Following police investigations into alleged bribe-taking and mob ties, Knesset member David Bitan resigned Dec. 20 as parliament coalition chairman. His resignation was expected and fitting. The surprise was in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s choice as Bitan’s successor.
Senior members of Netanyahu’s ruling coalition thought the prime minister would name Likud Knesset member Yoav Kisch to the important post. Netanyahu was even heard saying that Kisch’s clean record would help dispel the clouds of corruption covering his Likud Party. The logic was fairly simple: Given the heavy suspicions of graft against Bitan and his alleged entanglement with loan sharks, a man such as Kisch — a former fighter pilot and a straight shooter with a pleasant manner — would instill a measure of calm and tone down the anti-corruption campaign that has emerged on the political right (in addition to the one on the political left and center).