Likud members know how to close ranks when they have too, and that includes the ministers, some of whom bit the bullet on Wednesday evening and sat at the front row at the Likud rally, opposite the stage. They found it difficult to hide the heartburn, but none of them opened their mouths. Anyone looking to the future knows that this isnt the time to talk.

Netanyahu at Wednesdays rally, against the backdrop of the Likud logo. Cynically and sophisticatedly binding himself and his family together with his party (Photo: EPA)

Theres so much Machiavellianism here, so many lies. Why even the latest polls have shown that if Likud is headed by a different leader, the party will gain even more Knesset seats.

Nevertheless, it was impossible not to feel discomfort. Watching this demonstration, the factual distortion (not to mention the historical distortion), hearing Netanyahu turn his familys unlimited hedonism and exploitation into a harassment of his wife by the media, as if its all about a cup of tea served to her righteous father on his deathbed.

Hearing the disparagement, the lies, the hatred towards members of a large public, who felt on Wednesday that this isnt their prime minister, that theyre outsiders in this country in light of such a divisive speech. A speech of a camp leader, turning to the members of his camp and inciting them against the other camp.

A person in Netanyahus situation should have bowed his head and kept silent. He definitely shouldnt have organized an Erdoan-style rally for himself. He should have waited quietly for the attorney generals decision. Instead, Netanyahu chose war.

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Netanyahu's cynical tactic: I'm Likud, Likud is me - Ynetnews