• Netanyahu, the wizard of Israeli politics
  • Benny Gantz.The center general

May 29, 1996. The young promise of Likud Benjamin Netanyahu enters the room rented by the party in Tel Aviv to follow the results on the dramatic election night. "It is still early, we must wait," he said to what appeared to be the victory of veteran statesman Simon Peres . With the first data of the count in his favor, the head of the Labor Government savored the victory, but at dawn he understood that his dream ended in a nightmare. In the last leg of the recount, Bibi surpassed him (50.4% of the votes by 49.6%), becoming the youngest prime minister in Israel's history. Beside him that night, his enigmatic confident man with a pronounced Russian accent kept his blood cold behind a joker's smile . His name was Avigdor Lieberman . Exactly 23 years later, this politician of Moldovan origin does not appear at his side on election night. It is in front.

The former director general of the Netanyahu cabinet in 1996 before resigning and creating a secular ultra-nationalist party for the large group from the former Soviet Union this past summer prevented his former head from forming his fourth consecutive government. Now he hopes to be the referee of the contest using the lay whistle against the influence of religious politicians. "These elections are not between Netanyahu and Gantz but between my party Israel Beitenu and the ultra-Orthodox parties," said Lieberman, who wishes to impose a tripartite government with the two great parties without the ultra-Orthodox and religious nationalist formation.

In response to Lieberman's "betrayal" , Netanyahu first publicly launched the hunt for the Russian vote estimated at 15 seats. The leader of Israel Beitenu does not think it hurts him: "Netanyahu's last two trips to Ukraine and Russia were not for diplomatic reasons but for electoral reasons, but they were a failure."

" Lieberman hates Netanyahu and his only goal is to throw him out . In 20 years in politics he is only reminded of empty promises. He is no longer part of the right but of the left," denounced the fearful Likud that lay rightists would end up in his arms .

"Netanyahu, who lives in Caesarea, does he label me on the left that I live in the Nokdim settlement? It is the same Netanyahu who withdrew from Hebron, supported the expulsion of Jews from the Gaza Strip, released a thousand Palestinian terrorists (Redeem Shalit) and give Hamas money although it continues to attack us from Gaza. Netanyahu has nothing to do with the right but, yes, he is the best at making speeches, "he accuses, while clarifying that he does not veto him at the level staff: "The law says you can be prime minister even if you go to trial."

The Israeli electoral vertigo was initiated almost a year ago by Lieberman when he resigned as defense minister criticizing Netanyahu for "not responding" to Gaza projectiles. A month later, the head of government advanced the elections to April, although the main motivation was in his problems with the three cases of alleged corruption.

Known as few of the personality of his former boss, Lieberman tried to cause fires in his house before the possibility of not getting most of the 61 seats. "Several Likud leaders talk to me and others about the day after the Netanyahu era," he says. And with the same Russian smile and accent of 26 years ago he adds: "In the Central Council of Likud I have more friends than Bibi."

In progressive Tel Aviv, the leader who in the past was known for his anti-Arab rhetoric was always seen with distrust, fear and hostility. After breaking up with Netanyahu, now they are asking for selfies. Many in the center left voted for him on Tuesday, since it was a long time since anyone had caused a defeat of Netanyahu. In addition, the antiultraorthodox flag has many followers. "If Tel Aviv and its surroundings do not vote mass, Netanyahu can form its government with ultra-Orthodox and Messianic," he warned this weekend.

Lieberman insists that he has nothing against the Jewish religion. "Israel is a Jewish state, but not religious," he concludes, recalling that he is secular but his wife and daughter are religious. That makes, for example, that he admits: "At home I eat kosher (according to what the norms of the Jewish religion about what practitioners can eat or not), but it was like what is tasty."

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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