“The present Israeli government, which held on longer than most, came to an end a few months ago (a full term would have lasted until November).  Early elections will be April 9th…

The past month has seen parties splitting or dissolving, new ones coming into being.  At present, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud [“Consolidation”] appears well in front in the polls, but a new party called

Hozenl’Yisrael [“Israel Resilience”] lead by former General and Chief of Staff of the Military Benny Ganz is rapidly gaining ground.  The YeshAtid [“There is a Future”] party of YairLapid is third.  Yet much can change within the next month-and-a-half. 

We will say here that it is not at this time clear to us who should be our next leader.  Of course, Mr Netanyahu is the only candidate with experience in the office (at this time he is Israel’s second-longest serving Prime Minister), he is a brilliant statesman, respected around the world.  He has a fierce loyalty to Israel and to the Land.  And up until now, he has been a prime minister in whom the people have trust regarding national security.  That said, his position is presently weakened by serious allegations against him related to abuse of his office—corruption, including fraud and bribery. 

The Attorney General appears set to recommend indictment, perhaps before the elections.  It this occurs, it would seriously impair his ability to continue to devote his energies to administrating his office with the integrity and freedom necessary.  Another issue which concerns us is Mr Netanyahu’s historical inclination to bring the ultra-Orthodox parties into his government, and, having done so, invariably to grant the portfolio of Ministry of the Interior to the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.  Among other things, this ministry decides “who is a Jew” for purposes of Aliyah (emigration)…

The dramatic appearance of Mr Ganz  is bringing an unexpected threat to Netanyahu and the Likud.  He is a respected military leader, he presents a likable image, reasonable and a left-of-center choice against Netanyahu’s right-of-center position.  But the problem is that so far he is keeping his cards covered regarding his position towards some of the hot issues.  He recently seemed to voice approval for the “way things were done” in the Disengagement from Gaza. 

It is unclear what his stance is regarding Israeli sovereignty of the land—Judea and Samaria, and the current Israeli presence there.  Might he countenance further “disengagements” from the very land in which the divine covenants were made?   Ehud Barak was the most-decorated soldier in modern Israeli history, yet proved a terrible Prime Minister, who was willing to barter away almost all of the territory gained by Israel in 1967. 

We believe that it is essential at each election to come to Our Lord seeking His counsels for choosing the next leader, whatever our own personal leanings. It is He who knows what lies ahead, who is more equipped to lead the country in His ways.  It is He who establishes rulers, who knows who will be more likely to receive His wisdom; He knows what lies hidden, and Light dwells with him (Daniel 2:21-22).

In Exodus 18:21, when Moses’ father-in-law is expounding to him the tenets of a system of government which will bring order and righteous judgment into the leadership of the society, he instructs him, “You shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain.”  The word “select” or “choose” is an interesting word in the Hebrew, techeze.  It isn’t the regular  Hebrew word for “choose” as appears later in verse 25, but rather a prophetic word, related to clarity of vision.  As the Everett Fox translation puts it, “You are to have the vision (to select) from all the people men of caliber, holding God in awe, men of truth, hating gain...”  

There is only one Source for such vision – for the insight necessary to make the proper choice for our leaders.”

PLEASE PRAY:

• For the Lord to raise up the party and leaders for the next government in Israel—and that He in mercy grant vision to a majority of the electorate to select the leaders of His own choosing—among them a Prime Minister who will lead in humility, integrity, righteousness.
• That a strong government come into place in Israel—one which will lead the people and govern all of the Land God has entrusted to them with equity, justice, integrity and truth.
• That Benjamin Netanyahu fulfill the days which the LORD (upon whose shoulders rest all government) has allotted to him to govern the land and people.  That if there is “dishonest gain” which warrants exposure, it come to light; if not, that he be vindicated.

Martin & Norma Sarvis

Jerusalem