu can cobble together a coalition of 61 from the right-wing camp, this time excluding Yisrael Beitenu’s Avigdor Lieberman.
If so, that will happen a month after October 2, the date Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has set for a pre-indictment hearing on three separate cases against the prime minister. Mandelblit’s decision on those charges will reportedly come no later than December, and the conventional wisdom is that he will move to indict.
The repercussions will be dramatic. It’s difficult to see which of Netanyahu’s “natural allies” will agree to sign a coalition agreement with a prime minister facing a prolonged legal battle.
Create a free account to keep reading.
