To understand the rise of a Bennett-Lapid government supported by parties with right-wing origins, we must look at what is happening in the United States. There, similar to other Western countries, a situation in which a conservative – or liberal – hegemony exists in the public sphere is intolerable, and segments of the conservative hegemony will consciously transfer power to the liberals and the Left.
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On the Democrat side, there are always one or two senators who fall out of line and in certain cases vote with the Republicans, and on the Republican side, you have Liz Cheney.
What has happened in Israel, therefore, is a unique phenomenon, and is certainly not going unnoticed by Israel's enemies near (including within the Green Line) and far, nor by European governments, international institutions, and the American administration. What they see, first and foremost, is a minority that is no more than one-third of the people.
The left, for all intents and purposes, comprised 38 mandates. Meanwhile, there are roughly 70 right-wing and nationalistically inclined members of Knesset. The powerful and well-connected minority was able to dismantle the right, topple the right-wing government, and depose the person who in the eyes of many was the best prime minister since David Ben-Gurion. Some believe he is the best prime minister ever, full stop.
It's been said in the past that leaders in democratic countries begin sputtering and dropping the ball after 10 years in power. Netanyahu has also shown such signs; but over the past two years, he produced even better results for the people of Israel, including his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which is comparable to winning a major war. The point is not whether this is right or wrong, stupid or smart. The left managed to apply its leverage and create the psychological pressure that sparked the unprecedented political scenario we are now witnessing unfold, assuming a government does get sworn in later this week.
Consequently, Israel's enemies, along with those who have prophesized diplomatic doom for the country, reach their own conclusions. Israel has strong leadership and clear, powerful policies, which it is replacing with weak and divided leadership that in the best case will work on autopilot and in the worst case, will stumble out of the gate. The US and Europe will understand, together with the Palestinians and Iranians, that a country that implements a change of this sort, without an electoral basis no less, can be brought to the desired point from a diplomatic perspective.
Let there be no illusions regarding the impact this internal political and ideological shift will have on Israel's diplomatic-strategic prospects. Anyone who puts such extreme measures in motion essentially announces that he or the political forces affiliated with him can be compelled to do anything if the proper pressure is applied. Economic pressure is not required; only psychological pressure stemming from dozens of organizations undermining the country's stability and through propaganda.
The shattering of the political lines is a sign that territorial concessions could also be in the offing, including the evacuation of communities and even withdrawals and compromises on Israel's Jewish identity and character.
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