Netanyahu's Down To Procedural Games

The close- to- being- replaced right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi "Bomb Bomb" Netanyahu is vowing to cling to power, as his ability to form a government fades rapidly. A broad right to left coalition (including an Israeli Arab party for the first time) is determined to end the 12-year Netanyahu era, but procedural hoops may give him a few more days to put pressure on right-wing members of the anti-Netanyahu coalition before a confidence vote in the Knesset. The New York Times reports:

"The speaker of the Israeli Parliament, Yariv Levin, is a member of Mr. Netanyahu’s party, Likud, and can use parliamentary procedure to delay the confidence vote until June 14, constitutional experts said.

That would give Mr. Netanyahu’s party time to pile pressure on wavering members of Mr. Lapid’s fragile coalition, in a bid to persuade them to abandon the new alliance. Many of them feel uncomfortable about working with one another and have made difficult compromises to join forces to push Mr. Netanyahu from office.

Officials of several of the parties making up the new alliance said early Thursday that the internal coalition agreements between them, and even the distribution of ministerial posts, had not yet been finalized."  (our emphasis)

The more time it takes for the anti-Netanyahu coalition to form a government, the better for Netanyahu, who is clinging to office to avoid the types of legal problems now facing his close ally, Donald "Loser" Trump. As Prime Minister, Netanyahu would be immune to prosecution on corruption and bribery charges that could send him to prison.

The anticipated new Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, is from a political party to the right of the Likud, and contingent on the final deal struck within the coalition, he would serve as Prime Minister until 2023, with moderate Yair Lapid assuming the office after that point. That's not a good prospect, but presumably he would be moderated by Israel's center and right coalition members. The next hours will tell.

(photo: Gil Cohen-Magen, AFP/Getty)