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Israel's bus segregation row shows high wire act facing Netanyahu Israel's bus segregation row shows high wire act facing Netanyahu
(35 minutes later)
The first crisis in the new rightwing government of Binyamin Netanyahu – over a discriminatory pilot scheme that would have seen some Palestinian workers banned from using Israeli buses in the occupied West Bank – is deeply instructive.The first crisis in the new rightwing government of Binyamin Netanyahu – over a discriminatory pilot scheme that would have seen some Palestinian workers banned from using Israeli buses in the occupied West Bank – is deeply instructive.
Scotched by Netanyahu barely hours after it had been approved by defence minister Moshe Yaalon, amid an outcry from across the Israeli political spectrum that condemned the move as racist and smacking of apartheid, it has underscored the immense political challenges facing Netanyahu. Scotched by Netanyahu barely hours after it had been approved by defence minister Moshe Yaalon, amid an outcry from across the Israeli political spectrum that condemned the move as racist and smacking of apartheid, it has underscored the immense political challenges facing Israel’s prime minister.
At the head of a coalition with a majority of one in the Knesset, Netanyahu has found himself exactly where many expected him to be after having assembled a coalition heavily dominated by the pro-settler right: between a rock and a hard place.At the head of a coalition with a majority of one in the Knesset, Netanyahu has found himself exactly where many expected him to be after having assembled a coalition heavily dominated by the pro-settler right: between a rock and a hard place.
Reliant on the support of Naftali Bennett’s ultra-nationalist Jewish Home, he has found himself, too, under sharp and increasing scrutiny by the international community including the US and EU. During elections in March, Netanyahu appealed directly to Bennett’s voters when he disavowed support for a two-state solution, a position he has since tried to row back on.Reliant on the support of Naftali Bennett’s ultra-nationalist Jewish Home, he has found himself, too, under sharp and increasing scrutiny by the international community including the US and EU. During elections in March, Netanyahu appealed directly to Bennett’s voters when he disavowed support for a two-state solution, a position he has since tried to row back on.
In any circumstances the events of Tuesday evening and Wednesday were bizarre in their timing.In any circumstances the events of Tuesday evening and Wednesday were bizarre in their timing.
Related: Israel scraps scheme to ban Palestinians from busesRelated: Israel scraps scheme to ban Palestinians from buses
Coinciding with the visit of the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, who had flown in to try and persuade the Palestinian Football Association to drop its efforts to have Israeli football banned from international competition for discrimination, it also preceded the visit of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini – who is under increasing pressure to formulate a tougher policy against Israel’s continued occupation and settlement-building. Coinciding with the visit of the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, who had flown in to try to persuade the Palestinian Football Association to drop its efforts to have Israeli football banned from international competition for discrimination, it also preceded the visit of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini – who is under increasing pressure to formulate a tougher policy against Israel’s continued occupation and settlement-building.
While it is possible Netanyahu was not aware of the decision by his defence minister – one of his closest allies in cabinet, Moshe Yaalon – to press ahead with the controversial pilot scheme, that poses an equally awkward question: why not?While it is possible Netanyahu was not aware of the decision by his defence minister – one of his closest allies in cabinet, Moshe Yaalon – to press ahead with the controversial pilot scheme, that poses an equally awkward question: why not?
The explanation of Netanyahu’s own office has hardly helped shed light on what occurred – a series of events evoking more than a passing similarity to the political satire The Thick of It. “The proposals,” Netanyahu’s office told the Jerusalem Post without elaboration, were “unacceptable to the prime minister.”The explanation of Netanyahu’s own office has hardly helped shed light on what occurred – a series of events evoking more than a passing similarity to the political satire The Thick of It. “The proposals,” Netanyahu’s office told the Jerusalem Post without elaboration, were “unacceptable to the prime minister.”
Related: Israel faces Fifa suspension over claims it discriminates against PalestiniansRelated: Israel faces Fifa suspension over claims it discriminates against Palestinians
What seems more than likely is that this will not be an isolated incident. For years Netanyahu has flourished on his own terms as the political equivalent of a plate spinner in an old fashioned music hall act, supplying just enough momentum to avoid a crisis. What seems more than likely is that this will not be an isolated incident. For years Netanyahu has flourished on his own terms as the political equivalent of a plate spinner in an old-fashioned music hall act, supplying just enough momentum to avoid a crisis.
In the last year, however, that trick has seemed ever harder for him to pull off. Unhappy with what he thought was an unmanageable coalition last year, he has replaced it with a more tenuous one.In the last year, however, that trick has seemed ever harder for him to pull off. Unhappy with what he thought was an unmanageable coalition last year, he has replaced it with a more tenuous one.
The reality, underscored by recent events, is that Netanyahu is confronting a potentially unsolvable problem.The reality, underscored by recent events, is that Netanyahu is confronting a potentially unsolvable problem.
On the one hand he cannot keep the pro-settlement lobby inside his government happy without increasing friction with an international community already deeply frustrated by the collapse of the Middle East peace process.On the one hand he cannot keep the pro-settlement lobby inside his government happy without increasing friction with an international community already deeply frustrated by the collapse of the Middle East peace process.
On the other, Netanyahu – under pressure from the US and the EU to show concrete signs that he is still committed to negotiations – has little room to move on them, surrounded in government as he is by those who oppose the creation of a Palestinian state.On the other, Netanyahu – under pressure from the US and the EU to show concrete signs that he is still committed to negotiations – has little room to move on them, surrounded in government as he is by those who oppose the creation of a Palestinian state.
Related: Shaky Israel coalition spells trouble for Netanyahu and peace processRelated: Shaky Israel coalition spells trouble for Netanyahu and peace process
If the bus segregation row was one indicator of this increasingly precarious high wire act, it has not been the only one in recent days. If the bus-segregation row was one indicator of this increasingly precarious high-wire act, it has not been the only one in recent days.
As few have failed to notice, Silvan Shalom, the man Netanyahu has given responsibility for handling peace negotiations with the Palestinians, has been vocal in the past about his opposition to a Palestinian state.As few have failed to notice, Silvan Shalom, the man Netanyahu has given responsibility for handling peace negotiations with the Palestinians, has been vocal in the past about his opposition to a Palestinian state.
And it is not only political figures from Israel’s left and centre that have been sounding warnings about the direction of the country under Netanyahu’s new coalition.And it is not only political figures from Israel’s left and centre that have been sounding warnings about the direction of the country under Netanyahu’s new coalition.
In Tuesday’s Haaretz, prefiguring the bus segregation row, former Likud minister Dan Meridor warned in sharp terms about his old party’s dangerous trajectory.In Tuesday’s Haaretz, prefiguring the bus segregation row, former Likud minister Dan Meridor warned in sharp terms about his old party’s dangerous trajectory.
“In the past,” warned Meridor, “the Likud had always tried to strike a balance between nationalism and the pursuit of the Zionist dream, on the one hand, and liberalism, respect for democracy and the individual, on the other.”“In the past,” warned Meridor, “the Likud had always tried to strike a balance between nationalism and the pursuit of the Zionist dream, on the one hand, and liberalism, respect for democracy and the individual, on the other.”
“This balance, unfortunately, has been disturbed, and I see the Likud becoming much more nationalistic and less attentive to its liberal side. Today, in the party, when you use words like democracy, human rights and rule of law, they immediately depict you as a leftist.” “This balance, unfortunately, has been disturbed and I see the Likud becoming much more nationalistic and less attentive to its liberal side. Today, in the party, when you use words like democracy, human rights and rule of law, they immediately depict you as a leftist.”
For now all the plates are still spinning. But for how long?For now all the plates are still spinning. But for how long?