Bibi is back. Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to the prime ministership of Israel two years after a motley coalition of his many enemies banded together to topple him. With him removed from power and facing trial on corruption charges, many assumed that the Netanyahu era was over. They under-estimated the wiliest politician in the Middle East. In last November’s elections, Netanyahu ousted his ousters and won for himself a sixth term in which to wreak vengeance on the leftist establishment he believes is ranged against him.
The most powerful man in Israel presents himself as the helpless victim of ‘leftist’ journalists
Victory did not come without a price. He had to team up with the disreputable right. Itamar Ben-Gvir, once convicted for inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organisation, is the national security minister, responsible for the Israeli police; and Bezalel Smotrich, who describes himself as ‘a fascist homophobe’, but has promised he ‘won’t stone gays’, is finance minister.
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