The Two Kings… Louis XIV and Bibi I
There must be something in our family genes. My very wonderful cousin Binyamin in Ramat HaSharon has the very same political concerns for the country as I do. We both opposed Prime Minister Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu’s very bitter and cruel attacks upon Gidon Sa’ar, a former Minister of Defense and now a candidate for a spot on the Likud party’s list of elected winners.
My cousin Binyamin is one of the wisest persons I know. Speaking with him is always a great pleasure for me. His wisdom is remarkable. His intense knowledge of Judaism and Jewish laws and prayers is superb.
Speaking today on the telephone, I commended Sa’ar on winning a high place on the Likud party ticket in spite of every effort and attempt by King Bibi to oppose him.
Binyamin compared him to the French King Louis IV who once remarked “l’Etat c’est moi”… the State is mine. I am the State. And King Bibi I likewise believes “ha-medina sheli”… the country is mine.
He is not a descendant of the brave King David nor the wise King Solomon. He is not the messiah he pretends to be. He is an intelligent man who has led the country in many good ways until he was “attacked” by the virus of selfish stupidity. Perhaps it was contagious. Sara likewise suffers from the same terrible virus. Israel does not belong to them. It belongs to us…am Yisrael… the people of Israel.
When I told my beloved wise cousin Binyamin how happy I am that Gidon Sa’ar overcame Bibi’s attacks he remarked “Yes, but what will it get him? Bibi will never give him any ministerial post”.
We must wait to see.
France had a revolution to overthrow tyranny. Maybe Israel should revolt to oust corruption and bribery. We should begin by forcing the “abdication” of King Bibi I’s reign and sending him, Sara and Yair into the “exile” of luxury in his villa in Caesarea. His younger son, Avner, seems to be the finest one in the Netanyahu family. We hear nothing negative about him. Perhaps his older brother Yair should learn a lesson from Avner!
The Labor party is on its death-bed. Sixteen political parties are a very bad dream. Smaller parties should combine into one. Larger parties should reach acceptable understandings in joining together to create one large bloc against the Likud.
My two favorite politicians, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, have talked about combining their two successful political parties. The problem is one of leadership. Who will be the number one party leader?
Alternations have been tried before, not always with success. But Lapid and Gantz are both strong and dedicated leaders and neither of them wants to be the number two man. A happy combination of the two of them would guarantee the downfall of King Bibi I.
Unlike the French revolt against the madness of King Louis XIV, the downfall of Netanyahu would be done in a democratic way. The people have spoken! The King must give up his comfortable throne.
My cousin Binyamin, who votes from his heart and from his good brain, would rejoice together with me if a change of leadership takes place in the near future.
Perhaps the wisdom of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit will resolve our dilemma!
We are a democratic nation, not a monarchy. Every man is a king and every woman a queen. To each, respect is due. We need not bow down but we can learn to embrace.
I think the recent Likud primaries has opened our eyes and has taught us a vital lesson.
Slandering and libeling, demeaning and oppressing, will lead only to failure and bitter disappointment.
Hopefully King Bibi I will swallow hard to admit his failed attempts at deceit.
For us in Israel, as I said to my cousin Binyamin, our cry is not “vive le roi” but rather “vive l’etat d’Israel.”
I think that my cousin Binyamin would agree with me. We are one family. one blood, one great love.