Israel's Pre-Election Shake-ups

I don't know if elections are to be soon, but we're always in pre-election mode, even  the minute elections are over. Before the votes are even counted, a competent professional politician will always be planning his next moves.  And the Israeli political system is more like a surfers beach, with high waves and changes. It's very unlike the American system, which can be compared to a boring lake. Two political parties  that have existed for and have been competing for over a hundred years just doesn't have the excitement of Israel's elections, which always have new parties. Never dull here in Israel.

There are two big political news items. One was/is expected, and the other a surprise.

Naftali Bennett has been having trouble keeping his NRP aka Jewish Home party well glued. That's now surprise for a few reasons. One is that he joined the dying NRP to save it, and a lot of people don't like his methods. The chief method they don't like is that he has been opening the party to non-religious members of the Israeli public. He could have done something similar with Arye Eldad and Michael Ben-Ari, as the saying goes, "it makes more sense to marry a rich girl." And the NRP had the big dowry, while Eldad and Ben-Ari could only offer idealism.

I honestly must say that I had hoped they would all work together and never liked Bennett's aim to being the cabinet as a campaign slogan.

Photo credit: Yehoshua Yosef

The big shocker is the resignation, to take a break from politics, of Interior Minister,  Gidon Sa'ar.

"After giving this considerable thought, I have decided to take a break from politics. I seek a different life, a little more privacy, peace and freedom. I feel this is the right thing to do for me and for my loved ones," Sa'ar told hundreds of Likud members at a pre-Rosh Hashana event at Kfar Maccabiah, in central Israel.
"Over the past two years, especially given the changes in my personal life, I have considered taking a break from public life many times. It's tough to leave and there are always reasons not to do so.

I can understand that he needs a break or wants to go into another field. I've certainly worked at enough jobs and feel that changing professions is healthy. Maybe he will be back, and maybe he won't. I wish him luck.