Likud’s Biggest Loser

It’s all over. The primaries for the Likud party produced surprising results. Most important for Israeli voters, for champions of democracy, for those who value loyalty and honesty, the 4^th spot on the party ticket goes to Gidon Sa’ar, a rival of Prime Minister Netanyahu, (hopefully not for too much longer),  who was verbally attacked by him, slandered and libeled by him, harassed and demeaned by him, in a poisonous effort to prevent him being elected with a future possibility of his becoming the new Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Netanyahu had implored the Likud voters note to cast a ballot for Sa’ar. Thankfully, the voters did not listen to the cruel and improper requests of their about-to-be-indicted leader.

Instead, they followed their consciences and recognized the loyal and honest former Interior Minister and, in strong opposition to Netanyahu, they succeeded in getting Gidon Sa’ar the 4^th spot.

The biggest Likud loser was Binyamin Netanyahu. His foul mouth and that of his deranged elder son will lead shortly to his political downfall. And for many of us voters, it cannot come too soon.

The Balfour home will be fumigated, the windows will be opened wide to allow fresh air to penetrate into what has become the stinking center of bribery and corruption.

No bones about it. Politics in Israel stink today as they did when we first gained our independence. We remember Ben-Gurion’s decision to sink the Altalena in Tel-Aviv waters in order that arms and ammunition would not go to rival factions, namely the Irgun.

We had a President who served several years in prison for rape and sexual harassment of women who worked in his office.

We had a Chief Rabbi who was often accused of sexually molesting young male soldiers in the toilets of a central bus station.

We endured the Holyland episode which sent a Prime Minister to jail.

And currently we are going through the very disappointing behavior of our present Prime Minister and his wife who are accused of bribery and corruption, among other criminal acts, who are awaiting the decision of our Attorney General followed by trials before the Justices in our courts.

I repeat… politics in Israel stink.

In Israel, as in most normal countries, laws must be upheld and applied to everyone, even those in the highest powers of government.

Indicative of his venomous character, while offering his congratulations to the members of his Likud party who were successful in getting spots on the ticket, he purposely neglected to congratulate his # 1 winner, Yuli Edelstein, Speaker of the Knesset, and the #4 winner, Gidon Sa’ar, formerly Interior Minister.

Even a loser must have the courage and the decency to extend well-wishes to the victors. Sadly, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu lacks both courage and decency. It is time for him to go. If not willingly then by the force of the law.

Good people were elected in the primaries. Outstanding men and women were elected to serve the party and the public. Cry-Bibi will have to live with them but hopefully they will not have to live with him much longer.

Frankly, Mister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu both came from renowned scholarly fathers, historians and linguists, and we should have had expectations that the son and daughter would continue on the path of righteousness, justice, caring and compassion. Sadly, so sadly, it was not to be.

I rejoice in the victory of Gidon Sa’ar and while I am not a member of the Likud party I am grateful to the Likudniks who saw through the Netanyahu attacks and cast their ballots for a very decent man.

Sa’ar and the Likud are winners.  But the big chief of Likud is the biggest loser of all.