I’m sure Netanyahu agrees. There’s just one minor problem: how can one form a stable coalition in Israel these days?
A week after coming out in favor of Kadima leader Tzipi Livni in the race for the premiership, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday congratulated Likud leader and prime minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu and urged him to form a coalition as quickly as possible.
“It’s vital that a new
government is formed quickly,” Olmert said at the weekly
cabinet meeting, calling on all those involved in
coalition talks to “conduct them quickly and efficiently.”
The outgoing
prime minister indicated that the country required a unity
government.
“As one who is aware of the range of issues on the agenda and of the tough decisions down the road, I believe Israel needs a strong, stable government that reflects the will of the people and that will win its trust, in order to deal with the problems in the diplomatic, security and socioeconomic arenas,” he said.
A Kadima-Likud coalition would be logical. Both parties are just about the same size and both share a more hawkish view on the Israel-Palestinians conflict than leftwing parties like Labor. Both are also pretty pro-free market.
The problem seems to be that both sides’ leaders have gigantic egos.
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“A Kadima-Likud coalition would be logical. Both parties are just about the same size and both share a more hawkish view on the Israel-Palestinians conflict than leftwing parties like Labor.”
There is not much difference between Likkud, Kadima and Labour, for that matter. More a matter of style than substance. There is absolutely no reason why the three parties should not form a coalition, except for the respective leaders’ egos. I find it hard to believe that they can be so irresponsible at this juncture. To me it means that the general wish of the Israeli public for unity, centrism and accommodation will be ignored.
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“A Kadima-Likud coalition would be logical. Both parties are just about the same size and both share a more hawkish view on the Israel-Palestinians conflict than leftwing parties like Labor.”
There is not much difference between Likkud, Kadima and Labour, for that matter. More a matter of style than substance. There is absolutely no reason why the three parties should not form a coalition, except for the respective leaders’ egos. I find it hard to believe that they can be so irresponsible at this juncture. To me it means that the general wish of the Israeli public for unity, centrism and accommodation will be ignored.