In Good Company

I awoke early this morning and happily discovered that I am in good company. Today’s edition of the Jerusalem Post revealed much criticism of our prime minister’s lack of more firm action against Hamas.

Politicians from all sides expressed their dissatisfaction with Netanyahu and what they considered his weak response to recent Hamas attacks from Gaza.

Those attacks left four Israelis dead and more than 234 injured, some critically.

A member of Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet and Energy Minister, Yuval Steinitz, stated frankly “to get rid of Hamas we have to conquer Gaza.” I was personally delighted with his remark because it was exactly what I had written in my most recent article.

Following Steinitz’s condemnation of Netanyahu’s poor policy, an important member of Netanyahu’s own Likud party and a once-upon-a-time contender to replace him, publicly added to the condemnations by members of several political parties. The respected Gideon Saar decried the ceasefire agreement claiming correctly that “it is not an achievement for Israel.”

Saar’s remarks were criticized by members of the Likud party which accused him of trying to “take Prime Minister Netanyahu down.”

More in line with my own views and published remarks were statements from a respected journalist and the number two man in the Blue and White party, Yair Lapid. Today he tweeted that “Netanyahu will not solve the problem in Gaza. He does not have the operational and political courage to do so. The minimum he has to do is to explain to the citizens of Israel the situation, but even that, he does not have the courage to do so”.

Hopping on the anti-Netanyahu band-wagon, the leader of the now weakened Labor party, Avi Gabbay, added to the condemnations. “After twenty years, Netanyahu has strengthened Hamas and has now also begun to strengthen the Islamic Jihad.”

The southern town of Sderot, walking distance to the Gaza frontier with Israel, has sustained more bombings, fires, destruction and despair than any other town or city in the State of Israel. Its mayor, Alon Davidi, admitted that “the ceasefire was a very serious mistake”.

Reading the JP’s feature article over a second cup of coffee, I was delighted to realize that I am in very good company: cabinet ministers, journalists, politicians, a mayor and many more fed-up and disgusted citizens of Israel.

As I had written, due to Netanyahu’s hesitation to enter the Gaza Strip with a full force of artillery and tanks, planes flying overhead, weapons of mass destruction, he must be deposed and replaced with another who more clearly understands what Netanyahu clearly does not.

Who does Netanyahu fear the most? Is it Hamas and Islamic Jihad or is it his domineering boss Sara? His decisions are usually formed in accordance with Sara’s advice.

A country cannot long exist securely with threats of war daily hanging over it and its citizens cannot feel secure from a Prime Minister who promises them security but fails to deliver.

In many countries, particularly in Western Europe, in a similar circumstance the people would rise up united in protest and would force a weak or a corrupt government out of office.

Perhaps we Israelis should take a closer look at some positive elements in a civil war.

And without drinking a third cup of coffee, if I wore a hat I would take it off, throw it up in the air with rousing cheers of praise for the brave men and women who have the courage to stand up against a corrupt and weak prime minister.

Will he follow in the footsteps of President Moshe Katzav or Prime Minister Ehud Olmert? Perhaps their cell will also welcome the disgraced Bibi.

As for me, I will spend the rest of today enjoying the news that I am also in good company.