What does Bibi Netanyahu have in common with R. Dov Landau? More than you might expect.
Thirty years ago, during his first term as Prime Minister, Bibi spoke about the importance of having term limits and called for a maximum of two terms. Now he’s running for his seventh term in office.
Twenty years ago, Bibi said that “a prime minister steeped up to his neck in investigations doesn’t have a moral or public mandate to make fateful decisions regarding the State of Israel…. There is a real, not unfounded fear that he will make decisions based on his own interests of political survivability rather than the national interest.” Of course, Bibi himself is not merely under investigations, he is also trying to stave off a public commission of inquiry over the greatest disaster in Israel’s history, and polls consistently show that at least two-thirds of the nation want him to step down. Nevertheless, he considers himself to have a moral and public mandate to remain in power and make fateful decisions.
Five years ago, Bibi said that Ben-Gvir, as an extremist with a string of criminal convictions, is “not fit” to be a member of his cabinet and would not be given a position of influence. But later, when he was desperate for his political support, he made him National Security Minister.
Now let’s turn to R. Dov Landau.