Nitzan Horowitz, the Minister of Health, has certainly developed a sense of humor. Regarding the upswing of the Corona Virus, where the number of fatalities this week stands at 40 people and the number of actively sick with the virus passed the one hundred thousand mark, Horowitz decided to distribute a "health protection shield" as an award to whoever was at the front lines of the battle against Corona.
This politician, on whose watch were almost 5000 fatalities in the past year, and with a record of an almost total lack of action in the fight against the virus, was awarded this sign of distinction for his achievements. It was awarded to Naftali Bennett and this is no mistake.
The one who served up until several days ago as prime minister received this distinguished accolade from the Health Minister. Why? On what grounds? As noted in the official explanation, it represents his being in "vanguard of the battle against Corona during this past year, and his contribution to the strength of the Israeli health system."
If the virus did not die from the vaccinations, it will surely die from laughter.
What Are You Afraid of?
Why are the members of Likud so fearful whenever someone speaks up against the judicial system? If one were to make an objective survey — if there exists such a thing — to hear what the public thinks about the various judicial bodies, the big majority would probably come out altogether distrustful. The judicial system has become almost totally one sided, together with the attorney general in all of its branches and representatives, including the government legislative advisor.
Hardly anyone harbors a doubt that if the temporary reins of the government were in the hands of the Likud, and if the Security Minster in the name of the government would seek to appoint a new Zahal general within this interim period, the attorney general would stand up on his two front feet and torpedo the appointment.
This is not a question of national security because the present chief of staff is expected to finish his job in half a year's time, two months after the date of the elections. There is no urgency to appoint a new one now because even if the task of putting together a new government takes some time, the present chief of staff's tenure can easily be extended for a few months.
The post of the chief of staff is actually a military appointment but it is also directly connected to politics, and its policies are not disconnected from the questions of his appointment to the post. Therefore, the appointment of a chief of staff lies within the jurisdiction of the elected government, with the Prime Minister and the Security Minister responsible for his selection.
The choosing of someone to such a pivotal office during the period of elections should be allowed only if a critical question of national security is involved, which is not the present case. The sharp reaction from the Likud MK's against the government attorney general is quite natural. She is the selfsame advisor who has remained silent for many long months when the government trampled upon the Knesset time after time. Similarly related to the revealing of the millions which were invested without any authorization in the erection of Bennet's fortress in Raanana (whose demolition will cost the government another several millions), and other irregularities of the government.
And now, out of the blue, after the judicial opinion was given against the appointment of a chief of staff, the attorney general gave a green light to the security minister to appoint such a person.
The Likud's reaction against the attorney general is almost begging to be made but the Likud has not learned a lesson. Netanyahu trembles from the media which is waging a years-long difficult battle. Even when he is already sitting in the Opposition, the war has not let up for a day. So what happens if the MK's from his party said that the attorney general should be dismissed? The Left would have no problem with this. If the appointment was reversed, the Minister of Justice would have no problem in appointing an interim figure, during which dozens of judges would be appointed as well as dozens of diplomatic representatives.
The Left has no bars once it is in power, while the Right is also frightened, looking over its shoulder at the media which is ready to criticize it for any and every misstep. So who is afraid of the big bad media? The more it attacks, the greater will the number of seats for the Left. Netanyahu should ask Ben Gvir how not to be afraid of the media.
