Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay can breathe easy. Recent polls clearly show that the overwhelming majority of the Israeli public does not consider them suitable for the position of the prime minister.
As far as I recall, there is no precedent to the fact that all opposition candidates together receive less than half of the public support the incumbent prime minister receives.
So Lapid and Gabbay can continue speaking in hollow slogans, slandering and vilifying, and zigzagging between Right and Left, but mostly, they can continue to sleep soundly at night knowing they are spared having to make fateful decisions.
The results of the latest poll reflect the extent of the public's faith in the leadership, responsibility and ability demonstrated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who, through collaborations with ministers from the various factions, has been able to pursue very impressive moves.
Ber Borochov, one of the founders of the socialist Zionism, once said that political prowess was measured in actions, not slogans, sophisticated as they may be, and the simple fact is that Netanyahu's right-wing government has marked significant achievements across the board.
I have recently met with Israelis from many different places in Israel and I found them to be happy, optimistic and excited about Israel's position as a global leader in many fields. Even the sour notes of the media cannot put a damper on their spirit.
This is exactly why the majority of Israelis have no interest in holding early elections. This objection stems from the public's understanding of the political, diplomatic, economic and social implications of holding early elections. At a time when major government housing, energy, education and periphery initiatives are in full swing, dissolving the government makes no sense, especially when the polls predict election results will only culminate in a similar coalition.
The real mystery, however, is Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman's political calculations.
I have no doubt that Lieberman never, not even in his wildest dreams, thought he would be the defense minister. This has been the height of his political career, so it is unclear why he would risk it and insists on imposing early elections when the public has no interest in them.
This question intensifies when you look at the polls, which for the most part question whether Yisrael Beytenu will pass the electoral threshold. The immigrants from the former Soviet Union are now fully immersed in Israeli society and no longer need a sector-oriented party.
There is plenty of room in politics for emotions and manipulations but there comes a time when common sense must prevail. Hopefully, this will prove to be the case this time as well, and the public will be spared an election that no one wants.
