The Israeli Prime Minister has overexcited his game. Netanyahu is now fighting not only with Hamas, but also with the judiciary. How can the “great magician” get out of this difficult situation? A dismissal would be the right consequence of the mess.
As if the war against Hamas terrorists, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi rebels in Yemen and the great archenemies of the mullahs' regime in Iran were not enough. On New Year's Day, the first anniversary of his coalition bet with ultra-right forces, the Supreme Court has now presented Benjamin Netanyahu with the receipt for his maneuver to surprise and weaken the judicial power. With his decision to overturn a key point of judicial reform, the highest judges have plunged Israel's long-time prime minister into what is probably the worst crisis of his career – and with it the entire government.
There is, rightly, criticism about the timing of the decision – particularly from Netanyahu's Likud party and Justice Minister Jariv Levin. The Supreme Court stabs the warlord in the back in one of the most sensitive phases in Israel's history. This is how you can see it.
The great strategist lost Nimbus
But the process of judicial reform and revision of the political system, which divided the country in a way it had not been divided for a long time, took its course through the courts. The highest court's verdict was extremely narrow. But it was evident and the great strategist had to reckon with it.
Benjamin Netanyahu has overexcited his game. Will the magician, known to his followers as “King Bibi”, be able to escape his predicament once again – perhaps for the last time? After all, he has already lost his bonus with the Israelis and lost his reputation. Where he didn't even admit responsibility for the October 7 terrorist attack?
Benny Gantz could take over
Netanyahu in no way wants to accept that his time is up. He tries to save himself over time with a long war against Hamas and regain his reputation as “Lord Security”. No matter how unconventional it was for the prime minister to resign in the middle of a war and no matter how much he resisted it, it would be the certain consequence of a confusion into which Netanyahu maneuvered the country.
With Benny Gantz, a wartime prime minister would be available who could take command at any time. And opposition leader Jair Lapid would definitely be willing to join a national unity government. All it would take is one courageous Likud politician to make Benjamin Netanyahu aware of the desperate situation – a resignation from serving the country.