Proof in the pudding

How is it that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the worsening middle-class housing crisis more than two years ago, but has only now been forced to act by the tent protests that have sprung up around the country like mushrooms after rain? Is there any dissonance between his proposals and his world view? One would need a good Sabbath day's rest to analyze these questions properly.

And, from another perspective, what can we learn from the negative reaction by the protest leaders to Netanyahu's proposals to fix the housing crunch? If they don’t believe him, that is one thing, and time will tell if they are justified in their skepticism. If they disagree with parts of his proposal, then this is a basis to start working on changes.

But if their ultimate aim is to topple Netanyahu and his government, which we know is the aim of some political parties lurking among the tents, well, this is a legitimate goal but it has nothing to do with housing. It's fine to use the crisis to play politics, but transparency is required.

Let's set aside for a moment the question of whether or not Netanyahu wants to, or can, carry out his plan, a plan that concedes that “market forces” alone cannot solve all of modern Israel's problems. At this time, we should test his strategy in laboratory conditions. Does his plan provide relief for the middle class?

On Tuesday, Netanyahu, his economic team and his coalition leaders set for themselves a two-stage test. The prime minister must repeat the mantra about Israel facing a crisis of housing, which is true and which justifies his plan, but at the same time he and his team should make fewer announcements about the crisis, not more. In the second stage, he should let the protesters protest, let them sleep in their tents in the city center, and concentrate on building new housing as soon as possible. Words will not solve the problem - the proof will be in the pudding.

Netanyahu has an opportunity here. I can see some hope in the somewhat turbulent eyes of the protest leaders. When they say of Netanyahu's plan, “It's not enough," this can be interpreted as a reasonable response. But when they call out “Liar,” this is the panicked reaction of those who are worried that Netanyahu’s plan will actually work. If he means his words seriously and works hard, the protesters will have nothing more to protest about and will have to go home. If Netanyahu fails, however, it is he who will be sent home.