We never did anything major during the "Nine Days", and generally not even during the "Three Weeks". Not major purchases, not trips or major events. It was always considered something that would bring "bad luck" of sorts. I remember when someone close to the family bought a car during the Three Weeks - family members pleaded with her to wait, but she bought the car. That car was in a number of accidents, besides for often breaking down. While it might have just been a lousy car and she a lousy driver, family members always blamed it her having bought it during the Three Weeks.

while we do not yet know exactly what is going to happen next, we do know that history is int he making right now.

President Reuven 'Ruvi' Rivlin has gone into the history books as the President of Israel presiding over the most Knessets and for giving out the most mandates to a candidate to form a coalition - this is the fourth time Rivlin is appointing a Knesset member to form a coalition. Also, this is the fourth time he is appointing a specific MK to form a coalition - PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

The news is reporting daily how many fines were dished out by the police to people breaking the CoronaVirus lockdown guidelines - not wearing mask, being further than 1km form the house, violating quarantine, etc. 

I would like to address the government as a whole.
Like all citizens of this country, I look on the developments in the Knesset with deep concern as they shake the already fragile relations between coalition partners. As a citizen and on behalf of us all, I say: get a grip!

— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) July 23, 2020

Stop the talk of early elections, of that terrible option at this time, and save yourselves from it.
The State of Israel is not a rag doll you drag around as you squabble. The people need you all to be focused, clear and finding solutions to this crisis.
It's in your hands.

— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) July 23, 2020

whoa!

We are full of the unprecedented. These are surely most unusual times.

The way it works is that the President decides which candidate should be given the mandate, that candidate tries to forma  government in 28 days, and almost always then asks for the allowed 14 day extension. if the candidate is unsuccessful after the 14 days, the President then hands the mandate over to another candidate for 28 days, with the possibility of a 14 day extension if necessary. If still no government coalition is formed after all that, the President can give the mandate to the Knesset for the MKs to decide, or he can call for new elections.

MK Benny Gantz officially requested from the President an extension to his mandate to try to form a governing coalition. The extension is almost standard procedure, and it is almost always requested and is always granted. It it basically a formality.

Yet President Rivlin said no to Gantz. He said under the current circumstances, we do not have time to waste, unless it is clear that this time will actually bring a government.

Rivlin then also said that he would not pass the mandate from Gantz to Netanyahu, but would pass it tot he Knesset for 14 days, and if there is still no government it would then go to elections.

I have no idea how elections will happen under this Corona, and partial lockdown, environment, but that is besides the point.

Rivlin set two precedents today. He said no to an extension request, and he said he won't pass it over to Netanyahu.

Rivlin might still be upset at Netanyahu for circumventing him by dissolving the Knesset two elections ago and going to elections, or for other reasons. With Netanyahu now at 59, due to Orly Levi Abuksis crossing lines to the Right and saying she now supports Netanyahu for PM, this is very strange, as he has a reasonable chance at forming a government.

That being said, elections seems to be handing the premiership to Netanyahu. As of right now, there is nobody to run against him. With Kachol Lavan dismantled and the Left in disarray, the only way Netanyahu can lose this is if the public gets really upset at Netanyahu's handling of the COVID-19 situation, and if some of the UTJ voters refuse to vote UTJ for their part in Corona (I have heard people from Bnei Braq upset at the party reps for basically being silent in the face of their crisis). Even then it would have to be a major rebellion of voters for Netanyahu to lose an election now.

There is also the possibility that in return for Netanyahu playing Gantz for the fiddle and wasting his time and stringing him along, Gantz might fulfill his threat and bring some anti-Bibi laws to vote and prevent Netanyahu from being able to form a government, elections or not.

Whatever happens next, Ruby Rivlin is already President Precedent.

People are continuously expressing anger and even outrage at those who are regularly flaunting the rules as set by the Ministry of Health, be it in continuing to run and attend minyanim, be it out strolling around Tel Aviv in the beautiful weather, be it on the beaches, be it in the parks be it wherever it may be.

Personally, I completely understand the rule breakers.

If PM Netanyahu, President Rivlin and [possibly] Minister of Health Litzman can all break the rules that they themselves set for the entire Israeli public, and justify it with excuses, why shouldn't everyone else do the same? Maybe it is not really as bad as they are saying, if they themselves aren't keeping the rules they set. This is the example the leaders have set, this is the example the public sees, this is the lesson the people learn.
.

this status is really a thread of posts:




I'll explain backwards. PM Netanyahu posted important information about the virus and staying safe and the need top stay home. Benny Gantz reposted Netanyahu's post and said when it comes to lives and safety, there is no politics - everyone should follow the rules posted by Netanyahu. PM Netanyahu then said that was very important and thanked Benny Gantz. And then President Reuven Rivlin reposted the entire thread and commented musing that perhaps we can continue this with a nice discussion of friends around the government table...