The surprising defection of Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked from the Habayit Hayehudi party is one of the ugliest moves in the history of Israeli politics. It could only have taken by surprise someone outside of politics and unversed in the ways of the swamp. But it seems that when it comes to Shaked, voters are not about to take their anger out on the supposed defector. The general rule of thumb in our region is once again being illustrated: The more someone who deserves to be berated is berated in public, the greater that figure will appear in the public eye. See: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A rotten apple that can be squeezed to provide enormous amounts of political poison has fallen off the tree and landed right next to the opposition. Shaked has been tied to a corruption affair, and her opponents are already calling for her resignation. But senior officials in the justice system believe Shaked had nothing to do with the scandal. Supreme Court President Esther Hayut has even signed a joint statement with Shaked on the matter. Would Hayut have done this had she suspected Shaked had a hand in the corruption?
Just a few days ago, Shaked expressed her frustration that female lawmakers with whom she had collaborated in the past had spoken out against her, alleging she was involved in the Effi Naveh-Israel Bar Association scandal. Did she delude herself into thinking that in the halls of the Knesset, of all places, her fellow lawmakers would bite their tongues in the name of sisterhood and friendship?
It is easy to guess why Shaked's name has been thrown into this disgusting scandal, despite the fact that the judiciary has avoided doing so: They're scared! Shaked has garnered accolades of late, and not only among her sworn supporters. Numerous opinion pieces have been printed, some of them by her ideological opponents, in which the authors do not conceal their amazement at Shaked's ability to consistently and successfully achieve her goals. The highlight of these achievements is of course the change to the system for appointing justices to the Supreme Court. Shaked has brought change, and she has the papers to prove it.
There are many people, among her supporters and adversaries alike, who think she could be prime minister once Netanyahu is gone. From a public and political perspective, this is perhaps the first time another politician has been tabbed as a possible "heir" to the prime minister, who for a long time now has been perceived as irreplaceable.
Attacks on Shaked were meant to thwart her political rise; as far as her attackers are concerned, the sooner this is accomplished, the better. The Shaked train must be stopped in its tracks before it reaches the summit. She is perceived, by both Left and Right, as a strong and talented politician with proven accomplishments.
She should not be insulted or disappointed because of the criticism leveled against her, certainly not by the calls for her to resign. If her achievements weren't prominent, she wouldn't be in the headlines or part of the public discourse. If she survives the assault by the Opposition, and her New Right party does well in the upcoming election, her path to the very top of the political system will be paved.
