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Israel

Analysis: Bibi survives his first year, but has done little

February 11, 2010 14:02
PM Binyamin Netanyahu last week. He has had a relatively quiet year

By

Shmuel Rosner

2 min read

In recent weeks, the Israeli media has been obsessively covering the whereabouts of PM Binyamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara. News flash: she fired a house maid! News flash: she intervened on behalf of a candidate for ambassadorship. News flash: Sara is at it again! And again! And again!

Guess what? The Israeli public, or at least 56 per cent of it, finds this obsession, or fascination, or attraction to all-things-Sara, “insensitive” (40 per cent) or “too critical” (16 per cent). Mrs Netanyahu was blamed for identical misbehaviour when Mr Netanyahu was prime minister first time round, more than a decade ago, and Israelis are no longer interested.

While Mr Netanyahu’s personal ratings may have taken a slight dip, the coalition remains strong, and more people say they would vote for Mr Netanyahu’s party, Likud, than a year ago.

So looking back on his past year in office — Mr Netanyahu was elected a year ago this month — Bibi is probably breathing a sigh of relief. He has enjoyed a relatively calm year. There was no war, the economic crisis was handled well and hurt Israel less than most, there was little turbulence in religious affairs and no need for real compromises or sacrifices related to peace processes.