Is Israel Finally Implementing The Levy Report?

Prime Minister Netanyahu is seeking to broaden his coalition and to that effect he first invited Yitzkhak Herzog (Labour Party) and then re-invited Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) to form a unity government. At first glance, these political manoeuvres indicate that Israel is preparing a huge move and, therefore, it needs to have a larger representation of the electorate in his administration. But when most Israelis are against a Unity Government, especially with a leftist party, what was PM Netanyahu doing?

Yitzkhak Herzog's Position

It was reported that, to join the unity government, Yitzkhak Herzog demanded at least two portfolios: Justice and Culture. This demand should be seen as an entrapment because, in the left's perspective, the right can't be perceived as being more progressive than them by having two women at the helm of such important ministries. Furthermore, Culture and Justice are two portfolios the Left must control since they are vital to their activism (read: propaganda, doublethink and newspeak) and for the erosion of the Jewish State from within (persecution of the so-called settlers and religious Jews).

It was also reported that Mr Herzog demands a complete freeze of construction in Judea and Samaria, even though there's already a de facto construction freeze in the region (so we must gather this demand is intended for party consumption) – this sort of meaningless action is yet another indication that we need new ways of doing politics and, therefore, bringing the Labour Party into the Gov't would not result in anything fresh and productive.

Avigdor Liberman's Demands

Mr Liberman, after having accused PM Netanyahu of not being a true right winger, was finally willing to join the unity government if at least three conditions were met:

• His party gets the Defence Portfolio - check
• Death penalty is imposed on terrorist murderers - check
• Pension reforms - remains to be seen

Avigdor Liberman became more reasonable and more open to negotiate. His demands sounded simpler than Mr Herzog's though they can represent quite a pickle to the Likud's leader as well, since they are bound to cause friction in the future. Nevertheless, from our perspective, it is best to have Yisrael Beiteinu on board, than the Zionist Union – who would undermine the nationalist government's policies from within. Furthermore, Mr Herzog and Tzipi Livni are seeking to knock Naftali Bennet out – the leader of Habayit Hayehudi, the Religious Zionist party that is slowly conquering terrain in Israel.

What is Israel up to?

Judging by the Jewish State's behaviour since last year (i.e. annexation of the Jordan Valley, and the announcement that the Golan Heights will remain under Israeli Sovereignty), we are to assume that Israel is about to announce the implementation of the Levy Report. If so, then it really needs to have more standing within Israel in order to have a larger representation of the Israeli electorate, and to that effect it would make sense to have the Labour Party (Avodah) participating in this historic moment, but can socialists be trusted and was it truly PM Netanyahu's intention to work directly with them?

The answer is no. Socialist can't be trusted because – along with their international friends – they have built an incredible anti-Israel industry over the years; an industry that involves huge amounts of donation money and widespread interests in Europe, the US, South Africa, New Zealand and Arab States. If a permanent solution is reached, one that will bring peace, what will the Left do with all the structure they built? Nay. In our opinion, the intention was never to truly bring the Zionist Union into the coalition, but to encourage Avigdor Liberman's secular-nationalist party to join the government.

Or Perhaps we misread the situation, and PM Netanyahu was indeed trying to balance things out (to, as most would say, keep the Obama Administration off his back), but the indicators point at a political dance and we think the Israeli Premier should focus more on taking the proper risks for Israel's sake - that is, taking a bolder step towards the redemption of the Jewish State and finally implement the Levy Report, in addition to putting an end to the 52 year charade.

Israel should clearly affirm that Israeli "settlement activity" is in fact fully consistent with binding international law. Any contrary affirmation by a still-aspiring "Palestine" would be founded upon specious misrepresentations of this critical law. - Louis René Beres

עם ישראל חי 

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