Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed totally at peace with his
resignation announcement. Netanyahu acted according to a
dignified code of public behavior that is rarely seen in
Israel.
"I plan to take time off," Netanyahu said, and thereby
touched off a battle for succession in the Likud. Outgoing
ministers Limor Livnat, Sylvan Shalom, Shimon Shetreet and
Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert will vie for Netanyahu's place.
Sharon, apparently will not join the fray. Olmert is said to
be the candidate who has the best chance of inheriting
Netanyahu's place.
All along, even in the late stages of the campaign, the Prime
Minster tried to instill his activists with the feeling that
he would win. However, deep down he knew that his chances of
winning this time were very slim. His resignation
announcement had obviously been planned beforehand. It wasn't
off the bat.
With his announcement, Netanyahu once more demonstrated his
amazing media abilities. His resignation announcement
diverted the public's attention from Barak's clear victory,
and dulled it. During the forthcoming days, the media will
rehash his resignation announcement, and will praise
Netanyahu for his "brave act." This will cause Barak's
victory to be pushed aside a bit. But only a bit.
Within his party, Netanyahu will apparently be blamed for the
searing failure in the elections. The many complaints
directed toward him on a personal level caused numerous
voters, who identified with Likud, to leave their political
home. Alongside this, Netanyahu is the first leader ever to
behave so courageously. His immediate resignation
announcement -- made 28 minutes after the release of the
results of the samples -- will surely be remembered in
Israel's history. Many will assuredly try, as much as
possible, to detract from the favorable aspects of his
leadership during the past three years. Many will cite him as
Israel's most unsuccessful Prime Minister. Some will compare
him to Golda Meir or to President Nixon, who also failed in
their tasks.
However, Netanyahu will nonetheless be recalled as the Prime
Minister in whose term of office terror was restrained and
inflation curbed. He will be cited, too, as one who was able
of conduct political negotiations in a logical and
intelligent manner, according to the principle of mutual
responsibility. But all these factors did not help him to be
elected to an additional term.
The gains are definitely those of Labor and the Leftist bloc.
The chareidi and religious parties were also strengthened.
But the main losers are the Right bloc, especially those MK's
of the Eretz Yisrael front who caused Netanyahu's downfall.
Their presence in the Knesset is sharply down, and they will
be in the opposition. They will have to confront their
behavior and its consequences, especially when Barak begins
negotiating over the permanent arrangements in the Middle
East. The Right will now probably have to take to the streets
for the next few years. Their influence on the levers of
power will be minimal.
