Israeli Politics Needs New Generation of Leaders, Analyst Argues

An opinion piece by David M. Weinberg argues that while Israel needs experienced leaders, it also desperately requires a new generation of "brilliant, faith-driven, and clean-handed" politicians. Weinberg believes that the upcoming elections, and certainly those of 2028 or 2030, should usher in a shift away from the current political establishment, including figures like Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair Lapid, and Moshe Gafni.

Weinberg criticizes prominent politicians Avigdor Lieberman, Aryeh Deri, and Yair Golan, labeling them as cynical and self-serving. He likens Lieberman to a blend of Jean-Marie Le Pen and Vladimir Putin, accusing him of lacking a significant positive record beyond inciting division and seeking revenge. Weinberg questions Lieberman's ministerial achievements and highlights his "bombastic and violent outbursts" on sensitive issues, along with his history of "angry resignations" and pushing for unnecessary elections.

Regarding Aryeh Deri, Weinberg describes him as embodying aggressive Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) power, willing to disregard legal and moral boundaries to "strengthen" his constituency, which he argues actually weakens them by fostering dependency on state stipends. He criticizes Deri's opposition to core curriculum studies in Haredi schools and his alleged willingness to trade settlements for budget increases for his Shas party. Weinberg also holds Deri responsible for shifting Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's stance towards religious moderation and for the Haredi community's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing effort to secure a permanent exemption from military service for Haredi men.

Former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan is portrayed as both a disappointment and a danger. Weinberg recalls Golan as a nationalist general but claims he "radicalized" his positions to fill a void on the political left. He accuses Golan of using "bombastic rhetoric" against religious Zionists, settlers, and soldiers, and of making accusations of genocide against Israel. Weinberg also warns of the "raw hatred and demonization" evident in Golan's political circles, their threats against institutions that don't align with their views, and their calls for violent withdrawal from settlements, echoing the Oslo Accords era mistakes.