Beyond Bibi: Can Israel Find Its Next Great Leader? (Judean Rose) ~ Elder Of Ziyon

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Beyond Bibi: Can Israel Find Its Next Great Leader? (Judean Rose)

Disclaimer: the views expressed here are solely those of the author, weekly Judean Rose columnist Varda Meyers Epstein.

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to see and hear Netanyahu in person, you’ll know what I mean when I say he is an absolutely mesmerizing speaker. Some years ago, I was in the front row for Bibi’s opening remarks at an event for journalists. It was a smallish room, so that for a moment, the feeling I had that the prime minister was looking directly into my eyes, made me wonder if he really was. But no, I do not think I am that special. Bibi Netanyahu, on the other hand, is especially gifted at public speaking—you feel drawn in like a magnet, even if you’re inclined not to like the guy.

Which brings me to my next point. Among our many pols and MKs I see no one who can step into Netanyahu’s shoes. There’s no one even close to projecting leadership in quite the same way—no one who’s got the charisma to take over.

The fact that Netanyahu has not groomed a successor is a serious problem, and has been for a long time. No one stays in politics forever. No one stays alive forever. That includes Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his excellence as a speaker, his lengthy reign as head of Likud, and despite having held the office of prime minister of Israel for more years than any other past Israeli PM.

Then there is the matter of October 7. Netanyahu may very well have to resign when this is all over. Ronen Bar may be a garbage person who likes to persecute Jews instead of taking his job of protecting the Israeli people seriously, but the buck stops with Bibi. October 7 happened on his watch.

All of this explains why we need to have someone ready for the eventuality of Bibi leaving office. But who knows if grooming a successor would even make a difference. You can’t teach someone to have magnetic eyes and charisma. Those are things you’re born with. Or not.

It’s important to note here that charisma and magnetic eyes have nothing to do with good governance, and certainly doesn’t speak to whether a leader’s policies are worth a damn. But leadership qualities and skills are vital in a prime minister, in particular because of the spotlight the world shines on Israel. The Israeli prime minister has to be able to develop relationships with foreign leaders. He has to be able to connect with presidents and premiers on a personal level—has to make them like him, so they’ll be favorably disposed toward Israel. So he needs to have personality. But he (or she, actually), also needs to speak good English. Bibi does.

A lot of the others do not.

Take Bezalel Smotrich, for example. I really like the guy. I like his policies, in particular the way he is working against illegal Arab building, and the fact that he sticks up for the rights, the safety and the security of all Israeli citizens, including those of us living in Judea and Samaria. More than that, I know he’s a good person.

Bezalel Smotrich (photo: Avi Ohayon / Government Press Office of Israel)

Back in 2015, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that two apartment buildings in Beit El had to be torn down, because they accepted the anti-Israel nonprofit Yesh Din’s claims that the buildings were built without permits on Arab land. There were expulsions, riots, protests. Netanyahu promised to build 300 new buildings instead of the now demolished buildings and ground was broken, but no buildings materialized.

At that point, I took part in a protest outside the Israeli Supreme Court where, with very few exceptions, the protesters were Beit El residents who had been bussed into Jerusalem for the protest. Also there was Bezalel Smotrich. He was speaking to the protesters from inside a tent that had been erected specifically for the event. I couldn’t get anywhere near that tent, such was the size of the crowd. But I liked that Smotrich showed up. I like every politician who shows up at protests against terror or on behalf of settlers and settlements. It means something to me.

Liking someone and their actions, however, doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve got leadership skills. Or decent English. Smotrich has neither. He is neither distinguished-looking nor a commanding speaker.

In fact, Smotrich the politician makes me think of Kamala Harris the politician. Dems liked her without being able to articulate why. Possibly because Harris didn’t articulate any policies. But also because she can’t articulate anything at all. Not even a single coherent sentence. Basically, she was the anti-Trump, because there was no other reason to vote for her.

Happily, that is not the case with Smotrich. Good guy. Good policies. But bland, milquetoast presence. Which is funny considering he is demonized by the left as a far right firebrand. The left went absolutely out of its mind when Israel Bonds invited Smotrich to speak. Little did they know they were in for a treat: Smotrich speaking in such execrable English that it made for absolutely hilarious parodies.

Haaretz writer Refaella Goichman went to town on that speech, noting as I have, that Smotrich is no Bibi:

Smotrich struggled to read large portions of the speech from the paper, which isn’t so bad – not everyone is cut from the same international cloth as Bibi. But at a certain point, when discussing family who had died in the Holocaust, he finally managed to pronounce the word “perished” after several tries (“my entire family preshit? preshade...?”) and smiled proudly to himself.

Screenshot, Haaretz

Listening to the full speech was painful.

Smotrich’s performance went viral. But for all the wrong reasons. There were parodies galore.

Contrast and compare Smotrich's disastrous performance with any of Netanyahu’s many eloquently executed speeches to the UN and to Congress. Congress goes nuts over him.

Bibi is brilliant, every time. My political views may align more closely with those of Smotrich. But he’s no Bibi. And I definitely don’t want to see Smotrich go up against Iran.

So just what is it that makes Bibi a leader, Bezalel not? Social psychologist Amy Cuddy, in her 2012 TED Talk, “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are,” describes the qualities that inspire crowds: expansive postures, steady voices, and piercing gazes that make them appear confident and captivating.

Netanyahu’s tall frame and the magnetic gaze that held me at his speech, echo Ronald Reagan’s warm authority, Margaret Thatcher’s steely resolve, and Winston Churchill’s defiant presence, inspiring public trust. Bezalel Smotrich, whose Judea and Samaria policies I admire, lacks this—his slight build, plain attire, and broken English, mocked in his 2023 Israel Bonds speech, fail to inspire beyond his base.

In Israel’s global arena, fluent English is non-negotiable for any leader to sway Congress or counter Iran, ruling out Smotrich and others who falter. But then there is Nir Barkat, who earned the name "Batman" after he tackled a terrorist to the ground in 2015.

Barkat, a businessman-turned-Jerusalem mayor, offers polished looks and solid English, but his reserved demeanor lacks Bibi’s fire, despite that epic terrorist takedown. Though the subject of many a meme, Barkat is just like every other superhero. You never quite know who you're going to get—to extend the superhero analogy—Superman or a mild-mannered Clark Kent. I want him to project power, but I'm not seeing it.

Just one of many Nir Barkat memes from 2015.

I made this with Grok. Doesn't look like Nir Barkat, but whatever.

With Smotrich’s faint optics, Barkat’s dim spark, and no one else I’d vote for, Netanyahu’s ungroomed successor may well leave Israel feeling and looking leaderless—not a good look for dealing with the threat of a nuclear Iran. Meantime, I watch and wait for a successor to emerge. Someone with that certain something, in addition to perfect English, that projects leadership for all to see.