(Yossi Verter-Haaretz).Benjamin Netanyahu's second cabinet will complete its 100th day in power next week, ending what is known as its 'period of grace.'
In a private discussions with his associates, the prime minister said that not only was he being denied a grace period, but that he had to deal with a 'media onslaught' that began hours into his term.
This onslaught relented only after his address at Bar-Ilan University last month, when he said he accepted the prospect of a future Palestinian state, he said.
In the same private discussion, the premier recounted what he considers his cabinet's achievements over the past 100 days.
During discussions at his bureau about the first 100 days, he told his people: First and foremost, I've brought quiet. Since I entered office, the missiles have almost completely stopped - and not by chance. I determined a policy that every missile would be met with an immediate and sharp response.
In the diplomatic realm, Netanyahu takes pride in his success in stabilizing what he calls "the Israeli consensus": He knows that while Israelis crave a prime minister who will give them a diplomatic horizon, they don't want someone who will make them look like pansies. Netanyahu's formula is that of former prime minister Ariel Sharon - he is prepared for concessions but adamant on security.
In addition to that, Netanyahu is asking: What did Ehud Olmert do in his first 100 days in office? What did Sharon do? Why are the complaints limited to me?
The prime minister is proud that there are no leaks on any of the talks he is holding - whether on Gilad Shalit or on the Iranian issue. In the economic realm, he has passed a two-year budget - and although it shrank to a year and a half, that is still something. And he is forging ahead with reforms at the Israel Lands Administration, the ports and the electricity sector. He defeated the Bank of Israel when he decided that the Finance Ministry will supervise its employees' salaries, and he spearheaded a package deal between the treasury, employers and the Histadrut labor federation. All in all, Netanyahu is saying in private conversations, that's not so bad for the first 100 days.
True, there have been setbacks; true, the budget didn't pass smoothly; true, there have been issues within the Prime Minister's Bureau. But everything is slowly falling into place.
On Monday, Netanyahu arrived at the Likud's Knesset faction meeting in a fighting mood. MK Miri Regev announced her intention to vote against the imposition of value-added tax on fruits and vegetables. MK Tzipi Hotovely announced that she was in favor of a tax break for child-care. "Both of you want to vote against the coalition, so propose an alternative budget," Netanyahu scolded. "I've been in the Knesset for 20 years and I voted against Likud's position only once, in 1991, in favor of the law for the direct election of the prime minister," he told them. "I'll allow you to vote against the party, but only once in 20 years."
