Netanyahu proves he is far from over: Meron Rapoport

When he entered as a meteor into Israeli politics 20 years ago, Benjamin Netanyahu earned himself the title of a political magician. Over the years, it was said that he lost his touch. Tonight he proved he is far from over. Contrary to all polls, he came first in the exit polls with 28 or 27 seats, leading or equal to the Zionist Camp with 27 seats.

 

While Netanyahu still has a long way to go until he is able to form a government, one thing seems almost certain: Isaac Hertzog stands very slim chances, if any at all, to form a government without Netanyahu. At best, Netanyahu will offer him a rotation in the prime minister's office. More probably, he will be offered a senior ministerial job, not more.

 

Netanyahu himself cannot be too happy with the results. His late resurrection from political annihilation came at the expense of his old-time political ally, the Jewish Home of Naftali Bennett, who was reduced to eight seats from the 12 he had last time. Another Netanyahu ally, Israel Our Home of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, slipped from 12 seats to five. He is completely dependent on Moshe Kahlon, an ex-Likud minister who resigned because of his uneasy relations with Netanyahu. It will certainly not be easy to reach an understanding with him.

 

At this moment, a government of national unity with Hertzog seems the most probable scenario. It will maybe save Netanyahu's political career, but taking into account previous experiences, it will mean an almost inevitable stalemate on the international and Palestinian arena. This is not good news for Israel, and maybe not even for Netanyahu himself.