Israel : On Temporary Malfunction Break

"It's a political crisis that we have never gone through before or even anticipated."
"We have never been in a situation where a political candidate did not succeed in putting together a government, and that happened now not only once, but twice."
"[The bind has resulted from both] weaknesses in our system and the unique situation of a popular prime minister who is charged with severe crimes."
Yohanan Plesner, president, Israel democracy Institute

"We are kind of running on autopilot."
"But it means the government really has no flexibility in dealing with any crisis that might arise, there can't be any changes in budgets, and it loses all degrees of freedom to run the country."
Dan Ben-David, professor of economics, Shoresh Institution, and Tel Aviv University

"In the United States, when you have a problem, you can call your representative in Congress. But here there is no one to represent you, no one to hold the administration accountable."
"We have completely forgotten how a functioning democracy works right."
Tal Schneider, senior diplomatic and political correspondence, Israeli business newspaper Globes

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seen at a Dec. 18 Likud party supporters meeting, declared victory in his primary election battle for leadership of the party on Thursday. (Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images)

Legally embattled though he is, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has succeeded in fending off his leadership challenger to remain head of the Likud Party, and as such he continues on as a dominant figure in Israeli politics with few contenders that can match his legendary popularity, his history as the longest-serving, born-in-Israel prime minister of the Jewish state. Easily submerging his challenger in the flood of majority votes cast in his favour, he now prepares to lead the country in its third election within a single year.

Israeli Druze community September 2019, Daliyat al-karmel, northern Israel. (Jalaa Marey/AFP)

There are, however, no guarantees that third time around will reach success. In fact, the current political turmoil points to yet another stalemate -- and then what? This inability to come to an agreement, a political 'understanding' for the good of the country is unfortunately an expression on a larger scale of a fairly typical Jewish cultural trait of argumentative illogic; to gain a point by destroying a contested supposition. Netanyahu's appeal to the Israeli public to proceed with ventures certain to see widescale condemnation on the world stage, thrills some, and worries others.

He has the wind at his back in concurrence by the Trump administration determined to take Washington in directions historically hinted at but never committed to in its support of Israel. His amicable relations with Vladimir Putin, the growling bear whose latest adventures in the Middle East place him at odds with Israeli interests, still reflect a soft landing when military missions are deployed that annoy the Kremlin.

Benny Gantz walks during a session of the Knesset in Jerusalem on December 11, 2019.(Gali TIBBON / AFP)

The parliamentary democracy that Israel is, has been temporarily placed on hold, its prime minister viewed by some as heading a "caretaker government" with executive and legislative functions placed on the backburner absent the formation of a working government. Few laws have been approved by the Knesset, no state budget approved for the new year, senior appointments put on hold. Government offices, institutions limited to the past year's budget spending.

Indicted in three cases that center on bribery, fraud and breach of trust, this is an embattled prime minister characterizing charges laid against him as a political witch hunt by enemies determined to force him from office. As a matter of mere coincidence and comparison, the parliamentary democracy which is Canada also has a prime minister popular among those constituents who returned him to office, despite having engaged in the very same morally, ethically questionable conduct, and other than reducing his already-challenged reputation, has paid no political price.

Israel's Supreme Court awaits an opinion on the issue of whether a prime ministerial candidate facing prosecution should be allowed to form a government, having requested such a draft from Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit who indited Netanhahu in November, for their perusal. Meanwhile, Mr. Netanahu's cabinet continues its weekly meetings, the military goes on training and conducting security operations. The nation's hospitals, schools and public transport remain operational.

Waiting ... waiting ... on tenterhooks. March 2 cannot come soon enough. And.then.what?

A general view of the Israeli parliament during a vote on a bill to dissolve the parliament, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem on December 11, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)