As I sat to write this article, a notification came across my computer regarding new information on the horrible terrorist attack on the London Bridge November 29. Two people had been tragically killed by a knife-wielding terrorist in a scene that has become far too common not just in London but throughout Europe. My heart goes out to those wounded and the families of those who were lost. What caught my eye in the update I received, however, were the weapons used by the brave men who took down the terrorist—a fire extinguisher and a narwhal tusk. Yes, you read that correctly. A man was by the Fishmonger’s Hall when he heard screams. Desperate to bring aid, he snatched up the nearest weapon-like item he could find, which just happened to be a tusk from what’s known by some as the aquatic unicorn. Joining a man blasting out a fire extinguisher and another using his bare hands, these heroes subdued the perpetrator before even more victims could be hurt.

As bizarre as that story is, if you were to ask me two years ago which would be more likely—a terrorist would be taken down by a man with a narwhal tusk or the Israeli parliament would be facing its third round of elections while being led by a prime minister who was under indictment for serious charges of bribery and fraud—I likely would have gone with the aquatic unicorn. Never would I have considered the possibility that both could be true. But the Israeli government is in serious upheaval. On November 20, Benny Gantz, who is Benjamin Netanyahu’s political rival, let President Ruvi Rivlin know that he was unable to form a coalition government. This followed Netanyahu’s earlier failure to do the same. These two defeats have triggered a twenty-one-day free-for-all in which any member of Parliament can try to get the required sixty-one votes to become the next head of government.

The following day another bombshell dropped. The nation’s attorney general announced that he was going ahead with charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate criminal cases against Prime Minister Netanyahu. Some are questioning the timing of these charges, yet nearly a year of deliberation has gone into them. Others wondered how Netanyahu could remain in office under such charges. In answer to this latter group, Attorney General Mandelblit determined that at least for now there will be no forced removal.

So where does the State of Israel find itself? It is very likely that a third round of elections will be held, a prospect that most Israelis loathe. A recent poll showed that 49 percent of the people blame Netanyahu for the governmental stalemate, while only 25 percent blame Gantz.[1] Another poll determined that 46 percent of Israelis want the prime minister to resign due to his indictment. Only 30 percent want him to stay on until a verdict is reached in his criminal cases.[2] While the justice system of Israel presumes Netanyahu to be innocent until proven guilty, there is no doubt that the tide of public opinion is shifting against him.

Unfortunately, Israel can’t afford to be dealing with this kind of internal strife while there are so many external issues that need attention. Rockets continue to fly over the borders from Gaza and from Syria. Iran’s rhetoric daily gets more and more heated, particularly as they battle with their own internal struggles. Even King Abdullah from the peaceful ally of Jordan is saying that relations between his country and Israel are at an all-time low.

It’s impossible to know which way the governmental winds of Israel will eventually blow. In the meantime, please be praying for the nation. Pray that the Lord gives wisdom to the people of Israel and to their leaders. Also, ask the Lord for protection from outside enemies while the country sorts out its internal problems. It is quite easy to imagine another nation attempting to take advantage of Israel’s squabbling. All it would take is for Iran to see this governmental strife as an opportunity to do some harm, and Israel would need a lot more than narwhal tusks to ward off their attacks.

—Joel

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[1] Jeremy Saltan, “6th Poll of Possible 3rd Election: Likud 33, Blue & White 33, Joint List 13, Yisrael Beitenu 9, Shas 8.” Jeremy’s Knesset Insider, November 24, 2019, https://knessetjeremy.com/2019/11/22/6th-poll-of-possible-3rd-election-likud-33-blue-white-33-joint-list-13-yisrael-beitenu-9-shas-8/.

[2] Ibid.