The rejoicing could be heard as far as Birzeit University: the public was informed that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who holds the embarrassing title of "prime minister who served the least time in office," would soon step down and return to his home in Ra'anana (renovated with taxpayer money.)
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But the national camp's utopian and childish complacency was quick to rear its head. Declarations of a "full-out right-wing government!" returned: Some on social media and various panels discussed whether Otmza Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir would soon become the interior or diaspora affairs minister, while others rejoiced that "the justice system will sonot brought under control." The more reserved ones were happy to think of building projects in Judea and Samaria, with permits sure to arrive as soon as the ideological Right led by the Likud wins the election.
But in those two glorious days, two things slipped under the jubilant radar. First, the message of all left-wing coalition members in the Knesset, led by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, warning that while the "Netanyahu government" is no longer a danger to democracy, there has risen a much more dangerous kind: the "Netanyahu-Ben Gvir" coalition. Did you think the Netanyahu government was bad? You'll soon come to miss it, because the Netanyahu-Ben Gvir government will be hell on earth.
Such a connection makes it seem the choice is between good and a two-headed monster. Let's forget about the fact that the current coalition includes proud supporters of terrorists, the only thing that Ben Gvir did was steal an emblem of a car and distribute some leaflets... Thirty years ago.
The second thing that went unnotices was the indirect messages that Defense Minister Benny Gantz conveyed to the Likud. In short, he will never sit with Netanyahu and Ben Gvir. Or maybe he will.
The Left's campaign is useless. A simple look at Netanyahu's history will show that he is not in the least bit interested in having Ben Gvir in the coalition. Historically, Netanyahu has always strived for central governments, and always – even with sweeping victories – made sure to call on left-wing parties to join the coalition first, putting his allies in danger. That's a fact.
In my opinion, a unity government headed by Netanyahu is better than one led by Bennett, because it will not rely on terrorists.
Honest Likud members like Galit Distel-Atbaryan and Yariv Levin have made it clearn that the story will be different this time, and I hope they are right. But still: unless proven otherwise, this is the most that the Right in Israel can take: elected officials who lied or elected official who will not rely on terrorists. Sad, but it is what it is.
