Corruption Charges Divide Israeli Snap Election Polls, Exciting Future Ahead – Beyond the Matrix [audio]

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Rod Reuven Dovid Bryant and Jerry Gordon of Israel News Talk Radio – Beyond the Matrix interview Gil Hoffman, political columnist of the Jerusalem Post discuss the corruption charges brought against Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu. That has created a tight race between the Likud -led right wing coalition versus the upstart center-right Blue White coalition led by former IDF chiefs of staff Benny Gantz and Minister of Defense Moshe ‘bogie’ Ya’alon with the center secular Yesh Atid Party of Yair Lapid. Polls show a virtual dead heat with the Blue White alliance at 41 percent, the Likud-led coalition at 40%. Hoffman delves into the serious nature of the charges brought against Netanyahu by Attorney General Mandelblit, not the first brought against Israel PMs and Finance Ministers. Witness the 18 months in prison served by former PM Ehud Olmert. Hoffman explains the complicated party – list Israeli democracy that has 45 parties competing for 120 seats in the Knesset. He notes that less than 10 parties will have standing above the required 3.25% of votes cast. Netanyahu is running on his record of economic growth and global outreach to US President Trump, Russian President Putin and diplomatic initiatives in India and Africa while fighting Iranian threats in Syria. The Blue White coalition leaders Gantz and Ya’alon, while lacking political experience, have ample national security experience, while Lapid boasts of serving five years including a term as Finance Minister. The excitement arises in the discussion with Hoffman over the next generation of Likud leaders. He points out the real objectives of Netanyahu coalition members Naftali Bennett and Ayalet Shaked co-founders of the New Right Party to become future Likud party leaders. Other impressive successors to Netanyahu include charismatic Likud MK Sa’ar, former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and impressive former Soviet dissident, Yuli Edelstein, current Knesset Speaker. Hoffman dismisses the concerns of American Jews over the Likud coalition linking up with Otzma Yehudit (OY), which has been called ‘racist’ allegedly following the anti-Arab precepts of Kahanist Rabbi Meir Kahane. Not the case. OY doesn’t discriminate against Arabs or wish to deport them except for terrorists.