Lieberman speaks!
Israel has been waiting with bated breath for the return of Avigdor Lieberman, Head of the Israel Beitanu party, which is the third largest in the upcoming Knesset, to give his recommendation to Pres. Peres for the future Prime Minister.
All the party leaders met with Peres in the two days Weds and Thurs. Of course, Kadima, which won the most votes/seats recommended that its leader Tzipi Livni, be asked to form the next Government. But, apart from the left-wing parties, Labor and Meretz, and the Arab parties that failed to make any recommendations, because they prefer to be in the opposition, all other parties until now, of course including Likud, recommended Benjamin Netanyahu to be the next Prime Minister.
Since Kadima had only 29 seats and Likud with the right-wing bloc has 50 seats, everything hinged on Lieberman, with 15 seats. Now he has spoken and has recommended that Netanyahu be asked to form the next Government, but preferably with a wide coalition as a National Unity Government. Several other parties also recommended a NUG, but once Peres asks Netanyahu to form a Government, then it is up to him, as long as he gets at least 61 out of the 120 seats.
Kadima is split over this issue, some members, particularly Mofaz who is Livni's opponent within Kadima, want to join with Likud in a wide more stable coalition, and others say that they don't want to be a blanket for a right-wing government. It is possible but unlikely that Kadima will either split over this issue or will join the Government, since Livni has stated publicly that she wants to be PM or nothing.
So now the dealing will begin in earnest, and we shall see if Netanyahu can indeed form an NUG and/or combine the religious parties with the secular Beitanu in a right-wing coalition. Probably they will all compromise since no-one wants the process to fail and be responsible for further elections. Obviously any party responsible for this would be "punished" by the electorate.
So the choice is between either a wide coalition of Likud with Kadima and Beitanu or a narrower coalition with Beitanu and the right -wing parties. Friday morning Peres is due to meet with Livni and Netanyahu together to see if he can persuade Livni to join Netanyahu in a borad-coalition. Once again we wait with bated breath.
All the party leaders met with Peres in the two days Weds and Thurs. Of course, Kadima, which won the most votes/seats recommended that its leader Tzipi Livni, be asked to form the next Government. But, apart from the left-wing parties, Labor and Meretz, and the Arab parties that failed to make any recommendations, because they prefer to be in the opposition, all other parties until now, of course including Likud, recommended Benjamin Netanyahu to be the next Prime Minister.
Since Kadima had only 29 seats and Likud with the right-wing bloc has 50 seats, everything hinged on Lieberman, with 15 seats. Now he has spoken and has recommended that Netanyahu be asked to form the next Government, but preferably with a wide coalition as a National Unity Government. Several other parties also recommended a NUG, but once Peres asks Netanyahu to form a Government, then it is up to him, as long as he gets at least 61 out of the 120 seats.
Kadima is split over this issue, some members, particularly Mofaz who is Livni's opponent within Kadima, want to join with Likud in a wide more stable coalition, and others say that they don't want to be a blanket for a right-wing government. It is possible but unlikely that Kadima will either split over this issue or will join the Government, since Livni has stated publicly that she wants to be PM or nothing.
So now the dealing will begin in earnest, and we shall see if Netanyahu can indeed form an NUG and/or combine the religious parties with the secular Beitanu in a right-wing coalition. Probably they will all compromise since no-one wants the process to fail and be responsible for further elections. Obviously any party responsible for this would be "punished" by the electorate.
So the choice is between either a wide coalition of Likud with Kadima and Beitanu or a narrower coalition with Beitanu and the right -wing parties. Friday morning Peres is due to meet with Livni and Netanyahu together to see if he can persuade Livni to join Netanyahu in a borad-coalition. Once again we wait with bated breath.
posted by Jack Cohen at 4:54 PM
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