PM Netanyahu is being squeezed into having to make a historical (*Geula) decision, and he will be given a choice with the next election. Hopefully this choice will make the Israeli Government stronger, to be able to match wits with the changing US Administration choices for Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. For this, he needs support from strong leaders surrounding him in a strong government.

Haaretz:

Voters are punishing Prime Minister Netanyahu for attacking rival who said that if he were in the army, he'd refuse an order to evacuate settlers. [Haaretz poll: Likud-Beiteinu weakening as Bennett's rightist party rises]

“Naftali Bennett, chairman of the right-wing Habayit Hayehudi, was heard muttering during a panel discussion Sunday: "We'll even get more seats out of this story."

"'This story,' for anyone who has been unconscious for the past four days, is Bennett's now-famous slip of the tongue in a TV interview, supposedly approving refusal by Israel Defense Forces soldiers of an order to evacuate Jewish settlers, if and when such an order is given. Bennett did not call for refusal of orders or preach it, but the personal example given by a man who in two months might be a member of the government's security cabinet stirred up a hornet's nest that is only now calming down."


Arutz Sheva

MK Tzipi Hotovely wants a large Likud but believes Bayit Yehudi will also be in the government.

"In an interview with Arutz Sheva, Hotovely stressed that Likud is the party with the most experience and the most "ideological steadfastness" but added that "any person who sees the Jewish people's natural right to its land as sacrosanct" is a natural ally in the next coalition..."



Arutz Sheva on Haaretz Poll

Israelis Trust Bibi on Security but Don’t Believe Him: Israelis would prefer not to buy a used car from any political leader but trust Netanyahu on security – even if they don’t believe him.

"A plurality of Israelis don’t believe Israel’s political leaders and would not even buy a used car from them, but they trust Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu more than anyone else on security, according to a new poll … When asked which politician can be believed, a plurality of 22 percent answered 'none.' Among those who named someone, Prime Minister Netanyahu was at the 'top,' with 18 percent believing him, followed be Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett, with 14 percent. Tzipi Livni earned only 10 percent of 'believers,' followed by Shas’ state politician Aryeh Deri and Yechimovich, each with 9 percent. Lapid’s support in the “believer" category was a paltry 7 percent, followed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, with 5 percent."

*Further interesting reading:

The Fall of the Dynasty of Shaul and

6 Million for Makhzit HaShekel Part 2