The situation in Israel is tearing me apart. I love Israel but despise the current government.

It appears that Netanyahu will do anything, and I mean anything, to stay in power. He was only form a coalition by bringing in the most extreme elements, and there are many. He formed a coalition with right-wing fanatics and religious fanatics, and some that are both. These people do not represent the majority of Israeli, one of the world’s most secular countries with a long democratic tradition. While admittedly, Israel is a Center-Right country, the current government is extreme. It has been turned loose by an immoral leader willing to destroy his legacy and even put Israel at risk in a quest to remain in power and relevant. He joins a sorry club featuring Trump, Putin, Xi, and many smaller players throughout the world.

The Plot to Create Greater Israel

The extreme right wants “Greater Israel,” and they don’t care what others think. They do not fear the scorn the world will bestow upon them because they believe they are on a holy mission. While some are motivated by ideology, others are motivated by greed and ego. They know they have Nethanyhu by the balls if he still has them left after his wife, Sarah,  has taken her bite at his apple. Bibi knows that if the extremist don’t get their way, they will leave his coalition, and the government will fall resulting in a new election. If there is a new election, he will be out to spend the rest of his life on the dung heap of failed politicians. Recent polls clearly show. that result would be for him to lose. I would be the end of this megalomaniac’s political career and might mean he would end up in jail on the bribery charges he now faces. He would not be the first Israeli prime minister to end up in jail  He won narrowly  in the last election primarily because of the apathy of Israeli Arab voters and stupid politics on the part of the left-wing parties. He has to keep his coalition together, which is problematic. His margin is four, which is a frail hand.. 

Annexation of most of the West Bank

The West Bank is divided into three administrative/security zones as part of the Oslo Accords which was signed 30 years ago. Area A constitutes 18% of the West Bank land and more than 90% of the population. It is controlled in terms of administration and security by the Palestinian Authority. The major cities like Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jenin are located here. Area B represents about 22% of the land and has another 6% of the Arab population. Finally, we have Area C, which has 60% of the land but only 2% of the Arab Population. All Israeli settlements are in Area C.

There are close to 450,000 Israelis living in the West Bank. This does not count about 220,000 Israelis living in East Jerusalem, which Israel has already annexed, although this is not internationally recognized. But this number does not give an accurate picture of the situation. Most Israeli settlements are close to the border with Israel. Then there are places like Ma’ale Adumim, a prominent Jerusalem suburb with a population of 37,000. Should a two-state solution exist, it would undoubtedly be included as part of Israel in return for some land swap. Modi’in Illit has a population of 81,000 and is the most populist Israeli city in the West Bank. It is located on the border with Israel and would also be part of a land swap.  Beitar Illit, with a population of 63,200, and finally, Ariel, with a population of 20,000 are all areas that would become part of Israel if there was a two-state solution.

Close to 200,000 Israelis live in areas that would be part of Israel if there was a two-state solution. That leaves about 250,000. Israelis living in the West Bank in areas that would not likely be part of Israel if there was a two-state solution. The number and size of the settlements have been growing, and these “facts on the ground” make it unlikely that Israel would ever agree to a two-state solution. This is not the only reason, however. After the experience of Gaza, Israel is unlikely to want a Palestinian state close to the significant population centers of Israel. The West Bank is located just 25 miles from Ben Gurion Airport. Note, there are more than 2.7 million arabs living in the West Bank. There are an additional 2.2 million Palestinians living in Gaza. On top of this, there are more than 2 million Arabs living. in Israel proper. So the total number of Arabs is about 7 million which is around the total number of Jews.

The current extremely right-wing Israeli government wants to annex Area C and even perhaps B. They will not do it all at once but will first annex the major areas in which  I listed as being part of a land swap.  Then, at some point, they will annex all of Area C and maybe B. The result would leave the Palestinians living in various enclaves/cities that would not be contiguous. The would become and Israeli version of the Bantustans that were establish by the white South African minority.  This would mean that people going from one of the cities  to  another would have to cross through Israeli territory. This has been going on for some time, and I refer to this as the “slicing and dicing” of the West Bank. Israel would slowly turn Area A into a series of mini Gazas. Israel would control all the utilities, including water. The West Bank does not have an airport. Perhaps there would likely be a corridor to Jordan.

To pull this off, as well as many other things, the government is attempting to change the relationship between the executive/legislative branch and the courts. I fear this is creating an internal battle that could result in an actual civil war. 

The only way out is for the opposition, Ganz and Lapis,  to agree to form a collation with Netanyahu, which will probably also involve actions to terminate his trial. Then Bibi tells the extreme right to take a hike. I think this is the only way that Israel can survive. This could happen.  I hope it does because I fear that there is not a lot of time left to prevent the ultimate destruction of the county I so love.

The ultimate destruction of Israel

Israel has been a strong democratic country.  One that has treated is Arab minority rather well, actually.  The occupation of the West Bank and Gaza became a cancer, a cancer that has metastasized. If Bibi government is able to do as I suspect, the young liberal people that are responsible for both Israels economic and military success will leave and create a whole that will not be filled by the extreme religious, Haredim not the ultra right.  Israel is surrounded by enemies who will take advantage of this situation.  Israels action will cost it the friendship and support of the USA and Europe.  American Jew who almost equal Israeli jews in numbers will not come to Israel’s rescue.  

Area	Percent of Land	Percent of Palestinians
Area A	18%	92%
Area B	22%	6%
Area C	60%	2%