The left lacks a plan for the day after Netanyahu

Opinion: While various attempts to depose the prime minster have honorable intent, the left-wing must realize that it must court votes from the right in order to survive, thrive and truly make a difference
Ze'ev Avrahami|
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It is possible to respect those protesting against the government with tenacity and diligence, but one must ask: What is their actual endgame?
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  • If Benjamin Netanyahu does indeed convene a dramatic press conference and announce he is stepping down as prime minister, what then? Will the protesters pack up their belonging and go home? Was the objective anyone but Netanyahu?
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    הדגלים השחורים
    הדגלים השחורים
    Protesters rally in Jerusalem against government corruption
    (Photo: Reuters)
    Will these leftist protesters then throw celebratory candies at Amir Ohana or Gideon Sa'ar or whoever ends up replacing Netanyahu?
    Hopefully not. For when Netanyahu does leave, his agenda will remain.
    In fact, there are some characteristics of Netanyahu that the left is bound to miss, such as his aversion to war.
    In order to move forward, the left must change course and set a new agenda, most importantly how to regain the trust of the electorate.
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    הדגלים השחורים
    הדגלים השחורים
    Anti-Netanyahu demonstrators march in Jerusalem
    (Photo: Shalev Shalom)
    The so-called Netanyahu base has actually shown great flexibility in its voting patterns. Many have had their fill of him, his family, his state-funded takeaways and his myriad of perks.
    These voters have bigger dreams than the prime minister's comfort and the left bloc must work out how to draw them in.
    In order to do so, the left must make an uneasy confession: the peace process as we know is dead and no one else in the world cares about it in its current formula.
    What used to capture headlines fails to receive even the slightest acknowledgment today.
    The swing voters on the right agree with the left about many things: They are against annexing West Bank territories, the Nation-State Bill and religious coercion. Many are even against building settlements beyond the 1967 borders.
    Yet, at every protest about these issues, Palestinian flags are everywhere and the mutual consensus all but evaporates.
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    הפגנה מחאה שמאל נגד סיפוח שטחים דמוקרטיה כיכר רבין תל אביב
    הפגנה מחאה שמאל נגד סיפוח שטחים דמוקרטיה כיכר רבין תל אביב
    A protest in Tel Aviv against West Bank annexation prominently featured Palestinian flags
    (Photo: AFP)
    It is impossible to pull off an impressive maneuver such as Mideast peace when the house itself is so divided. Israel cannot make peace with the support of only 20% of its people.
    The left must not be arrogant, for their votes are only equal to those of everyone else.
    The ultra-Orthodox Shas managed to draw in hundred of thousands of voters because it was able to pinpoint what it is they really want - and this is exactly what the left needs to do. They must hunt for votes, one by one if need be, instead of endless protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
    They must understand that the battle is not over Netanyahu, it is about changing the electoral status quo.
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    7.
    the left have been loosing for over 40 years
    Since 1977 with the election of Begin the left has only been in power 4 times: Rabin, Peres, Barak and Olmert who only got elected on a sympathy vote for Sharon who had just fallen into his coma he was not electied on policy. So long before the world heard of Benjamin Netanyahu the left were loosing election after election so what is the problem here for the left, Netanyahu or left wing agenda?
    zionist forever | 07.19.20
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    6.
    Not true. Left has bad plan, this is why they keep losing.
    The question isn't having a plan or not, everyone has one, but what kind of vision or ideology the plan is based on.
    Steve Benassi| 07.12.20
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    5.
    The Left has no mandate from the people
    Relying on deep state tactics, and dominance in the media and courts, can only get them so far. It can't and won't win them elections because the agenda of the Left is odious and discredited to the majority of the public.
    Jake| 07.12.20
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