A Loyal and Noble Statesman

In the midst of the growing fray between the Likud and the Blue and White political parties, an inability to compromise, a lack of trust, a corrupt and stubborn prime minister , today a light..a strong and radiant light… shone upon the politics in our disillusioned and disappointed leadership.

Yair Lapid, second in the Blue and White party led by his partner, Benny Gantz, voluntarily gave up his opportunity to become prime minister of Israel in a rotation with Gantz.

It has been Lapid’s long-time dream to be a prime minister of Israel but he surrendered it willingly and nobly for the sake of unity in the government…for the sake of forming a stable coalition government.

Today, Yair Lapid, much disliked by the Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox parties because of his secular beliefs, proved himself to all the citizens of Israel that he is a loyal and noble statesman.

I cannot begin to imagine the personal inner feelings of a man whose dream cannot come true because he has so willed it to be for the sake of country.

Yair Lapid, son of a former member of the Knesset and son of a distinguished mother, a prominent author, made the decision to place the welfare of the State of Israel before his own personal life

What a contrast to power-hungry Netanyahu who places his very selfish actions first before considering the well-being of the public whom he was elected to serve for the past thirteen years.

Yesterday he was was sworn in to the 22nd Knesset. Many loyal Israelis feel it would have been better if he was sworn AT, rather than sworn IN.

I, on the other hand, would have preferred not to give him a seat in the Knesset

Yair Lapid’s decision reflects the quality of the man. Public before Person. He deserves our immense respect for his nobility and loyalty to the people of Israel.

While he remains second in the Blue and White party, it means that if elected, Benny Gantz will serve full term as prime minister. There will be no rotation

We are not yet privileged to know the climate in the pre-indictment hearings against our desperate prime minister. 11 hours in days 1 and 2.

His attorneys have been most cordial in the respect they pay to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and the twenty lawyers for the prosecution. No name-calling. No offenses. The talks are proceeding in an atmosphere of collegial respect.

Questions for the Supreme Court to decide, if Netanyahu is indicted and found guilty of the charges against him, may be whether he is still permitted to serve as prime-minister. If he is found guilty and a prison sentence awaits him, he will, under the law, be required to submit his resignation and will be out of active politics for the rest of his life.

As of the moment, he is still pleading with Blue and White leaders to meet with him for joint talks in forming a unity coalition government before his 28 days are over . President Rivlin could then charge Benny Gantz with the difficult task of forming a unity government.

In a lead article, the JERUSALEM POST writes of a Knesset adrift. Yuli Edelstein, speaker of the Knesset, is attempting to halt its temporary demise. But it needs and depends upon the goodwill of its members. Among the current Knesset members it seems that goodwill is very hard to find.

Gantz will only agree to a coalition with Likud minus the presence of Netanyahu. If Netanyahu could be as loyal as Yair Lapid by putting the welfare of the country before his own selfish ego, it is quite possible that we may, at last, have a working government. The ball is in Bibi’s failed hands.

The Likud party can revolt against Netanyahu’s leadership without a bloody coup. Gidon Saar, a very respected member of the Likud government, could be nominated and hopefully voted to be Likud’s new leader… a situation which could very well succeed with Blue and White in forming a joint unity party.

Let there be one day in our nation’s history when dissent and name-calling comes to an end.

Let there be, prior to next week’s somber Yom Kippur, voices of gratitude raised in praise for Yair Lapid’s personal courage and loyalty for the sake of unity and peace within our government.

The English name for Yom Kippur is Day of Atonement. If we dissect the word “atonement” we can find the magical hope and dream of the word…. “at one”. Let us be a nation at one working for the many disheartened Israeli citizens who will be praying for peace, unity, respect and yes… even for love of our country. It is the only ONE we have.

In praise of loyal Lapid, let us strive to be “at one” with others and with our own hearts and minds.