Show us who you are, Benny Gantz
Opinion: After a decade of Netanyahu, the nation deserves a harbinger of good news who is honest and direct; so it's about time the newest political hope started answering questions.
Dear Benny Gantz,
After waiting, for what seemed like forever, for you to give a public statement, the day you do speak will be a national holiday, perhaps even a defining moment in our history. We might discover that behind the numbers in the polls and security image, the Israel Resilience Party is actually headed by a real human being—made of flesh and blood, alive and breathing, kicking and screaming— who has something to say, perhaps even a leader.
A large part of the public do consider you a worthy candidate — a bearer of good tidings. Precisely for this reason, you must —in addition to reciting your campaign slogans—provide answers to our questions, without dodging the issues. Speak to us, talk to us about more than the Palestinians, Syria, Iran and Hezbollah.
You have to speak about the integrity and ethical conduct that should be required of public officials. This is a major concern, that will be tested at the ballot box. You must tell us if you think Benjamin Netanyahu should stay in office even if he is indicted. You need to give us a clear answer —no ifs, buts or maybes. Yes, or no?
You also have to tell us if you are willing to be a defense minister or any minister in a Netanyahu government, if he does indeed form the next one. Please, do not give us a PR-approved answer and say that the premier won't be forming the next government, because we are going to win. Credit us with some sense.
But if we were to assume that you are forming the next government, would a person like Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who spent years in prison and might just end up spending a few more there, be worthy of serving in your government? You have to answer our questions and then our follow-up questions— for the sake of your supporters.
If you fail to provide honest answers, you'll just be like every other slippery politician— with nothing new to say and no backbone. Maybe you would head a large party with 15 Knesset seats, perhaps even serve as prime minister, but mostly you'd be a tired, stale, easily influenced, ordinary, perhaps even scandal-hit politician with nothing new to say.
After Netanyahu, this nation deserves a harbinger of good news who is honest and direct. We're not going to buy Netanyahu's stock answer that his fate won't be decided by the police or prosecution, or the attorney general, but by the public. We will not accept the notion that in Israel, the ballot box is above the law.
It is your right to choose the stage on which you speak; it is your right to choose your interviewers. But it is also your duty to look us in the eye and answer the questions that are presented to you, without reciting a prepared speech written by your advisors.
You probably remember prime ministers like Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, Yitzhak Rabin and Arik Sharon. Each of them was surrounded by an army of strategic advisers and personal assistants who whispered in their ears. But at the end of the day, each followed his own personal truth, said what was in his heart and on his mind, even when it went against the advice of his advisers. You should follow in the footsteps of these giants of Israel.
You knew how to stand tall on the battlefield. Today, as a civilian, standing before the entire Jewish people, you must share your opinions and beliefs, in great detail, and answer every question without hesitation or evasion, Perhaps then, Benny Gantz, we will finally know who you are.
