Netanyahu's adherence to the status quo prevents him from dealing with Israel's problems - but rivals present no challenge.
© Ariel JerozolimskiBinyamin Netanyahu
Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu,
is running for a second re-election - something that no Israeli leader has achieved since
David Ben-Gurion, the country's founding father. On Tuesday, Netanyahu announced an early election in January, which he will almost surely win. His centre-left rivals are too disorganised, unpopular, or inexperienced, while the ruling rightwing block enjoys a stable majority in opinion polls.
In his campaign-launching televised address, Netanyahu put "ensuring that Iran will not have a nuclear bomb" atop his agenda. He made similar declarations before the previous election, in February 2009. Keeping Iran in the headlines serves Bibi's political goals: he appears to be the only possible leader with enough experience, authority and diplomatic skill to deal with the issue. If Iran is the key problem, Netanyahu is the obvious solution.
The recent weeks' global debate about whether Israel would, or should, attack Iran's nuclear installations was a successful prelude to Netanyahu's campaign. Other politicians have little to say about Iran, or they fear to appear soft if they criticise the government's sabre-rattling. In reality, Netanyahu's Iran policy has been a failure. Even by his own account at a recent UN speech, the Iranians are ever closer to the bomb. The public doesn't care, however. There is little appetite for going to war now, or alone. According to successive polls, most Israelis would like to see America's air power, rather than Israel's, bombing
Natanz.
Comment: NATO member Turkey seems to be trying very hard lately to pick up a fight with Syria - and in the process upsetting Russia. Washington and Tel-Aviv must be getting impatient.
See also:
Turkish leader says Russian munitions found on Syrian jetliner