The resignation today of Finance Minister Bibi Netanyahu while commendable is very late in the process. It is hard to have confidence in him as a consistent leader, for it appears that each step of the way his actions appear to represent a measured approach as to what is best for Bibi and not the State of Israel.
No one can deny his dynamism. Taken together with his made-for-TV looks and speech, he surely could win an election among the Jews of NY. Whether he will convince Likud primary voters that he will be better than Sharon remains to be seen. However, his presence outside the Government may stiffen Sharon as he faces the onslaught of the American Administration for greater concessions.
It is possible that this resignation will energize the anti-disengagement forces. Perhaps more importantly, will be whether Netanyahu will convince the other Likud members of the Cabinet to likewise leave. If they do and Uzi Landau will join forces with Bibi, then perhaps the elections can be moved up to early 2006 and a united Likud and then electorate will fall in behind Bibi’s leadership.
In the meantime those who had hoped long ago for this move, anxiously pray that their faith will be rewarded. By the way, a natural ally of Bibi should be Natan Sharansky who long ago spoke of the insanity of disengagement without any reciprocal Palestinian concessions.
