Netanyahu to lead national-unity government?
posted at 4:40 pm on March 24, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Benjamin Netanyahu won a surprising political victory today and may have marginalized his most prominent opponent in the process. The new Prime Minister of Israel got Labor into his coalition in a close but successful vote in the left-wing party. That leaves Kadima and its leader, Tzipi Livni, out in the cold:
Israel’s Labor Party voted Tuesday to join the incoming government of Benjamin Netanyahu, giving a centrist tone to the coalition that has looked hard-line up to now. Party secretary Eitan Cabel announced the results of the voting after a heated debate — 680 in favor and 507 against.
Ofer Eini, head of the Histadrut labor union and a senior Labor Party operative, told Israel’s Army Radio, “I’m happy that party delegates have decided to enter the government.” But others chanted slogans like “Disgrace” after the announcement.
Netanyahu has signed coalition agreements with Yisrael Beitenu and Shas, two parties known for their tough policy lines toward the Palestinians, as is Netanyahu’s own Likud Party. Labor, in contrast, has been in the forefront of Mideast peace efforts.
Labor’s 13 seats in the parliament would give Netanyahu a majority of 66 in the 120-seat house, but there is a possibility that the party could split as a result of the vote, and some members might choose to remain in the opposition.
Netanyahu’s victory leaves Kadima without firm footing in Israel. Ariel Sharon launched Kadima as a way to claim the center from Likud and Labor despite having spent decades building the former and fighting the latter. Livni now leads the party, and had hoped to force Netanyahu out by blocking any majority coalition, making her the next choice to form a government.
Kadima can go into opposition, but how would they position themselves? A Likud-Labor alliance would encompass the political spectrum and leave them little ground to build a coherent opposition. YidwithLid’s sources in Israel say that Kadima has belatedly begun to understand the hole they’ve put themselves in by Livni’s refusal to work with Netanyahu and that they may decide to make it a national-unity government after all.
We’ll see. At this point, though, we know that Netanyahu has clearly outboxed Livni, and her party may need to rethink its leadership.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Too bad our Secretary of State doesn’t understand all that multi-party stuff.
jgapinoy on March 24, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Maybe Hillary will give him an “Oy Vey” button.
AubieJon on March 24, 2009 at 4:45 PM
I hope Kadima comes to it senses and dumps Livni she is a party of one and cares nothing about Israel only her own personal power. Otherwise she would have joined Bibi’s coalition. Good for Barak.
I might not like Barak’s politics, but do like how he handles military matters. Iran watch out. Your prodigal son is coming back with a vengeance. Hehe.
Lance Murdock on March 24, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Great news! I wish our country had done as well in choosing a leader.
backwoods conservative on March 24, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Please, Israel, GET it TOGETHER. Unify!
originalpechanga on March 24, 2009 at 4:48 PM
So what flares up first, Iran or North Korea?
If North Korea doesn’t fire off their missle by the time Israel attacks Iran, look for North Korea to shoot their missle shortly there after. That should make assasinating Archduke Ferdinand look quite trivial.
WashJeff on March 24, 2009 at 4:48 PM
*sigh* I like that picture.
Mommypundit on March 24, 2009 at 4:48 PM
BIBI’S BACK BABY!!
RobCon on March 24, 2009 at 4:48 PM
This is a great leader – one with stones to do the right thing and one that understands you don’t have peace by kissing Iran’s _____. Obama is a weakling, a liar, a cheat, a thief and a fraud………but he is also horribly dangerous and spineless (a la Carter). Israel will triangulate right around him and do what it takes to protect their country. God bless!
Cinday Blackburn on March 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Big coalitions will allow BeBe to do what must be done regarding Hamas’ and Hezbollah’s rockets and ultimately Iran’s nuclear threat. A majority of any nation would like to survive; but Kidima blew the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon by delaying the ground offensive and then leaving too soon to break Hezbollah. They also left Gaza before making it safe for a Fatah Administration that would be less inclined to support suicide attacks and rocket launches. They also failed to deal with the Iranian threat. Now they are on the outside looking in and deservedly so.
KW64 on March 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Benjamin Netanyahu — Israel’s last man standing.
BigD on March 24, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Hottest world leader evah.
patriette on March 24, 2009 at 4:54 PM
If Netanyahu comes out on top and starts confiscating more West Bank land for Jewish fundie settlers, why should the U.S. continue to subsidize Israel to the tune of at least $2 billion a year? If they want to steal other people’s land, can’t they do it with their own money? I agree with Hitchens for once:
http://www.slate.com/id/2214440/
AJB on March 24, 2009 at 4:54 PM
you are severely confused. arabs are occupying jewish lands. arabs belong in Arabia.
runner on March 24, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Please? Give Hillary a break, she’s still in therapy over that “Monica” thing. She’ll get a grip sooner or later (it’s tough learning that you are rude, crude, and unattractive) If there is a ‘later’.
JoeySlippers on March 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM
I want my Bibi back, Bibi back, Bibi back…
This should get interesting, both for Kadima’s political future and the Palestinians if they try the “triangle offense” crap against Israel under Netanyahu.
teke184 on March 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM
I bet Bi Bi doesn’t need a teleprompter………..
Seven Percent Solution on March 24, 2009 at 5:01 PM
1) Israel has freely given up most of the land it has won after being attacked repeatedly
2) I don’t see you complaining about the $900,000,000 BHO just gave to Hamas islamofascists
3) I don’t see you complaining about the $billions we send to oppressive Muslim nations
jgapinoy on March 24, 2009 at 5:01 PM
The Jewish Eyebrow Strikes Back
Kai on March 24, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Israel treat Muslims better than Muslim nations do.
jgapinoy on March 24, 2009 at 5:03 PM
“Oh look, a big angry rabid dog. I’ll go pull his ear.”
AubieJon on March 24, 2009 at 5:05 PM
That’s what political strategy looks like, folks.
Be nice to see it in our Govt. again….
cs89 on March 24, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Brilliant move by Bibi! The article says Kadima is out in the cold and this coalition with Labor might split labor in half. Who could ask for more? Frankly, he’s a thousand times better leader than we have in this country presently!
CrusaderPatriot.com
CrusaderPatriot on March 24, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Moreover, according to Carolyn Glick (on today’s pjtv), fatah has announced that they never recognized israel’s right to exist and they are getting back together with hamas. So much for giving money to “moderates”.
gh on March 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM
The Labor party, which Netanyahu forged an agreement with, is more leftist than Kadima, for the most part.
Netanyahu has become a centrist leftist, not much different than Arik Sharon was up to being put on a life support system.
Netanyahu could have forged a right-sided coalition but intentionally chose not to.
Watch Israel continue to capitulate under Netanyahu, as he did when he previously signed the Wye Agreement, gave up most of Hevron and gave more guns to terrorists.
You folks don’t seem to understand what you’re cheering for. Bibi offers nothing new.
Shy Guy on March 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Caroline Glick would beg to differ. Tzipi Livni is a complete moron and is a far bigger danger to israel than Labor.
gh on March 24, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Wow, sounds like Bibi is some kind of sex symbol.
That gives hope to all of us aging, graying, chubby guys of the world.
Thanks, ladies! You’ve given my self confidence a big boost today!
UltimateBob on March 24, 2009 at 5:14 PM
BHO will have a chat with Iran’s AckMyDumbJihad, but he won’t have anything to do with Bibi.
jgapinoy on March 24, 2009 at 5:15 PM
The Bill Clinton of a new millenium.
jgapinoy on March 24, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Yep, he is one hot old dude. I love his voice….
mjk on March 24, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Only if you’re Israeli, darling. Otherwise, icky. :)
(kidding, I’m sure you’re totes hot)
mjk on March 24, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Glick, who used to work for Netanyahu, has been a Bibi groupie for years.
If you read her columns about Bibi from several years ago, you’ll find numerous times where reality proved that she overestimated him. Last year, she even got to the point of writing what she hopes Bibi won’t do.
As broad as it’s long.
Shy Guy on March 24, 2009 at 5:22 PM
You have to have a PhD. to understand their political system.
Amadeus on March 24, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Read The art of compromise and, more specifically about Glick, read (Mis)Placing her hopes on Netanyahu.
Shy Guy on March 24, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Was Netanyahu born in Israel or the U.S.? If the latter, can he be our Prez and Israeli P.M. at the same time? Wishful thinking.
jimmy2shoes on March 24, 2009 at 5:34 PM
I wonder if Israel would trade presidents with us.
Maxx on March 24, 2009 at 5:37 PM
I, too, find Bibi quite attractive.
myrenovations on March 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Their politics amuses and fascinates me. It’s infinitely more complex than people ever realize.
mjk on March 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Come to think of it, we would probably be getting the better deal even if we could get Russia to trade presidents with us.
Maxx on March 24, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Bibi got me to cough up fifty bucks years ago when I could barely afford it. He spoke at the West Orange, NJ JCC on behalf of Operation Moses, to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
He is handsome, charming, erudite and—happily married.
Meryl Yourish on March 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
BiBi Trivia:
His brother Yonni, was the only member of the IDF killed in the Raid on Entebe.
I think he was born in Israel but spent his teen year here. His father was a visiting prof at some Ivy League school.
annoyinglittletwerp on March 24, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Which is beautiful. I agree.
Mommypundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:49 PM
haha
Mommypundit on March 24, 2009 at 5:49 PM
I should have been clear-”He” is BiBi .
annoyinglittletwerp on March 24, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Netanyahu is (now) the prime minister.
Our president is Shimon Peres.
Still wanna trade? One benefit I can think of is that Peres manages without a teleprompter chained around his ankle. Other than that, nobody gains.
Shy Guy on March 24, 2009 at 5:50 PM
No. Peres is totally not hot.
myrenovations on March 24, 2009 at 5:55 PM
In 1993, Netanyahu confessed to having an affair.
His wife, Sarah, is quite peculiar and has a lot of personal quirks. Beside things which the press has accurately quoted over the years (ignoring much that is inaccurate), I know someone very well who has worked for the Netanyahus who can confirm much of the details.
If Bibi is really happily married, I’ll eat my kippa.
Shy Guy on March 24, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Shy Guy, wasn’t the affair with one of their nannies?
myrenovations on March 24, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Yes.
Shy Guy on March 24, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Netanyahu is definitely the best man for a tough job–defending Israel from its many enemies and uniting its people–he is probably Israel’s Churchill.
Wonder what Bibi will tell Bambi about his idea of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel?
Steve Z on March 24, 2009 at 6:07 PM
*sigh* I like that picture.
Mommypundit on March 24, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Hottest world leader evah.
patriette
Couldn’t agree more. Yesterday over lunch, my friend and I were discussing hot world leaders (weird, I know.). Netanyahu topped both of our lists.
LASue on March 24, 2009 at 6:21 PM
I thought his wife divorced him after she found out about the affair and he re-married. Or did he also cheat on his second wife?
aengus on March 24, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Kadima never had any firm footing in Israel. The party was nothing but Sharon, and once he got his Gaza disengagement (which was sheer lunacy), fell into a coma, and the wars all broke out, it was all but over for Kadima. Kadima is nothing more than the newest incarnation of a political party for the politically dead, and, like Shinui just before it, was destined for the waste heap.
Kadima was Sharon’s folly.
I’m not sure where you got this idea. Kadima couldn’t block anything. There were 66 seats that went to the right, in total, leaving only 54 to the left. Of that 54, 11 were arab parties (i.e. not to be considered in any government, therefore throwaways), which means that Kadima ony led a left of 43 seats. Kadima was a political joke, no matter how you cut it, unless Kadima got some brains and turned right.
It was all but impossible for Kadima to form a government. It is slightly possible that Kadima could have gotten Israel Beiteinu into a coalition, but that is highly doubtful, and without them Kadima was out of the running.
We are all waiting for the slugs in Kadima to put that party to sleep, which is the only condition in which it won’t threaten Israel’s existence. As I said, Kadima was a political exercise akin to Shinui before it. A party of losers without any ideas – none that a sane person would accept, at least. The sooner Kadima is gone, the better for Israel. The fact is that Kadima is ill-named. It should be called ‘Achora’.
progressoverpeace on March 24, 2009 at 6:30 PM
I’m not too fussed about any move to the centre by Netanyahu, just as long as he keeps those terrorists in their place.
OldEnglish on March 24, 2009 at 6:31 PM
I would add one interesting little factoid:
Bibi’s English is much better, and more “American”, than Obama’s. Just sayin’ …
progressoverpeace on March 24, 2009 at 6:34 PM
I had to look up both words. Lol.
aengus on March 24, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Here’s a little linguistic bit you might get a kick out of; “Shinui”, the name of the defunct political party of morons I keep ragging on, means “change”.
progressoverpeace on March 24, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Bibi, come back
Any kind of fool could see…
there was something in everything about you.
Bibi come back!
You can blame it all on me…
I was wrong and I just can’t live without you.
wccawa on March 24, 2009 at 7:04 PM
TOTUS will probably invite Bibi to a “working lunch” at the White House… and serve Ham sandwiches.
cs89 on March 24, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Bombs Away!
Gohawgs on March 24, 2009 at 7:21 PM
G-d, I love Bibi…
I hope he succeeds.
bluelightbrigade on March 24, 2009 at 7:23 PM
+1
bluelightbrigade on March 24, 2009 at 7:24 PM
funny that likud and labor became kadima and now likud and labor are marginalizing kadima. very good news.
eaglewingz08 on March 24, 2009 at 7:48 PM
When does Olmert get hanged on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv?
Hilts on March 24, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Sarah Netanyahu is quite how shall I put it “unstable.”
Hilts on March 24, 2009 at 10:02 PM
At least one country is heading in the right direction. (pun not completely intended).
Godspeed Bibi. Take no prisoners. Keep pounding their head until they sue for an everlasting peace.
Jimmy Doolittle on March 24, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I didn’t know Israel had a President and a Prime Minister. I hate showing my ignorance here, but which one is the boss?
Oh, and we get Netanyahu (you get Obama and we will throw in our entire Democratic Congress as a bonus, no extra charge) or no deal.
Maxx on March 24, 2009 at 11:59 PM
The President in the Israeli system is not much more than a figure-head. The only real power the Israeli Presidency has is in handling governments – determining who gets to try and put governments together, whether no governing coalition is possible, … This is not a great deal of power, though it can have an effect, at times. Other than that, the Israeli President is a joke position. Perfect for Peres (if he has to be in the government, at all).
progressoverpeace on March 25, 2009 at 12:10 AM
Perhaps Hussein will throw in some region 1 format DVDs. All us Israelis have multi-system players. :)
Shy Guy on March 25, 2009 at 1:03 AM
Kadima is toast. It was the “Sharon Party” as much as it was anything else (i.e., moderate but hawkish). Sharon is out of the picture.
Now it is the “Livni Party,” and Tzipi Livni is a stupid jerk to the left of Labor.
There is no reason for Kadima to continue to exist. Therefore, it will fail. Lefties will go back to labor (especially given Labor’s new relevance) and righties will go back to Likud (because Kadima is not representing them). Moderates will stick around for a while, but Kadima will bleed them off over time. Since no one knows what it stands for, Kadima will have ruthless intra-party battles over leadership. Whoever wins will inherit a party that is basically empty of everything.
daryl_herbert on March 25, 2009 at 2:24 AM
Here’s your hero:
Netanyahu says his gov’t will push for peace with Palestinians
Shy Guy on March 25, 2009 at 5:44 AM
People who hated McCain’s nomination should know that there is another interpretation of the current Israeili political situation. I have issues with that interpretation, since I’m a moderate Republican, but I do think the rightist extremists have a valid point here as they had a valid point about the three GOP Senators who voted for the “Stimulus” package.
The Manhigut Yehudit (Israeli leadership) faction of Likud led by Moshe Feiglin claims that Netanyahu has internalized the views of the left by merit of being in the Israeli government so long. And that Likud forming an alliance with Labor has more to do with Netanyahu’s dislike of the right than with efforts to exclude Kadima. While I don’t agree with Feiglin on many issues, I do expect that Feiglin or some right-wing figure will eventually take control of Likud as it becomes clear to right wing voters the degree to which Netanyahu has strayed from the flock.
If anyone wants to read more on the current political situation, it is important to keep in mind that religion plays a much greater role in Israeli politics than it does in American politics. Pat Robertson would be extremely uncomfortable with the political demands of the traditionally religious political groups. On the other hand, the Israeli press seems to be to the left of the American press, if that is possible.
thuja on March 25, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Thuja, My wife and I, as well as all of our voting eligible children, are proud members of the Manhigut Yehudit (Jewish Leadership faction, led by Moshe Feiglin.
Manhigut Yehudit’s english website:
http://www.jewishisrael.org/
Shy Guy on March 25, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Geez, that’s like saying to someone in a small boat, “Here, give me your oars and take ths box of anchors and I’ll throw in a couple of broken car engines and burned up transmissions as a bonus.”
UltimateBob on March 25, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Actually, that’s not such a bad trade because it creates an instant new island nation.
Shy Guy on March 25, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Comment pages: