Netanyahu and the Very Short History of the “Right-Wing Bloc”

This chapter examines how and why the criminal accusations against Netanyahu contributed to his political success and how his trial undermined his power. The point of departure of this chapter is the conflict of interest between Netanyahu's electoral and political base and the judicial branch. More generally, it frames the relationship between Netanyahu and his supporters through the lens of populism and constitutionalism. Against many predictions and common democratic sense, the criminal proceedings against Netanyahu did not end his political career but served as his source of power. They led to an overlap between his interest in escaping the clutches of the law and the aspiration of the parties that composed the right-wing-religious bloc and of their voters to weaken the judicial system. Netanyahu especially fitted into this battle because he was a nationalist-populist leader who represents the “people.” In the end, however, the trial gave his opponents within his party the opportunity to portray him as dysfunctional and to take part in the coalition that stood against him.