‘Netanyahu’s return to the Premiership is within reach’

‘Bibi has the benefit of over a decade of experience in office’ (Image: Getty)As the UK welcomed, with much relief and fanfare, its new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, Israel lies in waiting – but not for much longer. Well at least if we assume that this time around whatever coalition will be formed will manage to survive the test of time, secure the 61 seats needed to gain a majority at the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), and maybe more to the point, for its members to practice the fine art of political cohabitation.Millions of Israelis already cast their votes this Tuesday, proving their detractors wrong as many analysts warned that political apathy would most likely lead to a poor turnout, and ultimately rob the next government of any real popular consensus.As they say, if it doesn’t work out the first time, try, try and try again. Israelis are doing just that  … for the fifth time in just under four years no less. To Israel’s credit I would say that such returns to the polls mean that the Jewish State’s democratic process works and that whilst the nation may be experiencing a political crisis, its institutions have proven strong enough to withstand the tide.In light of the many crises Israel continues to face, least of all threats to its national security, Eretz has displayed a resilience we can only envy, and most definitely should ambition to emulate. But I digress…What can we expect for this round of elections?To put it plainly and simply, the return in power of Israel’s most veteran statesman: Benyamin Netanyahu. Pushed out of office in June 2021 over allegations of financial wrongdoings, Bibi is vying once more for his old office – a quest for vindication his detractors have been only too willing to paint as a desperate attempt to derail Israel’s legal process.Such oversimplification is of course politically motivated. In truth none of the charges held against Netanyahu withstood legal scrutiny – to the extent in fact that the infamous meeting which allegedly saw Netanyahu order a pay-out to media tycoon Shaul Elovitch could never have happened on the date it allegedly did, raising some serious questions as to the veracity of the claims levelled at the former PM.Quite telling has been Israeli media silence over the whole ordeal. Freed of his legal woes, Bibi’s return to the Premiership was always somewhat assumed, if not guaranteed.Exit polls so far are pointing to Netanyahu’s victory with an estimated 30 to 31 seats for the Likud – not a moment too soon if we consider Israel, and by extension the West, will need a strong hand at the helm to navigate the muddy waters of Middle Eastern politics.Although Bibi will still want to build a functioning and viable coalition, the astonishing turnout at the ballot box marks a clear willingness by Israelis to turn the proverbial corner.Speaking from the Liku headquarters in Jerusalem 34-year-old Likud supporter David Adler noted, “It looks like we can be optimistic and have some hope we are about to get a stable coalition with Bibi as the prime minister.’So what’s next?Provisioning that Netanyahu’s block secures the 61 seats needed at the Knesset to secure a majority, the new Premier will have to form a new Cabinet, accounting within its ranks members of his coalition, de facto ending Yair Lapid’s attempted political takeover.If many in Israel will breathe a sigh of relief, Benyamin Netanyahu’s task will not be an easy one – not by a mile. And yet, few will argue today that there is a better man for the job.A seasoned statesman and politician, Bibi has the benefit of over a decade of experience in office, which undoubtedly will come rather handy at this particular juncture in our history.