It appears all but certain that a broad national unity government is not going to happen. In addition, Avigdor Lieberman has announced he will not join a narrow government with Likud and the chareidim. This leaves some to float another original option, in which President Reuven Rivlin will grant a pardon to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in exchange for him resigning from political life. This may be a last effort towards avoiding a third Knesset election within a 12-month period.
According to News12 correspondent Dana Weiss, persons both inside and out of the political echelon are working to create such a reality, for if not, the nation is almost certainly heading for another Knesset election, around Purim time.
A small window of opportunity remains, as on this coming Wednesday, December 11, 2019, the 21-day period to form a coalition expires. The Knesset will be dissolved and elections for the 23rd Knesset will be announced. Then it will be too late.
Weiss claims in her report that the persons probing the reality of such an offer, involves both the president and attorney general. A probe she explains has revealed that the president is likely to agree as well as the attorney general on condition that Netanyahu admits to some of the charges against him and to distance himself from political life.
Even if the above is deemed agreeable, PM Netanyahu has not been approached. In addition, it is also a matter of time and it may be that there is not a sufficient amount of time remaining to persuade all parties involved to accept such an agreement.
Most believe the chance of Mr. Netanyahu admitting to his guilt in exchange for a pardon are slim to none, as he continues to insist that he is absolutely innocent, and he continues to level accusations of a ‘witch hunt’ and ‘corruption’ against the state prosecutor and judicial system.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
Like him or not he’s been the
Surely it is corrupt for Mandelblit to be involved in such a deal. One might even call it bribery. Or extortion. Whichever, I’m sure Lahav 433 will be right on it.
Like him or not he’s been the absolute best prime minister the country has ever had and he’s indefatigable as he continues to lock up deal with foreign countries and governments. Don’t these people see it? Rivlin hates him but Mandelblit is a smart man! What has gotten into him?
This offer of a “pardon” in exchange for stepping down from his position proves that the accusations were a witch hunt to get him out of office. Netanyahu is one of the most powerful, decisive and articulate prime ministers Israel has had. He has led the country to the forefront of science and technology. He answers our enemies cogently and unhesitantly. He is a real leader!
Mandelblit should be fired immediately for engaging in partisan politics while in Government Office!
Cooked up the charges now “willing to pardon” if he steps down. He’s a lefty like all the rest…
I don’t know the merits of the charges against Netanyahu, but the growing list of charges casts a serious and substantial shadow over the election of a prime minister. Perhaps all Israelis would be better off if Netanyahu stepped aside while he fights the charges against him. And if he knows some of the charges are true, he is putting himself ahead of the people of the State of Israel.
True, it clearly shows it’s just a witch hunt, to get him out of office.