How did Netanyahu go from Corona hero in April to Corona failure in July?

In April, 2020, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval rating surged to almost 70% (here). This surge was largely the result of his corona strategy, which many supported--and cheered. Then in July, 2020, less than three months later, Netanyahu's approval rating plummeted by half, falling to an unacceptable 34% (here). This plummet was the result largely of the failures of the government's corona strategy.

How did Netanyahu--as polished and successful a political leader as Israel has ever had--go from corona hero to corona failure in less than three months? What happened? 

Did Israel's most competent and experienced politician suddenly turn incompetent? Had he become stupid overnight?

There certainly is a reason Netanyahu's approval ratings plummeted in July. But that reason isn't Netanyahu. The reason is Gantz. One might even call this reason, the  'Benny Gantz effect'.

Israel's media elites have so completely committed to an anti-Netanyahu narrative, few, if any, will show you articles that link Gantz to this unprecedented plummet--because Gantz would look awful in these analyses. He would appear unfit to lead Israel-- but a better fit for a bar-room brawl involving 5-year olds.

Gantz is the singular reason for Netanyahu's plunge because his allies in the government succeed in working to make Netanyahu look bad. The more Gantz and his followers succeed in undercutting Netanyahu, the lower his ratings fall. 

Two news items appeared this week that highlight the truth of this assertion. First, a story appeared about a 'brawl' between Netanyahu and Gantz, initiated by Gantz. This so-called 'brawl' took place at the  beginning of a Senior Cabinet meeting. This 'brawl' was responsible for that meeting having to be cancelled (here). Apparently, before the meeting could begin, Gantz set off on a tirade against Netanyahu. He shouted. He yelled. He behaved like a five year old having a temper-tantrum. His display of anger was shockingly unprofessional.

That behavior suggests an old aphorism: if you can't stand the heat in the kitchen, get out. This is an old fashioned way to say, if you're not competent to stand on this stage, leave. 

The issue that triggered Gantz's verbal assault against Netanyahu was a disagreement over the national budget. It seems that the two men had, back in April--before the Pandemic began to shut down the economy--agreed to install a two-year budget. At that time, Israel's economy was, at the very least, okay.

But today, Israel's economy is at risk. Corona-inspired shut-downs have seriously hurt Israeli citizens and businesses--perhaps the two key players in Israel's national economy. Netanyahu sees the pain. Netanyahu is experienced enough with handling Israel's economy to understand the impact corona shut-downs can have. Therefore, thinking about the potential effects of the pandemic on the economy, he can sense trouble ahead if Israel attempts to install a two-year budget (instead of a budget having a much shorter time-frame, one that will give the government the automatic flexibility to change.). He asks, how can one plan for a fixed two year budget in the face of such a threat to Israel's economy? 

It's a reasonable question. It's what a competent leader should be asking when looking at any proposal for a two-year budget during times of economic uncertainty. During an economic emergency--which is what we now face--shouldn't a budget be more flexible than a fixed two year budget? 

Netanyahu cares about such a question. Gantz doesn't. In fact, Gantz is not flexible. He is rigid. His behavior reveals that he can't or won't adjust his thinking to reflect new realities.

Gantz ignores reality. Instead of adjusting to an emergency, he flails at Netanyahu. Remember, the essence of his tirade was, "BUT YOU PROMISED TO DO A TWO YEAR BUDGET"!

Such a tirade during an economic emergency suggests how tone-deaf Gantz is. He ignores the economic pain we all feel and shouts, "DAMN THE DANGERS. FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!" 

Is this the leader Israel needs? Is this what Israel wants. Do you want this kind of Prime Minister?

The second news item that suggests that Gantz hurts Israel right now was Netanyahu's response to Gantz's tirade. It is this response that suggests that Gantz is out to torpedo Netanyahu's leadership. It was a response that suggests what Gantz and his allies in the unity government have been up to since April: Netanyahu accused Gantz of having brought into the unity government what many can now see--a cabal attempting to form its own 'government inside the government', one that works as a 'government against the government' (see here).

Since the end of April, when the unity government began, Gantz has installed dozens of anti-Netanyahu activists inside the government. We saw that when government Ministries were filled in April-May, 2020 (here). Nearly all of Gantz's Party members received control of a Ministry (ibid)--an unheard-of accomplishment for a new Party. 

The pro-Gantz/anti-Netanyahu cabal that flooded into the unity bureaucracy has since worked actively against Netanyahu's government. They are the reason the government's corona strategy has suddenly 'gone bad'. 

Now, Gantz-installed Party members conveniently conclude that a unity government was a mistake (here). Such a statement strongly suggests that Gantz's people simply haven't been    able--or have refused--to work with Netanyahu.

How else will you explain how the government's corona strategy went from 'heroic' to 'confused' in less than three months? Of all explanations possible, Netanyahu's explanation makes the most sense. If Gantz's allies had actually committed to working with Netanyahu, not against him, the hope many in Israel had for the benefits of a unity coalition would have been fulfilled. 

The hoped-for benefits of a unity coalition never materialized. Gantz saw to that.  

If the pandemic saved Netanyahu (when his ratings surged (here), Gantz's men and women are making sure Netanyahu will be destroyed by pandemic failures--failures which didn't exist before the unity government was formed. For three elections, Gantz's disgust at Netanyahu was palpable (here). That disgust hasn't gone away. Gantz's recent tirade proves it.

Benny Gantz does not bring unity to this Netanyahu-led government. He brings discord and infighting. He is not Netanyahu's 'unity partner'. He is Netanyahu's full-throttle enemy within the government. 

Gantz aims to hurt Netanhayu. But his plan to do that also hurts Israel. This is why Israel now has a confused Corona strategy . There are too many opposing bureaucrats who divide and frustrate the government's corona plans instead of uniting and strengthening those plans. 

Apparently, Gantz doesn't care who he hurts. He ignores Israel's citizens. He ignores economic realities. His only goal is to see Netanyahu trashed.