Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday entreated Benjamin Netanyahu to join the government as foreign minister. Israel’s political establishment is in turmoil. War is in the offing. None of this deterred Netanyahu from his path. He insisted on early elections as a condition for joining the government. Netanyahu reiterated again and again that without early elections, no government can long survive. He therefore did not want to help. At best, he is prepared to serve as minister in a transition government.
Netanyahu’s assertions, as much as they generate political criticism against him, are at least consistent. Netanyahu withdrew from competing for Likud leader 18 months ago, when his victory seemed assured. All the polls said so. But there is another significant factor that his close associates say is influencing the man, even now, to delay his return to a long-term official post.
That factor is money. A lot of it. Netanyahu earns at least $100,000 a month. In fact, he has been making money as never before since losing the prime ministry. When he decided not to return to head the government, he was earning $1.5-2 million, gross, of course. This was in addition to his pension as prime minister and the state’s financing of his office.
Netanyahu used his money wisely. He bought a house in Caesarea, a new car for his wife, fixed up his home in Jerusalem. The calculation is now simple: if he takes up an official post, he’ll have to give up his other jobs. No more consultancies, no more overseas lectures for tens of thousands of dollars a pop, no more using his high-level connections for fat fees.
We reiterate: those who hire Netanyahu know how much money means to the man, who carefully maintains his expenditures. Staying out of the government allows him to do as he wants, amassing money that will serve him for many years ahead. Netanyahu, who considers himself to be a sure candidate for prime minister, wants to return to the political arena for a long time at least two terms. He therefore wants to ensure a handsome bank balance before jumping back into public service.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on November 5, 2002