flipping on the right

I am finding it very interesting to see how the members of the "Netanyahu bloc" were all so buddy buddy and one big happy family over the past year and a half and especially during the election season. It looked like they were all on the same page and supportive of each other and Netanyahu would put together his government in minutes from when he would get the mandate.

They were supportive of each other and especially of Ben Gvir who was attacked as a radical and unworthy of serving in government and they defended him all over the place. People were saying Netanyahu has changed, this time he wants to form his government as a full right wing government, not like previous times, this time he has come to terms with Ben Gvir and Smotritch being in his government, etc.

Yet, now that they have the mandate to form a government, Netanyahu, Gafni and their cronies seem to still hate Ben Gvir and Smotritch and are trying as much as possible to make his demands in government not legitimate and even making him far less legitimate and less of a partner. They are starting to put out statements creating a narrative of blaming Smotritch for not being able to form a right wing government, as if his demands as head of a 14 seat party are less legitimate than the demands of any other coalition member.

I find it interesting to see it all play out, but am not surprised. Most people shouldn't be. I dont know if we are going to see Benny Gantz save Netanyahu's neck this time and be willing to join his government or if he will let them destroy each other once again.. My predilection for political chaos would like to see Gantz refuse to join Netanyahu's coalition, and I dont see anyone else who might. If it doesnt work out with Smotritch and Ben Gvir, I can see Lapid getting the mandate though I dont see how he can form a government. What might happen is a unity government of Netanyahu (likud), Lapid (Yesh Atid), and Benny Gantz (Hamachaneh Hamamlachti), and maybe Aryeh Deri (Shas) as well. Lieberman might join as well, but then it will be either Lieberman or Deri, probably not both and then I think it would come down to Lieberman as Shas would have a problem with both Lieberman and Lapid along with Matan Kahane of Gantz's party. This seems a bit far fetched, but if this fighting continues in the Netanyahu bloc, I can see this constellation forming.

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