Over the past day and a half or so, ever since the violence erupted, or at least escalated, into riots around Israel and rockets from Gaza into Israeli cities, I have seen a confounding phenomenon that I am not sure I understand.
Many Israeli right wingers, especially among the more hard core right wingers but not just, seem to have forgotten that Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of Israel and has been for the last 12+ years consecutively.
In what way?
they are posting online their anger at the current situation. And that at least is understandable. What is not understandable is that they are directing their anger at Yair Lapid and Naftali bennet who are in the process of attempting to form a government. They point to the violence and they blame Bennett and/or Lapid for it.
Did they forget Netanyahu is prime minister, or is he not allowed to be blamed for anything by right wingers?
And I don't even know if Benjamin Netanyahu should be blamed for anything, but at least he is the prime minister and has been for a long time and is responsible for the overall situation in Israel, so it would sort of make sense to be angry at him for the situation. I don't think they should blame Netanyahu for the violence, but it would make sense if they did and it makes no sense to blame Lapid and/or Bennett.
A couple of times that I saw such comments online I asked why they are angry at Lapid/Bennett rather than at the Prime Minister himself, Netanyahu.
the response both times I asked was a rant about them forming a left wing government that will be led or powered by Meretz and Labor who will coddle the Arabs and yada yada yada.
I have no problem with them not liking a left wing government that implements left wing policies. Each person can choose his/her way, and a right winger need not like a left wing government, and a left winger need not like a right wing government.
This, however, is people not liking, even angry about, a theoretical government that might be formed in the future, even though it seems likely now that it won't be, and might be somewhat leftist in nature (depending on the agreed terms by said theoretical coalition). They are angry now, about rioting now, about rockets now, because in the future we MIGHT have a "lefter" wing government.
Does that make any sense to you? It does not make any sense to me. Being angry about the possibility of a left wing government I get, but being angry now because of the rioting and rockets and blaming it on a future theoretical left wing government? That makes no sense to me.
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