Breaking News: Coalition Government Agreed in Israel

After an extended and heated debate, the Labor Party has agreed to join a coalition government headed by the Likud Party and Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) in Israel.

With Labor's support, Prime Minister-to-be Netanyahu would have 66 seats in the 120-seat Knesset: 27 from Likud, 13 from Labor, 15 from Israeli Beitenu, led by Avigdor Lieberman, and 11 from orthodox Jewish party Shas.

Earlier in the day Labor leader Ehud Barak had gambled on a personal agreement with Netanyahu before putting the issue to his party. Barak is likely to remain as Defense Minister in the new government.

Comments

[don mac namara]

As Netanyahu walks the shifting tightrope in formation a new government he is focused on the past and must be ever conscious about the possibilities of the future.
He will be aware of two failed military campaigns against the extreme Islamists - one in southern Lebanon , the second on Gaza.
He faces an unpredictable reliance on the Obama administrations response should he chose to chase the Iranian dragon in another venture into Gaza.
He is conscious tha on the one hand , the electorate are baying for blood in revenge for their National humiliation at the hand of a band of terrorists.
He is conscious also tha the military have now posted the views of Israeli soldiers in Harraz newspaper , and that his predecessor had already enlisted a legal defence for the soldiers ; most especially the officers should they face prosecutions by the ICHR .and or the UN
His predecessor , lest it be forgotten will be facing his own trial of corruption as soon as the new government is formed.

Netenyahu is American trained, and had spent his formative years in the USA.
He has been granted that which he prayed for - and feared ; an inevitable alliance with the ultra orthodox right which will demand his pursuit of an aggressive policy against the leaders of the Gazans , bearing in mind that despite the shared petulance of both the EU and the USA in their persistent obduracy in refusing to negotiate with Hamas , given that Hamas are the democraticaly elected representatives of the Gazans.

He will be conscious also that Abu Massen - Abbas - used a contrivance to pay the resident doctors to stay away from their work , in order that he , Abbas could point the finger of scorn at the Gazans for not being able to look after those in need of medical care . This strategy has rebounded with a vengeance on Abbas resulting in his former constituents turning away from Abbas and Fatah,

Netanyahu has less that two more weeks to form a government. He may demand more time. If however he can entice Tipi Livni on board he might salvage something from the sinking ship that is Israeli politics.
But even if Labour enjoin Liked , it will make for the most unwieldy coalition in decades.
Compromises will keep it patched together for a while.

But it is all contingent on just how much George Mitchell and Hillary Clinton are prepared to accept in terms of Israeli expansionism in the occupied territories.

The US are coming round to their independent thinking re a two state solution. Mr Netanyahu does not accept this . He speaks of stimulating the Palestinian economy as a substitute for allowing the Palestinians their Nationhood.
This is akin to offering the potatoes but denying the meat. There will be no meat.
A plan for economic stimulus is not a substitute for ones deprivation of Statehood.

In the circumstances , Mr Obama has cut Netenyahu off at the pass with his address to the Iranian people last week.
This exposes the Israeli rogue plan to contemplate a pre-emptive strike against Iran in the name of Israeli self defence.
It may stay Netanyahu’s hand for the moment .
But the chips have fallen the wrong way for Netanyahu.
He must look like Janus to his front and his rear, and keep a watchful eye to the sidelines all the while .
So now we know .
two men so lustful for power that they have emasculated their remnants of personal principal to luxuriate it it.
How will they address the failed military policy and two failed wars s, and how do they propopose to appease the baying populous demand for revenge .
What now about the two state solution ; is it to be dsolved in the fevered sweat of the priapism of power.
And how about the ultra right wing orthodoxy ; they who goaded the soldiers into such a sanguinous campaign in Gaza and blessed their military actions with the sanction of their sectarianism.
How long will it last .
As long as the people want them you may think; No . The people dont matter now .Power is all man , Its all about power. Principals are soluble in the grease of power - to mangle a few more metaphors.

e