Netanyahu Fails To Convince Livni To Form Unity Coalition

Haaretz:

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu failed to persuade his centrist rival, Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni, to join him in a broad coalition Friday, increasing the likelihood that the next government will be a narrow alliance of right-wing and hard-line religious parties opposed to substantial concessions for peace.

Read the whole story: Haaretz

Comments

[ajax2]

Israel voted against the two state solution, and for future annexation of the West Bank with the election of Netanyahu.

[JackND]

I've always found the parliamentary system of government ridiculous. There is no separation of powers, since the executive is chosen from the legislative branch, and only the residents of one riding actually get to cast a vote for the person who ends up being head of government of the entire nation.

[Ergon]

Proportional representation is the culprit here, not parliamentary democracy.

[Newsmonger]

It is painfull that majority of Israelis do not have a direct say on who Governors that and that process is left to the leader who is able to cut deal and form a majority coalition not withstanding the support that the leader got from the people at the voting booths.

[jbd]

Good for her! It's time to stop the bullshit and get this conflict resolved. No more settlements and tear down or give up the ones that have been built. Palistinians recognize and accept Israel, demilitarize both sides.

[lovable]

neytynyaho is a rush limbaugh deciple and cultest. the last time he was the boss he was on rush show all the time. that shows me a narrow minded person. its time for new blood to run israel !!!new but stern ideas. with the lady u get that / with netynyaho u get the same stale ideas as they waste our tax dollars.

[skialethia]

“Habayit Hayehudi has also demanded that Israel not withdraw from the Golan Heights in any peace agreement and that no Palestinian state be established.

National Union wants illegal West Bank outposts declared legal and permission for construction in the territories. The party is also opposed to a withdrawal from the Golan Heights or a Palestinian state.”

Israelis are always crying that Palestinians refuse to recognize the State of Israel, when in fact, it is Israel that is adamantly opposed to Palestinian statehood6t. These parties will join with Likud to form the new government and Netanyahu has already stated he doesn’t want to dismantle the settlements!

Livni is refusing to form a coalition because she knows Netanyahu will be an abject failure and she doesn’t want to go down with him.

This is a golden opportunity for the U.S. to change it’s policy towards Israel and take a hard line with them withholding aid both financial and military.

Why should Americans pay for Israel's irresponsibility and fix their mess? Israel's is its own worst enemy.

[nochaos]

So when Barak tried to make peace with Arafat....­it was Israel who wouldn't recognize the Pals??? Even though Arafat rejected the peace??? YOU make less sense everyday!!

[betz55]

You need to read the 'terms' and 'condition' the Israeli demanded of the Palestinians, in addition, it was the Israeli's who walked out of the Taba talks, not the Palestinians. Here is what 'peace' looked like for the Palestinians:

It should first be noted that Palestinians have conceded their claim to 78% of historical Palestine, and agreed to form a new state on the remaining 22%, which is comprised of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

- Israel proposed that 69 settlements, populated by 85% of West Bank settlers would be annexed by Israel. These settlements would reduce the Palestinian state by 10%, not to mention severely disrupt travel and daily life in the West Bank.

- Israel proposed "temporary control" of yet another 10% of land that housed the most extreme of settlers. Essentially this means that a foreign power would control the land of another sovereign nation.

- The remaining areas would be broken up by Israeli bypass roads and checkpoints, forcing Palestinians to live on bantustans or reservations (like South Africans or Native Americans), in a non-contiguous state.

- Palestinians were also expected to relinquish land considered most essential for trade and tourism.

- Israel would maintain very vital controls over Palestinian water, Palestinian borders, and Palestinian airspace.

Anyone in their right minds would not have accepted such a ridiculous proposal that would continue to force millions of people to live as slaves.

[jmundstuk]

Good. She should be in opposition. Let there be a narrow right wing government and we'll see what's what.

[batguano]

So, an even more right-wing gov in Israel? Whats the diff? they have been driven by the right-wing extremists and rabid "settlers" for decades.It is obvious that Israel does not want peace, they want more pieces of the West Bank and to maintain total control over all the land of Palestine. Intentional sabotage of the "peace process", intentional provocations and mass killings and destruction in response to any Palestinian action has been the MO of the right-wing gov in Israel for years. Collective punishment and starvation of Gaza is not acceptable! The US must end our support for Israeli expansionism, war crimes, endless occupation, civilian killings and inhumanity toward the Palestinians. We must end ALL aid and arms sales to Israel and demand an end to the blockade of Gaza and a beginning of good-faith negotiations by Israel- a concept that seems beyond their ability. We must not be complicit any longer to the inhumanity and crimes against humanity committed by the IDF.

[leonel]

US STRATEGY WITH ISRAEL: GROW UP, ENOUGH ALREADY.

The Israelis are getting a scolding to help them finally grow up. Their parent, the US, is finally confident enough to see that the hole that Israel finds itself in can only be climbed out if the Israelis sees that the world is about to stop tolerating their hostile attitude. The Israelis will be given the right dose of love and discipline so that they finally see that it's time to recognize that their existence is not in danger, the US will never abandon them, but it is pretty much the consensus that their attitude is the main hangup.

[DMGMD]

Interesting, a hard-right Israeli government. I wonder how they'll do if we stop sending the military aid?

[forpeace]

DMGMD
---------

They will become more passionate towards other human beings.

[nochaos]

It won't happen....­so STOP worrying!!

[mofmars333]

We better stop sending it. The world hates "US" for supporting Israel as we have. It's time to defend all people and not just a choice few.

[Palemoon]

No surprise here, it's what I've been saying for the past 6 months. They kept holding elections over and over until they got the results they wanted.

[kevenseven]

It is inherent in their particular form of a parlimentary system that it is unstable.

They had something like 35 parties running. Anyone who gets 8/10th of a percent of the vote gets a seat.

Just like the Italians, who had a new government every year from 1945 to 1995.

[jmundstuk]

True there are 35 parties, including a party of former marijuana legalization advocates and Holocaust survivors, but you need 2 or 3 percent to get into parliament. "Instant runoff" or preferential voting (you have to vote top three preferences) would help here. WE're about to start it in Oakland to eliminate runoffs when nobody votes.

[nochaos]

A LIE! THE elections took place as planned !

[JScott]

Hey Israel we tried RW goverments for awhile (at least since Reagan) and they are DISASTROUS!
Teachable moment here.

Regards,
America

[nochaos]

And the Left-wing Governments like the USSR,and all of eastern Europe?? How'd THEY do,Sparky??

[Lee Andrew]

Hey "Junior" Communism and socialis are not the same - apparently you have teh Interenet enlighten yourself by using it to educate yourself. NO, I am not a Socialist but you are confused between the two poltical idealologies. COMMUNISIM is oppressive on liberties. Socialism is opprressive upon the Wealthy. Capitialism is also NOT PERFECT especially if you area minority and/or POOR. Of the THREE I choose CAPOTALISM - let the chips fall where they may.

[jacobnyc]

Irrespective of Livni or Bibi, peace will ONLY come when the Arabs (Palestinians included) recognize the legitimate existence of Israel. There can be no peace deal between terrorist organizations like Hamas/Fata­h/Hizbolla­h, and Israel until they give up their dream of wiping Israel off the face of earth.

If you every read the Jerusalem Post or any other Israeli newspaper, you'll get to read about the barrage of rockets Hamas fires at Israel every single day. Israel, like any other country has the responsibility to defend and retaliate when her citizens are attacked. If we were attacked by Mexico or Canada, the way Israel is, and our citizens and soldiers were being kidnapped and slaughtered on tape, would we not retaliate? Of course we would. Irrespective of the party controlling the Congress and the Presidency. The Israeli response was being managed by the head of the Labor Party, Ehud Barak, Israel's MacArthur and the man willing to make the most concessions. No country wants is sovereignty to be violated.

Bush and Condi were disastrous for the peace process; they forced Israel out of Gaza in 2005 and demanded that the Palestinians have elections. The elections couldn't have come at a worse time, this was just when Hamas was on a upswing. Now the mess we're left with between Israel and Gaza is also a part of Bush's tragic legacy.

[chirps]

Noura Erakat Posted February 17, 2009. Huffington Post

Investigating War Crimes on our Fact Finding Mission to Gaza

“The ordeal unfolded on the night of January 3rd as Israeli planes and tanks began shelling the neighborhood and residents rushed to their homes for shelter. Zeitouna's residents awoke the next morning to the sight of hundreds of Israeli soldiers in their neighborhood. The soldiers rushed Ibrahim's home, forcibly expelling its sixteen inhabitants into the neighboring house. The soldiers later forced the huddled families into yet another home where they joined nearly 110 residents of the Zeitouna neighborhood. The residents anxiously awaited their fate under house arrest and the denial of food, water, and such basic necessities as baby powder. After a long and sleepless night, Zeitouna's residents heard the Israeli Army's first shelling of the overcrowded house at approximately 7 am. Moments later the Israeli Army propelled another shell at what had become the neighborhood's collective shelter; killing dozens of people directly on impact, including Ibrahim's wife and four sons. A second round of shelling destroyed a wall of the home through which the survivors fled. As these civilians ran out of the burning home and towards the main street--Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition at them. The Israeli soldiers shot Mu'tassim, cradled by his mother, in his chest killing him instantly (see picture attached).­”

[Palemoon]

So when will Israel rocognize the Palestinians right to exist? Why is your post so one-sided as to be laughable?

[Doris]

When did Israel ever claim the Palestinians had no right to exist?

[yankee452]

You're being dangerously simplistic over this matter.


Both sides must accept the other's right to exist.

The real problem - I'm sure you know - is Jerusalem.

But that's whole other can of trouble...­..and it won't be pretty I'm afraid.

[MajorKong]

Great plan, what could possibly go wrong?

[redhead61]

Its really amazing to me how a people could believe that they have a right to a promised land but deny others the right to theirs.
People have to get along...st­op the fighting..­find the common ground..be NEIGHBORS in the true sense of the word. Instead of constantly finding fault to fight and go to war and kill each others babies.
Its sickening.

[InfinteShibumi]

Sort of reminds me of how this country was founded...