Reinventing Bibi

Former prime minister says he's changed

DAVID LANDAU
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Just 18 months after Benjamin Netanyahu was voted out of office, public opinion polls show that he would decimate Prime Minister Ehud Barak in a head-to-head contest - if Netanyahu can only get around the legal obstacles to his candidacy.

Ever smooth before the cameras, Netanyahu gave little hint when announcing his candidacy for prime minister Dec. 10 about his positions on the issues, but he did offer insight into what image he hopes to project.

Two themes were prominent:

The "new Bibi," as Netanyahu is known, is a more mature, sober and chastened leader who admits to past errors and faults and openly seeks to mend inadequacies;
His ostensibly failed first term must be reappraised in light of the subsequent failures of the man who ousted him, Barak.

If the law is amended so that he can run, Netanyahu is expected to try to reprise his old formula of political inclusiveness, which some Israeli analysts have referred to as "Bibi's rainbow coalition."

His 1996 victory and subsequent coalition, which he hopes to rebuild, were based on an alliance of the right, the Orthodox and the Russians. As part of that alliance-building, Netanyahu deliberately distanced himself Dec. 10 from Barak's "civil revolution," a package of reforms that Barak introduced, and subsequently dropped, to counter Orthodox rabbinical control of personal status laws and of public Sabbath observance.

For his part, Barak, in announcing his resignation Dec. 9, said he had been wrong to ease up on the "civil revolution" program in hopes of wooing the Orthodox parties.

The maneuvering between Barak and Netanyahu over the "civil revolution" shows the importance of the huge Russian vote to both candidates. Much of the Russian community, which was crucial to Barak's election in 1999, has swung back to the right.

Barak accepts the fact that few Orthodox Israelis will vote for him, and he made no mention Dec. 9 of "One Israel," his present Knesset faction that joins the moderate Orthodox Meimad Party to Labor.

For Netanyahu, who needs both the secular Russian vote and the Orthodox vote, the balancing act is trickier. He believes, he said, that issues of religion and state should be resolved by dialogue, not by fiat.

Of course, the "new Bibi" message is bound to encounter skepticism, but Netanyahu is prepared for it.

"Look," he said smiling, "I even came on time to this press conference." Coming from a formerly chronic and notorious latecomer, this should have scored some credibility points.

Netanyahu noted repeatedly that he was "not free of fault" and admitted, eyes downcast, that interpersonal relationships had not been his strong suit in the past. His decision-making now would be measured, he said, and he would seek advice widely. No more would he be the loner who disdained his own allies and aides.

What he did not say, but what others say on his behalf, is that Netanyahu would be more circumspect with his choice of appointees, political friends and acquaintances. Twice, Israel's attorney general reprimanded him for his conduct.

Later, when he left office, Netanyahu was investigated for his handling of debts and gifts. Though he wasn't indicted, his behavior was severely criticized.

The "new Bibi" most likely will be at pains to broaden his social milieu in order to stay above suspicion. At the same time, many believe that the lengthy and hostile police interrogations after Netanyahu left office smacked of persecution - especially since they ultimately were fruitless.

As to whether his season in the political wilderness has been long enough, Netanyahu had a ready response Dec. 10: "I never expected to be back so soon."

Home