Middle Israel: Will Bennett and Lapid's fourth Israeli alliance last? - opinion

From Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Post's Amotz Asa-El examines the perennial challenge of political alliances in Israel, referencing Nikita Khrushchev's observation that politicians build bridges even where there is no river. The article highlights a pattern of failed political marriages in Israel, citing examples like the Gantz-Sa'ar ticket, the Barak-Levy union, and Liberman's alliance with Likud, all of which dissolved relatively quickly.

However, Asa-El points out that not all such alliances are doomed to failure. He identifies three historically successful unions: the alliance between ultra-Orthodoxy and Likud, the second between Menachem Begin's Herut and the Liberal Party, and the first between modern Orthodoxy and Labor. The article emphasizes that Begin's alliance with the Liberal Party, though perhaps less remembered, was profound, uniting nationalists with industrialists and financiers based on shared convictions in capitalism, small government, judicial independence, and civil rights.

Now, with the announcement of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid forming a new party, the piece poses the question of whether this fourth potential alliance will last. The analysis suggests that while opportunism often plays a role, shared convictions and a common vision are crucial for the enduring success of political partnerships in Israel, a nation constantly navigating complex political landscapes.