Elisha Vision – Commentary

Benny Gantz and Bibi Netanyahu

Let me make this simple. No party has enough seats in the 120 seat Knesset (parliament) to form a government (61 needed). The Gantz Blue & White Party had 33 seats, with Netanyahu’s Likud Party only earning 31 seats. However, when you factor in the other parties, the Left (Gantz) has only 44 total seats. The Right has 55. Therefore, either a unity government is formed combining the two blocs or there will be new elections. Whew!

To be sure, there are two other factors, but they will not change the above facts. The Arab bloc has 13 seats but will not join the government. Avigdor Lieberman’s party has eight seats but refuses to join the Right bloc with Netanyahu. Therefore we are stuck at 44 and 55. Netanyahu tried to pursuade a small left party of six to join the Right, but failed. So, a combination unity or new elections in four or five months. Deadlock Delimma! 

We need to pray for God’s answer. Yehovah has the final say!

Here is analysis from Caroline Glick, my favorite Israeli columnist: I need to point out a basic fact about the election results which the US media, in particular, is missing. Benjamin Netanyahu did not lose and Benny Gantz didn’t win. Gantz cannot form a government under any circumstances. He cannot build a majority coalition.

By forming a unified political bloc of 55 Knesset members with the Likud’s satellite parties, Netanyahu has created a situation where he is the only possible prime minister. Either the Blue and White Party — or one of its factions — joins him, or Amir Peretz and Orly Levy bring the Labor party in, or Israel goes to new elections. Those are the only options. In other words, it’s either going to be Netanyahu or elections. It’s up to Gantz, and Peretz.

I’ll say more. The balance of power is still very much on the Right. The Right has 55 seats. The Left has 44. Liberman is nothing but a Bibi hater. And the Arab parties are so extreme that they cannot be considered for any governing coalition. Netanyahu is the only person capable of forming a government. It remains to be seen if that will happen, but Gantz cannot form a government. And he is slowly coming to terms with this unalterable reality.

We need to pray faithfully that God will bring wisdom and unity in the midst of this dilemma. Only He knows His purpose. Pray that He will reveal to the leaders of Israel the “one heart and one way” of this promise:

Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul. Jeremiah 32:37-41

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and thank God for the beginning of the seasonal rains.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists              (Read more)