It is a cliché that prediction is dangerous, especially about the future, but here goes:

Israel has probably entered an extended period of stagnation with regard to its military and diplomatic activities, pending the coming elections.  The likelihood (not a certainty of course) is that there will be a new government 2-3 months after Oct. 27 with a new PM, most probably Eisenkot. Bibi will not give any ground to Trump before Oct. 27; afterwards he’ll be trying desperately to build a new coalition, so he probably won’t then either. Thus, we are facing 5-6 months during which things will fester and few decisions will be made except for political advantage. Assuming we get through that period and Eisenkot is in fact PM, we really know nothing about what he is liable to do. He has built his success to date on being someone both centrists and rightists, and even moderate leftists like Raviv Drucker, have seen as leaning towards them. Bibi-ology may soon become an unnecessary art; unfortunately Trump will still be there and the midterms are unlikely to have much effect on American foreign policy.

The truly dangerous time may be in the weeks and months after October 27, as Bibi realizes that his main goal of the last decade has finally failed, that of keeping himself in office.  He may go to jail, eventually, but that is still far off.  What will matter to him and Israelis, as well as Palestinians,  Lebanese, Iranians and others within Israel’s reach, as well as Jews around the world and........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)